Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-04-26
FoR the RICHMOND WING.


20 '"S Judges elect Of Me Court Of appeals Of
Virginia.
Gentlemen: The people of a free country owe to
.heir Courts OF Justice profound respect. No man
Is more sensible of :hls than the obscure individual
who presumes to address you; none more resolved
observe It, 1t is their right, however, to speak the
truth to their Judges in all decorum this right 1t is
purpose to exercise. I have the honor to know Won
all personally, and cherish towards you feelings of
mingled Kindness and Difference The spotless ius.
ice, the unwavering impartiaty of the Virginia
judiciary are the subjects of pride and of praise
amongst her citizens. Bear with few hints which
may not be inappropriate, altogether useless.
The delays of the Court of Appeals under the
old Constitution, were tremendous were ruinous,
many causes, not now necessary to be noticed NAV
have contributed TO produce this grevous calamity:
one Is obviousto ALL the length of The opinions of the
Judges, and the manner of their delivery. A few
examples will serve to illustrate this In the 9Th
volume OF Randolph's Reports are the cases of
Land " Jeffries, Whtworth v. Adams, Striblnp
the Valley Bank, and Warwick ". McMurdo
The opinions of the Judges IA these four cnse, oc
cuPy TOO hundred and eighty,fo pages The case
last named decides the question whether admins
traitor de oonls non can sue the representative of the
deceased administrator. The opinions of the Judg
es cover "a pages! Is tAis extraordinary What
delay. what waste! what an inflicton upon the bar
and the pu6lc!-The oplniens of the Judges in the
case second named fill 90 pages. If a lawyer were
about to read them to an inferior court or jury an.
prehend, it would employ him about q Iav and hair
ana THIS 10 read single authority. 1t is said the
opinion OF an able and learned Judge in the case of
Coiston " Long reposes comfortably in some 800
pages OF close manuscript. Thank God 1t never WINS
published. Requiescat in pace!
Is there, in the annals of Jurisprudence n n,aco.
dent for such csursei The only thing approxima
ting 10 II, that has ever met my eve is Dr. Rush's
mot ben]amn) treatise of five hundred pages upon
tne human voice. Chancellor Kent it is true gives
US some long opinions, but not comparable in extent
with those of which compain-Turn to Rnnom,s
REPORTS, and see whether Lord Mansfield the iurist
ana the classic, thus surfeied his readers Examine
'onnsons Common Law Reports, and you will find
inc wise and accurate Spencer delivering opinions
whose brevity you are tempted to lament But wby
lea'e virginia! The opinions of her General Court
are excellent IN their manner, and worthy of all
commentator Resort to the golden age of her iu-
as given to us IN the simple aRd graphic
pages OF Washington: read the arguments of Mar
shaii aud Wicsham the opinions of Pendetop
rove these opinions flowing they do from the in.
Most Fecesses of thought, tinged with the purast
'gntS OF science, crowned with the loveest praces
OF dictIon The memory of their author is halIoved
Oh could such era return! the bar and tho neonIo
would unite to bless it. Il is in your powcr to con
Ter IL upon u.s. Give fair play TO your faculties and
attainments No longer yield them to a mistaken
Gentlemen, when cause is argued, confer with
each other let member Of the court prouuIpate
us J0dgsnt IN language clear, COOL and comprehen-
sNe' Let us hear principles and authorizations
not disquisitions and homilies The JaU-scbo,s Tic
gszeties, the forum, will supply these. Announce
the results OF your deliberations; cease to speculate
De not over-curious about the scholarly nicety of
your style. GiOe ur tato.
am informed that the speeches of the LAWYERS
nave nave 9een Of length surprising credbility. Is it
Huo that distinguished advocate spoke foT seVen
dsys't-"Six days shalt thou labor Did General
harshali' when at the bar, ever speak half day1-
Is there no remedy for this evll'
may take unwarrantable freedom. Excuse me
for my cause. ! respect you, iudicialIy and indvi-
GuanY am poor country lawyer, doomed to read
al that IS wrlttsu.-Thnk, gentlemen, of our dismay
on encountenng Whtworth " Adams; imagine the
yet untsvealed terrors of CostOn Long; pity and
forgive me. WORD TO THE WISE.
Has say writer, asc>at uodyn Rivea bir to tract
2T devtc< for stopping he huV1an voice. limiting acon7
ISatH bsnGaeor Of eur Dotd he bsrsgdrSed Of him
" ne homage Of tsheayt Icould be SAIL "ssdts Roaui
UrPsores ced0e graft"
IN ne same tine merchTat might go to Padelphia len
~ NE stock Of goods, and to hear ds p,yoyaG1