Litchfield enquirer., 1830-04-08

b knowledge of them obtained From IIe statute
 books the books of reports, the treases of learned
 within the reach of the Judges oC the Supreme Court
 here Have they not the benefit Of al these sources
 of information while siiting ihIs City Are not
 memher, o the profession called 10 discns" questions
 OI local law before the Supreme COurtf Have we
 not seen distinguished members Of Congress discharg
 ing their professional duties sace have been here
 And IS there any danger that they will not have such
 respect to their characters and the importance
 of the trust reposed in them, will induce them iO
 furnish the Court with ali the means necessary to ena
 hle 1t to pronounce correct JudgDeHsI M"se the
 the arguments of Counsel, tO know the contents Of
 statute book, book of reports the treatise of j"rist3 Will not Judge whose enrn,rg and talents
 able apply his of principles to the con
 Glruction of local laws? Will he cease to feel due
 respect for the station he fs for the rights of parties
 Submittcd to his decision, tO the oath which he has
 taken discharge his duties faithfully and to the best of his ability, nle regard due |" his own reputation?
 Will lie forget all these when he is withdrawn from the Circuit Examine the reports of adjudcaled eases the Supreme Court. l there to be found in then any want of knowledge of local laws by any
 of the Judges, though he may never have held Cir cult Court the State where smch lave the basis
 of the decision w hch he pron"unccsi
 There remains be considered that part of the last
 objection urged by the Honorable member f,Om Pcnn-
 aSiSanja which ia. fpnned on the supposed necessity
 ofperfrmng circuit duties obtain and preserve that
 sigor oudgrnent which s faithful dis
 charge of ihe duties Of Judge tn the appellate tri-
 A 0tSiOSe0
 jeciioa ia altogether groHndrss. Candor requires te
 admission, that tt is without force, but think its
 importance has been overraed, aud ii is perhaps counterbalanced by the evils which may follow from
 the union of circnit and appellate duties.
 What are the characteristics of a really useful Judge7 Integrity, legal learning, and what s some tunes called plain practical common sense, that knowledge Of human nature, of men and things,
 which is obtained by an intercourse with the world
 Technical learping is all which is necessary. IL may he too re6ned-oo metaphysical, (if the cxpres- sion may be allowed with reference to thus sUhecl)- sound common must be addedto ii-both united, make a learned and practical Judge. How Is the requisite legal knowledge obtained Bystudy refec- aion, arguments of counsel. From what source IS the knowe edge of men and things obtHinedH By reading, observation, nnd intercourse with the world. Does it require the aid of Circuit Court system to obtain competent to discharge his judicial dutcs though the Docket of the Circuit Court which he holds re, quired much active employment to dispose of It Does no. ss "s . do o ase with his friends and Deighbors? And does he mol furnish living example of learned as well as useful Judge. without the aid derived from much active duty at the Circuit The duties of Nisi Prius Judge do not admit of much elaborate examination. Questions of law of necessity decided ofien-tmes without time for deliberate reflection. The Judge of such Court should be quick of apprehension but he ob- aains there grea. expansion of m'nd. It is not school to furnish even the elements which constitute the essential characteristics of Judge of the highest judicial tribunal OG this nation. .
 l might add, that those who appo inted to this high office are, and will e ordinarily, I not always, taken ow the extensive practice at the bar and who therefore come upon the beach with all the advan- tages of loHg and uninterrupted exercise ct the powers of the mind, employed on subjects connected with their dutes and that there is little danger appehend that these advantages will be impaired or los, # they are separated from the Circuits.
 But is there no evil which attends the system which requires the performance "f circuit duties! Has the profession heard of what is sometimes called pride of opinion! Are Judges exempt from its operation? Do they not possess any portion of that "ainre which is common to the species1 Are they Dot meni And is there danger that this pride ot Opinion will he carried from the circuit to the appel late tribunal
 need not reply to the suggestion, that separation from the circuits will the Judges he less n- dustrious. The Honorable member from Pennrylva- mia furnished it when he pointed out with 30 much ability the various and important duties which they called 10 perform. the high and transcendant powers with which they were inves.ed-the extended jursdcton which they possessed, n cases involving principles of constitutional, statute, ciVi common. ad%rsty, and maritime & and equity law va Win @ CTS conferred on them nd"lence can have mo place Constant application and "n,'!ng industry would con ti".e to charac'erizs as it hitherto has done' the
 haee endeavored, as briefly az could, 10 present the views which I entertain of the b''f which has heen offered to the consideration of the Committee. shall not trespass upon their patience, by recaP't- niation of them. My thanks are due for the indul- gence which has been so literally extended to me- for the kind attention and the patience with which the nave up uy CTuuC ~uu ueS"HosS remarks. I cannot, however, resume my seat without once more invoking their attention to the paramount importance of ths biIl, connected i is with the highest judicial tribunal of the nation. The tide ofl party prejudice and feeling. and of popular excite ment may roll in upon us like flood. In s dosoia- ting course, may lay waste and destroy many of our valuable institutions The balefIl and cOrrupting n- dOe0ce of party spirit may enter other departments of inc Gov ernent; but preserve invioaie the integrity the independence, the sense of individual respons
 y the learning ofthe Supreme Court this ark of the political covenant and inc public confidence tn tt. and au will he well. The Government will be safe. Their popular excitement will cease. Impair or destroy these essential characteristics of this august tribuna aud all will be iOst rretrievably and forever lost.
 a ' 7 ..$ .f .. ,~' CHARLEsrowN. Va. March IT. Ebenezer Cox, the murderer of MT. Dunn. late Superintendent at Harper's Ferry. has .nade fuil confession of his crime. and has accused seven other persons of having been accessary to the murder. The particulars of this horrihIe act are few. He went into the Superintendent's office. set his gun down. in order tO destroy all suspicion. and asked Mr. Dunn for employment in the armory. This being refused. he immediately took up the gun and presented it at Mr. D's head. Mir. Dunn immediately threw up his hand. ex- My God :" when the muzzle was lowered to his breast. and the gun fired. C"x immediately left the office. which was SO 6il- ed with sn"ke. he did not know that the shet had taken effect.
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