The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-02-08
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
From the Providence journal

oy hun, provldng Tor a reorganization O
the Supreme Court. phc bin having bcel
read Mr.. Il. moved that il now pass
The Speaker inquired IT the House were
prepared for the question:
.Ur. Bdt'rDl0n suggested there were
some blanks Il he iled.
I Mr.. BicEH,E wished an Amendment sc
as TO make II the duty Of any merubcr ot
the Court, us well as the Chief Justice, tC
Charge the Jury.
.Nr IiaiHghaSl said the words presiding
Judge, could be constituted for Chief Jus.
tice
Nh. U0i,rmon.--I believe, mr.. Speaker
We are getting the cart before thc horse
This Is a great step irom our present syg-
ten, to compel the Judge TO charge the Ju.
ry. II is an important bill and | thnk II
better be postponed.
I .Nr. UGis0a Of South .Kingslown, thought
so too.
Nh T1HnghaSt-Ths subject has been
postponed from time 70 limo or suggcs-
. tions similar to the one made by The gen
tleman from Warwick, msrely-to defeat
( the object. | believe the time has now
come to pass this bill Ii has heen framed
with view to as i,lle alteration from the
present system, as could be made conss
| tent with a direct Improvement IN the or
rau'zutou Of The Court.
The subject has bcen considered and
Iscussed from time TO time, and a post
0ouemcn; cGnuot afford any now light up
ON it. II VIII not 90 hcIorc the people for
heir approval and setcton, which, could
be done. feel confident they would give.
bu, must remain locked up m this House.
/ dopc, Sir, II win now be considered and
! tmrly disposed Of
.ir. Di.oa-This bin, Sir, does not in
vo'vc ncH subject, but one that is iamilag
with the House. II has regularly passed
Jc first and second reading on different
/ lays and Is now in lis proper stage 10 be-
ctcd upon. 1t ought not therefore 80 be
! ostpoucd-but upon strong reason8---i
Iaye heard none .assg gned by the gentle
man IN favor oi that p0stpeaCmopt, hut
. here aru obvious reasons GIa'Nst y. The
Importance oi ,Ho bIii requires rs r"ssHgc
( us soOp as n can Nc deliberately done.
! ,'hc subject ~as ~ n former session re-
erred to a Committee, and 10 H. expected
. lD be- acted upon at ibis. But # Il ~ NOW
/ FOB be postponed without good reasons. il
my always be disposed Of m the same
way. if G goes 10 the n0"t aras'o1 as
. laf vIi g.. iUp session for H." election, u
a Or an Improper TIME. iu act UuUn d."
. llI: .1r ~ r 81 .TIi pass. n WlII change
} no oIu,-Isan1u Of the Supreme Court
Hud 30 ttt tG Ue unuo. IT is ncugr t0 dc D.
uov--l.rH course viii gIv0 tho public %
sot'oY opportunity 60 select suitable Clud.-
dates for thn office OF iulrc oi Ore Su
prcma Court. II You mean 70 coumou.
Inc tr,, talents in the State. and IL l- 90 h"
presumed yDu do, for the highest Court boz
. he State: you must effect 20 by Increasing
. ,hc ,uiary--8nd 10 is better 90 do !. at a Pre-.
/ .Ious session. than at the one when the O.
lection takes place. We al know that the
present salaries Of the Supreme Court is
] lnita too low Tor the present svstcm--ev-
On so low as to be- a subject Of ridicue--
, but little more than enough 10 dcfray the
| expenses OF the Judges while on the Cir.
/ cut. And If there IS TO be no now sys-
. lem, those salaries ought 20 be raised.
/ Bot by acting upon the bll now, You will
/ know whether you are TO pursue the old
system or the new one proposcd-'and If
| tins bill is now passed ] am satisfied il
will be acceptable to the people, s. if not II
can be repealed at the May session, and
/ then 20 on IN the old way.
( Mr.. Gideon Greene called for the read
! ing of the Bill 1t was again read.
/ .Hr. JeSse Reyaoids hoped il would not
he postponed. lie expected this would be
, trIed, and there was always something 10
| be pat IN the way when you undertook 70
touch people IN Office. The moment you
/ go to reduce the number Of officers, 1t sets
every body on fire ilo hoped there would
/ be no poItponement.
/ .Hr. .N,cei Of Providence thought that
\ now was the time TO have a reform In Che
/ Judiciary. The people expected u, md
| We ought TO let them know what we intend
to DO. in order that they may understand
where the difficulty lies.
+ The question was called for, ard being
put on the motion TO postpone, 10 one. cv-
cept Mr. Waterman answered IN the af-
irmstlve. The bill therefore, was not to
be postponed.
! Mr. TUinghnst moved that the FIRST
section pass, freduclng the number Of
Judges from five 10 three.)
/ The question was put and the section
I passed, two or three voices only, being
heard in the negative.
3 The second section then occurred, re-
ouIring the Chief Justice 10 charge the
grand and petit juries upon the law.
M. Bictnsu moved 10 amend 80 as 10
make it the duty Of the presiding Judge,
whether the Chief or an associate Justice.
/ M. Hazdrd did not like that. lie mere.
/ ly objected 10 the phraseology. II might
be construed that the jury must take the
law from the presiding Judge, though be
might differ from the other members Of the
Court. |, might be so construed a. 10 ex-
clude the other members from giving their
opinion to the jury.
Mr.. Robbins thought Il b,ttsr 10 amend
] itssssIon &c ss 70 make Ii The duty Of he