Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-04-26
THE LAST DAY AND NIGHT OF THEu
SESSION--and the Judiciary Bill.

Onc Vi the ScVcreSt struggles KNOWN 10
the history of Congress, was made to defeat
the extension of the judiciary over the eight
states in the south and west. Some OF them
have been deprived Of the benefits Of the
circuit system for nearly twenty years.
During the whole of Gen. Jackson's adj
ministration, anxious soicitude was felt to
add two new circuits, but the opposition had
the majority in the senate, and the ability to
defeat the attempt, which was openly resis-
ted for the reason that they were unwilling
that President Jackson should fill the ap-
pointments. When Mr.. Van Buren, was
elected, however, and the administration
had majority in the senate, and MAORI.
ty of at least forty in the house, no further
obstacles stood in the way, and no excuse
could be given by the representatives in
congress belonging to the majority party,
for Withholding equal benefits from the new
states. The minority through the entire
south and west, held one uniform language
in relation to that powerful class, the legal
profession, to wit: that the administration
party were not in earnest; they did not in
tend to extend the federal judiciary, but
meant to hold up the measure to sickle the
palates" Of prominent men desiring to be
judges, and keep them firm to the support
of the administration that the course was
favorte one with the New York leaders,
who were insiduously using this means to
tantalize western asprants; that they would
continue to do so throughout Mr.. Van Bu-
ren's first term, and avail themselves, in the
next election, of an overweening temptation
to control the support of the bar by nefa-
rious subterfuge.
In the senate until the last session of
Congress, the minority elected the judiciary
committee, which had absolute control of
the subject, aid kept at its head Mr.. Clay
ton of Delaware, one of the prominent OPP
position leaders, from whom nothing could
be expected. But at the opening of the last
session, Mr.. Grundy of Tennessee was cleo
ted Chairman; he forthwith reported bill!
laying off two new circuits, and in form
SO unobiectonable that the bill passed the
senate without objection, and was sent TO
the house. There, all parties from the eight
new states were not only content with the
bill, but most anxious for its passage. Nor
had the members of Congress any excuse
to furnish their constituents should the bill
fail, save the one for so many years urged
as true by the opposition, shat the MAORI
ty were playing false, and defeating the
measure with sinister views to future elec-
tioneering." These representations, so long
and so perseveringly made, had impressed
themselves strongly on the minds of the
people, and especially the bar, of the exclu-
ded states; great majority had more or
less confidence in their truth and had the
judiciary bill! faai;lleed, not one in fifty would
have doubted the faithlessness Of the major
ity; they had the undoubted power in each
house, and why it was not exercised to car
ry into effect this great national measure,
no member of the house could have ex-
planned to have reasoned with the bar, or
the people, that rulers of the majority's own
making had cut off the bill, whilst hundreds
of trifling claims, and petty appropriations
to promote local ends, were acted on, would
have been treated with ridicule and con-
tempt, aud him who asserted it, with scorn.
To dofoSt the bill, therefore, was likely &c
sap the administration party in eight states
and TO bring its sincerity into disrepute in
many mere. To this end, powerful ey.
ertion was made by that factious knot ofmal.
contents to every public interest headed by
Mr.. Bell. On the night of the second Of
March the civil list bill was apparently with.
in few minutes of being passed--and then
the judiciary bill! would be next reached
and passed to third and final reading ir
the house certainly within the hour, if nc
embarrassment were thrown in the way.
There was not opposed to it equal to cal
of The yeas and nays-one fifth. To de-
feat it, was only possible by speaking agans
time the whole of the sitting Of Thursday
This was determined on, and about nine
o'clock in the evening, Mr.. Peyton rose ant
offered to amend the civil list bill, by the ap
pointment of an agent for the deposite banks
declaring this would turn out Reuben NJ
Whitney; and TRADE of abuse against the
administration was gone into, and pursued
for some four hours then Mr.. Wise fol
lowed for about as long; and at daylight
Friday morning, they ceased, and the house
adjourned until ten o'clock. 1t met, ant
passed the civil list bill, by which time an
other appropriation bill was returned from
the senate with amendments. This passed
through the house in committee, anothel
member of course being in the chair
and Instantly the talented chairman o
the Judiciary committee, Mr.. Thomas o
Maryland, called for the Judiciary bill. ]
struck Mr.. Bell like lightning. He hac
heretofore kept concealed ; protesting to b.
friendly to the passage of the judiciasy bill
"f it could be reached" yet saying, "h'
thought there was no necessity for hurryin.
it through at that time." Mr.. Bell coul,
not stand it longer-his vindictveness 60
the better of his cunning, and he made OPP
position to the bill. Mr.. Robertson of Vir
} GINA began vigorously to oppose it; not di
rectly, but proposing one circuit should b.
} added---one circuit for eight States! Ate
he was through, Mr.. Speaker Polk rose 70
the first time since he has been in the chat
to address the house. He appealed with al
energy, depth of feeling, and vigorous elo
, quence, to the sense of Justice "inherent il
every heart" Tin his own words,) that ope
rated like magic the vast and listening
crowd was hushed into the silence of
church; and the Speaker closed with a hun
of appreciation, perhaps as deep and uni
versal as has ever been witnessed in tina
house, without distinction Of party, (Mr
Bell and his few excepted.) This forbear
ing and unpretending man drew to the grea
measure OF the session, unanimous, and un