Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-02-18

stead OF during pressure, a"u 'hue iShNN
ed them independent OF the Sovereign. At
the time when we cherished only feelings of
amnesty against Great Britain, We did not
hesitate to adopt the example which she had
thus set us, in her Judicial administration. A
period of thirty five years has elapsed since
the organization of the Judicial System IN this
country {; and during the whole OF that period.
il has been found fully adequate TO all the pur-
poses for which it was created. Although we
have had, at differens times, five, SIX, and Sc
ven Judges, there has been no variation from
the even tenor OF its course IT has produced
all the benefits expected from it, and has es-
tablshed the principle 1t was intended TO test.
Is there any thing in The character OF
the Bench, under It's present constilu-
ton, which renders it open 10 fraud ? In
dependent OF any guaranty we may End
in The high character and responsibility
of The Judges themselves, the law hes
provided that the salaries OF The Judges
cannot be lessened while they are i" Of
fee; and, to keep them pure, the lnquis-
iiorial power OF this house, composed
OF Representatives who snuff The slightest
faint of corruption in the passing breeze,
are always at hand 10 examine into eve
~ corrupt act, and with ample power to
punish every error, even TO utter dis
qualification. Placid, therefore, as the
Judges are, amidst these numerous and
powerful checks, there is nothing in the
| judicial functions, even if the number of
Judges should be increased beyond ten,
TO create danger OF their being turned
to political, iactious, or party purposes.
The judicial tribunal, as court Of f.
nal resort, is armed with despotc power.
1t is, in its very nature, despotic. 1t is
so considered by the Constitution, and
by the General and State Governments,
Hence il is that so many checks have
been provided to ensure the pure eXer-
else of this power. In different States,
therefore, they are appointed for differ
ent terms. In Georgia, he believed,
they are only appointed for three years
in Indiana and Ohio for seven years. Al
the various checks imposed 10 ensure tie
pure adminisrationoi justice; and tend
10 show that the despouc power confer
red on the cour, is safely guarded. It
does not, therefore depend On The NUM-
Der Of the Judges, but on the nature OF
the functions, whether the tribunal shall
be fsctious or Otherwise. Some uneX-
planned remarks which had lallen from
some of the friends of the bill, had been
hastily seized on to justify the inference
that this was intended to make a polIi-
cal courr. Ii is Court, 10 the final re-
sort, to decide all matters Of dlsnute be-
tween the General and the State Govern
ments to expound treaties; and to ex-
ercise admiralty and maritime lurIsoio-
ton, and, in this character, TO make eS-
positions of the laws OF nations. In re-
ference to all these high and impor'an:
subjects, this tribunal has to act. |, is
in that sense, therefore, political court,
I, is not to be regarded as political
court 10 carry faction through the coun-
try, but in the sense only which be has
Just described. 1t is SO 10 that view, and
in that only. And will it be denied that
to act or these high subjects il should be
numerous
1t had been again objected TO this bill,
that it is intended to be representative
bill; to represent the a,es, on the
Bench of the Supreme Court This
objection had been happily replied to by
the gentleman from Kentucky, who urg-
ed that it might become representation
OF the knowledge OF the country--this
representation Of knowledge could only.
be obtained by the agency Of men; it
must, therefore, in that sense be a rep
resen,slive tribunal. 1t may also be
viewed ia a still more important light.
Sitting in the city of Washington, and
thence diverging into all parts OF the
Union, it becomes the representative of
the kno wledee of the Supreme Court to
all the country and thus one great end,
The cheap administration Of justice, is
obtained; and the conviction is carried
abroad that the decision is not likely to
be changed. In the view of rcpresen.
ta,ive from the City of Washington it
is therefore as important as in that of o
representation OF the country en- the
Bench of the Supreme Court.
Another objection had been ground
ed on the want of uniformity exhibited
by the provisions of the bill. On this
point we were utterly unable, from the
noise around US, and the indislnct tone
in which Mr.. Cook spoke, owing to in
disposition, to gather his arguments.
Another objection which had been
urged was, ,ha, the bill was not calcu-
lated to nee, the future exigences Of
the country. 1t was measure only
calculated for the present day. He did
not see the weight Of his objection. Il