The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-15
Philadelphia.
Correspondence Of the Herald.l
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. IL, lSi3.
Courts and Jadges-Dind and Matter-Praise and
PuDfng-Wit and Wisdom

f-UUHS-Vu ana VtsuOW
DEAR SIR :
1t has just occurred to me that it may not be an
inappropriate season to say word or two publicly
about our courts and judges. The vast number of
citizens in the various capacities Of counsel, jurors,
witnesses, and parties, who are daily brought in
contact with our judges, render them objects wor-
thy our anxious solicitude and careful watchful-
ness. As man, proud, naughty, little man, dressed
in brief authority, Is very apt to forget himself and
merge the rights of others in his forgettulness, it is
not amiss now and then to remind him of fact
which may, in his varied and important engage
ments, have escaped his recollection-that others
do not forget him, or who he was, or what he is
and if he should continue long in his said forget
fulncss, that he will be woke up in hurry at a
time when he is least prepared for 1t. We mean
this as hint, for the present, and hope 1t may SUIT
flee to correct the sef-sufficiency of some gentle
men, and relieve the Bar at least, who encounter
it most, of the exhibition of selt-sufflciency and
Importance, with various displays OF passion and
us,irpation of authority unbecomng one gentle
man towards another. To that part of my subject,
farewell for the present we shall meet again II
occasion requires IT.
Our Supreme Court of the State is now sitting
in our city. 1t is composed Of five Judges learned
in the law, &c. Nc. The Hon. John Banster
Gibson is Chief Justice, and very much esteemed
and properly valued by the bar in the State, for
his urbany of manners and profound legal know
ledge. The Chief Justice is in person large man,
six feet and upwards " height, and well proper
toned fond of good living, and all the appurte-
nances of a bold and mastery intellect. In the
trial of a cause, or its decision, he sacrifices
Justice right to forms and ceremonies. IL is said
of him that he prepares his opinions, for writing
his back or in his arm chair with violin in hand,
and almost equals OleBull; cause why his sentences
are SO harmonious Next in order comes the Hon.
Motion Chopper Rogers, an exceeding neat, dapper
little man, with spectacles nose. He is Judge
OF quick and keen perceptions and sound legal
learning--is much be ow the middle size in stature,
yet Notwithstanding, it is said he was a volunteer
in the last war, and was always found faithful -
brave and devoted in the field and in garrison. 1t is
said he is now disciple of oh in his judicial career
Next comes the Honorable Charles Huston, an
old man turned of seventy, tall and thin, eccentric
and peculiar in many respects. His skin seems to
have borrowed the hue of the parchment, over
which he has labored for many years he was
eminent at the bar advocate, but furnishes
another striking instance of the fact that an able
advocate may sometimes make very Indifferent
Judge; he has very little respect for the opinions
or decisions of others, and usually seeks no better
authority for his legal opinions than their novelty.
He has been heard to MAINTAIN upon the bench
the singular doctrine, that the laws and decisions
of courts were better understood when they were
carried the sheepskin saddle bags of the lawyers
from court to court, than they now in regularly
published volumes OF reports; he is wltha adroit
and deXterous in the transmutatlon of facts, and
would be almost able to cope with Hudlbras IN d.
viding a hair 'twlxt north and northwest side.
We are opposed to the alteration OF the constitu-
ton, which altered the judicial term from life TO
years We would have substituted the terms-''so
long as he retains his vigor of intellect, or until
mbecility commenced, and, in the opinion Of his
brother judges, he would enjoy life better in rural
retirement
Next in order is the Honorable John Kenneday,
emphatlcally called the Pocket Library OF the
Supreme Court He is near seventy years OF age
tall, thin, and of tough fbrus constitution,
pabe of enduring much labor; he is slow, patient,
and plodding-of sound Judgment, and great recti-
hna hnon oh
jected to account of their lntermlnable length,
and ar regarded as species of omnibus, drag net,
cast over the whole empire OF the law, from the
age of Bracton and Flea down to the last tedious
day-book and ledger volume OF Watts and Ser
geant's reports:
The fifth and last Judge of the Supreme Court, is
the Honorable Thomas Sergeant a mild, anna
BILE, and learned Judge, who spends those hours
his closet he is man OF books more than OF
men, being industrious and Flooding, and proud of
his erudlton, as most erudite men are.
The Judges of the District Court of the city and
county of Philadelphia are, Messrs. Thomas Nc.
Kean Petit, President, George Mcdowell Stroud
and Joel Jones, associates. This IS court OF ex-
tensive civil jurisdiction and very Justly enjoys the
confidence and respect OF the community. To per-
form the various duties incumbent upon them, the
Judges are compelled to intense labor at least ele-
ven months in the year. Judge Petit Is a man OF
good sound practical sense, with very respectable
attainments as lawyer at times little testy, but
withal an excellent Judge.
Judge Stroud is an admirable case lawyer, an up
right man, and thorough-going, driving-business
Judge. He is generally called, by the bar, illegal
ste am engine.
Judge Jones is mild and amable, but firm and
decided man. He is judge of great learning and
research, and an invaluable member of the court.
The Court of Common Pleas, General Quarter
Sessions, Oyer and Terminer Orphans Court, and
| General Court of Equity, consist of four Judges
Hon. Edward King, President, and the Honorables
| John Richter Jones, James Campbell and Arson
Tha .xTt 81,
court is very extensive, and touches the interests
of almost every citizen; indeed, Its jurisdiction Is
| too extensive; we ought TO have an lndepend ent
criminal jurisdiction for the city and county. AL
ready has the present court begun to encounter a
portion OF public that followed into Its retire
ment the one that preceded it, not from its laxlty
of administrations which characterized, in the estl-
nation of some Ythe late court but from its haste in
the trial of causes, and Draconlan spirit OF punish
ment.
The President Edward King, famary called
| the Lord High Chancellor of the Common Pleas,
Nc, is good Judge, and would be much better il
he avoided those frequent attempts to show great
study and learning, when there is but fair proper
ton 1t is to be regretted that he has not the cour
| age to do what the goodness of his heart would
ever prompt HIM TO. His abilities are OF a high
order, yet his want of stamina OF character, with
desire TO court the wealthy and influential paraly
ses his energies, and in measure destroys his use
| glng that prevails upon the bench. Had he bu
courage equal TO his abilities a lawyer and nudge
| he would be the pride of Pennsylvania. 1t is no,
too late, with so good heart TO cultivate courage
| it will serve him in all time. Those that use and
| hatter, screen him. We like the man, and could
admire him more if he would be himself, and break
the chains that bind his intellect and enslave his
person. 1t is said that he is to be the brother-in-
law of Judge Parsons. lie will do well to study
| courage, and contempt of power and influence
when il conflicts with right, in the school OF Judge
Parsons.
Judge Jones is about 40 years of age and is a
quick testy man, a great stickler for rules, and a
mighty chopper Of logic and distractions, is rather
self-conceited, egotistlca, but is witha an hon
est man. He has most exalted sense of his own
consequence and power, and will not endure those
who doubt the one or question the other Could
he dvest himself of his passions he would not be
a very Objectionable judge. Bpt as IT is, though
weakened and obscured by excess of the passions
and foibles, to which have above adverted lie fire.