Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-04-26
For THE RICHMOND WING.
To The Judges elect of the Court Of Appeal, OF
pirsintn.

10 The Judges eject Of the Court Of .4ppeais OF
pirsintu.
Gcntiemcn: The people of Il free country owe "a
Their Courts OF Justice profound respect. No man
Is more sensible OF Tins than the obscure individual
VINO Presumes to address You; resolved to
observe 1t. Ii 70 their right however, TO speak the
truth TO their Judges all dccorum; this right IT is nv
purpose to exercise. ] have the honor 10 know YOU
all personally, and cherish towards you feelings of
M ngied. Kindness and Difference The spotless JUS.
ice, The unwavering impartiaiity of the Virginia
Iu"'ciary are the subjects Of pride and Of praise
amongst her citizens. Bear with few hints which
may not be inappropriate, nor altogether useless
The delays of the Court of Appeals, under the
o!d Constitution, were Tremendous, were Tuinous.
Many causes not now necessary to be noticed, may
have contributed to produce this grievous calamity:
one Is obvious to ALL the length of the opinions of the
Judges and the manner of their delivery. A few
examples viii serve to illustrate this In the 5;h
volume of Randolph's Reports are the cases of
Land v. Jeffrcs, Whitworth v. Adams, Striblinp
the valley Bank, and Warwick V. McMurdo
The opinions of the Judges, in these four cases oc
cupy t,oo hundred ana eighty fur pages! The case
last named decides the question whether an admins
traitor de bons non can Que the resentave of the
deceased administrator. The opinions Of the JUDI
es cover ~ pages! Is not tAis extraordinary, VIVA,
delay! what waste! what an infection upon the ba
and the public!-The opIniens OF the Judpes in the
case second named fill % pages. If LAWYER were
about TO read them to inferior court or iiry an
prenend, 1t would employ him about day and n hair
III
opinion of an able and learned Judge in the csse of
Coston " Long reposes comfortably in some 900
pages OF close manuscript. Thank God It never WINS
published. Requicscat in pace
Is there, IN the annals Of Jurisprudence prcco.
dent Tor such q Coursel The only thing approxImo
ting TO 1t, that mas ever met my eye is Dr. Rush 3
mot Benjamin. treatise Of five hundred papes upon
the human voice. Chancellor Kent il il true g,vce
Us some long opinions, but not comparable in extent,
with those of which | complan.-Turn 10 Bunous
whether Or1 sfnId H.
ana The classic thus surfeued his readers Examine
Johnsons Common Law Reports, and YOU will find
the wise and accurate Spencer delivering CD mons
whose Oreviiy you are tempted to lament But why
leave virginia. The opinions of her General Cour,
are excellent in their mlnner, and worthy oC all
commentator Resort TO the golden age Of her ia.
rsprudence, as given to in the simple nd grpphc
pages OF Washington: read the arguments Of Mar
shall and WIckham, the opinions of Pende,on
love these opinions, flowing they do from the in
most recesses of thought, tnged with the pur.st
Ights oi science, crowned with the ovelest oraces
OF dIction. The memory of their altbor is haliowed
YIN c0u such an ere return! the bar and the people
would unite To bless it, IL is in your power TO con
Ter II upon us. Give fair play to your faculties and
at'nmons. No longer yield them to mistaken
taste.
Gentlemen, when cause is argued, confer with
each other; let member of the court prcmulyatc
it, Jadgent in language clear cool, and compre6cn-
slVe' Let us hear principles and adjudicntiops
not dsquisltIons and hOmlIes. The law-schooIs Tho
gazettes, The forum, will rupply these. Announce
the results OF your deliberations; cease to speculate
BE- not over-curlous about the scholarly nicetv nr
your style. Giye us iac.
am Informed that the speeches of the lawyers
have been Of length surprising crcdblIity. f. il
truo that distinguished advocate spoke Tor sovcn
dd.ay"t-"Sx days shalt thou labor. Did General
Marshall, when at the bar, ever speak half q day
Is there no rem>sly for this evil'
may take unwsfrantabIs freedom. Excuse rns
Tor my cause. respect you, judically and indvi-
dunnY. om poor country lawyer, doomed to read
all that IS "rItten,-Thnk, gentlemen of our dlsmay
ON encounlerIng Whtwort6 " Adams. ,no,,inc ,bo
YET unreVoaIed terrors of CostJn " Long; pitv and
org'vc me. WORD TO THE WISE
H1s any ur1ter, ancient MODERN FiDen birth 10 tract
" driee FOR stopping h human voioe or iGa0 ne oeoni
hat oenVdcor ~ our race 0oud he be yegdrdeG Of him
'Upto,es cedite gran"
IN me SANE tpe merchant mght 70 10 PhiLIdeLpb;n la,
- ms stock n goods, and ret,a 10 hear NE peyopoiiou