Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-12-17

The gentleman from Iauderdae expresses his apprehension, that should the bill be adopted that the salaries ofthe Crcuil Judges will in 1853 be re- duced, and that men ofrespectable talents could not be found who would be willing to go upon that bench for a salary less than that now paid. 1 have Mir Chairman such fears. believe. should this bill pass, that the salaries of the Circuit Judges would and should be somewhat reduced, perhaps to $500 or $l6O0 and this amount would be much better salary than they now receive under the pre- sent system, lnaslnuch their abors would be di- unfinished by one half
 But 1t Is said the Constitution may be so amend ed as to enlarge the Circuits. If so the Judges would be made pack-horses 1 would reduce their labor and not add to it. 1.-the separate Supreme Court should be established, 1 would then be willing to enlarge the CircLits. fthe bill should be adopt ed by the Legislature, the Judges of the Supreme Court may and will meet every day to dis pose ofthe business which may be brought before them Tor adjudication. They would not disregard public opinion. They would be conscious of the reasons which induced the change in the judicial system. There would no longer be any imped- ment to the expeditions administration of justice Then the State would have abundant cause for con- graduation; fellow citizens would rejoice in the change. Did not honestly think so 1 would not be so warm an advocate for the bill Inever will be satisfied until we shall have made the experiment. The mere theory will not be sufficient for me. In conclusion, coniure the Senate to take into their most mature consideration the evils under which we anu II we are gONelheu DY llc experience or others, we will not only organize separate Stu preme Court, but we shall reap from it the most be- nefcal results
 SATURDAY, DEC. discrimination of the debate on the bill providing for seperate Supreme Court.
 Mir MORTON in the Chair: Mir PICKETT said he had intended yesterday, before the debate com menced, to offer an amendment to the bill under con sideration but was not at the time prepared to do SO; he presumed, however 1t would now be in order.
 The chairman decided it would be in order when Mir PICKETT moved to add the following amend ment to the bill: And be it further enacted, that no member of the legislature of this state shall be egi- ble to any office of honor trust profit, during the time for which he is elected, which office is filled by vote of the legislature.
 Mir POWELL inquired if the amendment which had been offered by the gentleman from Au'auga, not irrelevant the bill under discussonl If so the amendment was precluded by rule ofthe senate.
 Mir PICKETT said, it would appear that the amend ment which he had submitted was irrelevant, but that bill had already been introduced, which had for its object to establish the principle expressed in the amendment proposed, and if the amendment could be incorporated into the bill now under consi- iteration, it would save much time to the deIibera- tions of the Senate, and would facilitate the business before them. If then, time could be obtained by d. dopting the amendment, he thought it eminently de- sirable.
 Mir BRIDGES said, he thought the phraseology of the amendment could be altered, as to make it applicable. and not irrelevant He thoug h desirable that an amendment might be added to the bill, which would apply to the members of the present Legisa- ture, and this doubtless the object contemplated by the gentleman from Auauga.
 Mir JACKSON said, the Constitution of the State has provision which it would seem renders the propos- ed amendment unnecessary. The constitution says, ' No Senator Representative shall, during the '' term for which he shall have been elected be ap- "pointed to any civil office of profit under this State, " which shall have been created, or the emoluments nF yh cbnlI hnva baop dnrin enol, T term." Vide. Cons Article 3. Sec 25. It is then obvious that the Constitution provides expressly that no member of the legislature shall be eligible to of flee, which shall have been created during the term for which he shall have been elected, if it be civil office of profit But if the Constitution were silent upon this subject, then it is manifest the amendment is irrelevant and is precluded by that rule ofthe Se nate, which has just been read by the gentleman from Madison.
 The Chair decided that the amendment, being irrelevant, was not in order.
 MT PICKETT said, he differed from the Chair in opinion, but would not appeal to the Senate from the decision made
 The amendment having been disposed of, the Se- nate resumed the consideration of the bill.
 Mir JACKSON said he regretted he had been sub jected to the necessity of again addressing the Se- nate upon this subject, having occupied so much time in the discussion of the question on yesterday; but the arguments advanced by the gentleman from Greene (Mr ERWIN, left him no alternative. He said, he would promise to be brief, and hoped this would secure to him the indulgence of the Senate.
 The gentleman from Greene had in the course of his very able argument, msrepresented some of the views which urged but that misrepresentation was doubtless wholly unintentona and arose from mis- conception. It is true I said, the Judges were not in my opinion sufficiently attentive to the discharge of their duties that they seldom were Tn session more than two hours per day. In this the Senator from Greene says am mistaken and that so far as his ex perience goes, being practitioner m the Supreme Court that they remain in session four hours, per haps six It would be charitable to say that we are both in error. l may have stated the time too little and he too much; we will then say they in ses- sion three hours each day. would ask, if this be the fact sufficient disposition is manifested by the Judges to attend to that prodiglous mass of busi ness as it is called and which il is said they able to accomplish. Sir, if we reason from logy wonld ask, what mechanic, or merchant or farmer, would be considered attentive to his tion who devoted not more than three hours of the day to his employment! None, and lthey did, pros perity and wealth would never crown their meager exeriions; and Sir, that Judge who is constituted by the State to perform judicial duties. and who Is muneraed for his mental !abors, cannot and will not be considered asrendering an equivalent, who spends So short space of tune in the Court room
 At session of the Legislature not long since, once boarded at the same house with the Judges They then never went to Court till 10 o'clock, and on my return to dinner always found them there. have them also spending their afternoons in tle streets. They may however have been engaged in some indispensable business, in visiting their friends; and would not deny to them, or any other person, the pleasures of social lfe the rites of hos pality, but duties to the public paramount to every other consideration. And whenever our pleasures or our private affairs interfere with our pub lie duties we should resign the duties assigned to us into the hands of those who confded them to our