Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-23

stabbed yoIny men, blit certainty IS one
which /, rejecting end experienced per-
son can venture TO reIy on, l thDX can
shew that there is no rdtlUndl ground iof
such an expectation.
There are now in Virginia nine chance
ry district c0urts-scmc OF these are eoul
posed OF as mary AS twenty TWO counlies,
and none less than seven.
There is no re asonable ground tor think
ing that Virginia will change thl, system
The most she vii! do is TO give US our
election to go. to Winchester OF Fredericks'
burg; to establish chancery court IN A.
Iexandria for District to be composed OF
Alexandria Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince
William, would be opposed by the lnliul :.
ence of Ere, ericksburg, majority OF
Prince William county, and OF Loudouh
county. And if the court is to De held oy
the Judge of the Frederick >hurg court
he would for his own sake oppose the ad-
diticnal labour of travelling fifty miles
twice year, ard hold two additional
courts, and probably he would have
right to refuse unless his salary is lncreas-
ed, which is only Dl66s year. 1t Is a
gainst the course Of the Legislature OF Vir-
ginia to increase public expenses. Ihey
would Lot, therefore, consent to appoint
another Judge for the court here and thus
add to the expenses OF the judiciary by
the salary of the Judge. The legislature
would therefore attach US 10 the freder'
icksburg chancery court as The least ex-
pensive mode to the public treasury.
Ii has been objected TO the judicial sys-
TEN of the District of Columbia that the
Judges have the conflicting duties of COM
mon law, Judges and chancellors to per-
form This is true, but this is system
we asked Congress to give US. Have we
ever requested them 10 change it! we have
not.
Is our situation different from the people
os the u. States Have MOI the Judges OF
all the courts tine same duties OF common
law, Judges and Chancellors to perform!
Does not the supreme court exercise the
the same jurisdiction? But il we 60 back
to Virginia, will our situation IN this re-
spect be made better? we. shall have
County or Corporation Court, perhaps
both; which in Virginia has jurisdiction IN
common law, criminal, cbancery and tes-
tameptary cases--the regulation OF the
Police Of the counties and the power OF
laying taxes.
Among the serious Inconvenience
which the people Of Alexandria would De
subject to, By the recession, would De the
destroying the Courts of the U. States
which are now established in the town;
this would be particularly announcement 10
the importing merchants and ship builders.
| will proceed to shew more particularly
those inconyeniencies and the certain loss
they would sustain.
By the laws OF the United States the
District Courts have eTctt:uOs original
cugnizance of civil causes OF admiralty
and maratime jurisdiction, including all
seizures under the laws of import, naVIga-
ton, or trade of the u. States where the
seizures are made on waters which are
navigable from the sea, by vessels OF ten
or more tons burthen within their respec-
tive Districts, as well SIS upon the high
seas; and also have exclusive original cog
nizance of all seizures on land or other
waters, than as aforesaid made, and OF all
suits tor penalties and for forteltures un'
der the laws of the United States,
The Circuit Courts of the United States
have cogniZance concurrent with Inc LIS
trict Courts, of all causes where an AMEN
sues for tort only in violation OF the law
Of nations or treaty of the U. States, and
all sui,s al common law where the Unit
cd States sue. and the matter IN dispute
amounts to Cexclusive costs the SUN OF
n. lOC. and have also exclusive OF the
Courts Of the several States cognlzance OF
all suits against consuls or vice consuis.:
The laws of the United States author
ize the Secretary of the Treasury, to remit
any fine, penalty forfeiture, or disability
which may have been incurred by any
nerson. or TO release any vessel, goods,
wares. or merchandise, which may have
been seized under the several laws, upon
the party interested pretering his petition
TO the District Judge; and giving the Dis
trct Attorney notice of the application to
the Judge, which being done the Judge is
to make a statement of the facts OF the
case, which statement with The petition be
is to transmit to the Secretary OF the Treas
ury. on such statement the Secretary IS
to decide whether be will remit or not.
If any dispute arises between the mas
ter of a vessel and a seaman about the wa
ges, the sailor may apply TO the District
Judge to summon the master TO appear
before him. and shew cause why the YES
sci may rot be libelled for the wages or
if he is absent, or resides three miles from
the place where the vessel is, aJusilce OF
the Peace NAV summon the master TO ap-
pear before him; on the masters appear
ance. the Justice may (ifbe thinks the
seaman's demand correct one, ana inc
master should tail or refuse to pay order
the vessel to be Iibelled before the Dis
trct Court. :,