The Port-Gibson correspondent., 1843-07-29


ot bis elecslon, and also, that the several
clerks Of The court be elected By the
qualified electors Of the several counties
composing the districts Of the courts. {
apprehend that there can Be no differ
ence of opinion IS % the necessity for
1.-The purposes of ensnring public justice
that chancery Jurisdiction should be-
lexeFcised By other tribunals than The
Superior Court Of Chancery. Ii is inn
possible for the Chancellor of the Su.
preme Court 70 discharge the onerous
duties which require the interposiiion of
ehancery or equity jurisdiction. There
fore respectfully suggest to tho LegisIa.
Eture, the propriety of providing By law
for the continuance Of the Vice Chancery
Court for limited period only, and Of
proposing an amendment 10 the 18th
section Of tie 4th article ofthe constitu-
ton, by which the Legislature shall have
power 20 vest in the Circuit Courts full
equity jurisdiction; such an amendment
Of the constitution would in my opinion)
be attended with many advantages to the
eitizens--it would bring equity jurisdic-
| tion within the convenient reach of every
suitor, and would relieve the State from
the salary of Vice Chancellor. never
have been able 10 discover the indispen-
lsabie necessity, or even utility, Of the
establishment Of courts of a separate
Chaneery jurisdiction. tits my opinion;
based upon full knowledge Of the Judi
lcial business Of the State, that no injury.
or even inconvenience, would accrue to
the ends Of justice, or the rights Of the
people, by aboiishing both the Vice Chan.
Ecery Court and the Superior Court Of
lChancery. If the Superior Court Of
| IChancery were abolished, full chancery
jurisdiction vested in the Circuit Courts,
with an appeal, &c. to the High Court Of
Errors and Appeals, the circuits Of the
State reduced from eleven to seven, Eat
lmost) the State would be saved the sala-
Try of six of the thirteen judges. Justice
would be brought within the convenient
reach of every suitor, and the ends OF
public justice would be as fully effected
and as ably administered, as under the
present expensive system. This may be
considered aa abrupt reduction in The
number of The judges. am, howepers
satisfied that the business will (if not al.
this time by the time tie ohiaet ean k.
effected, justify the measure. None who
arecOnscious Of the embarrassed condi-
ltion of The Treasury Of the State, md the
lburthensone taxes imposed on The peo.
| pie will deny that such reduction is de.
manded by the Tax payers. | believe
that public functionaries, at least of The
Judicial department Of the government.
should have constant employment, and
that they should receive full and ade-
quate compensation for their Time, tal-
EMS, requirements and labor.
The late revenue net will require your
immediate consideration. It's provisions
are materially defective, and operate "a.
therto defeat than to effect the collection
Of the revenue. The fifth section of this
act provides sthat the boards Of police Of
the several counties shall, st specified
times, appoint one honest, discreet citi-l
zen of their county, being a free holder
and house holder, TO determine the Quali-
ty's Of all lands in their respective coun-
ties,n &c. The boards af police OF seve-
raj counties have decided that this provi-
sion is ia conflict with the 2oth section
Of the Ist article of the constitution; ia
consequences of such decision (which isl
probably correct, such boards Of police
have refused 10 appoint any person TO
classify the lands Of such counties, the
several members Of such boards have al
So refused TO perform the duties Of COM
missioner within their respective police
districts. In some few. counties, as have
learned, the members Of the boards OF
police, to avoid the performance Of this
duty, have resigned their Office. Under
This state Of affairs, There being no pow
|er either in the executive, or in any Of
fScer other than the board of police To-
appoint such commissioners, the lands 10
such counties have not been classified
and consequently no land lax has been
collected therein.
The provision of the revenue laws
which requires ssthat lands shall be ads
veriised il d nescspapsr when the taxes
are not paid, = has greatly increased the
bnrthens of taxation upon the peoples,
and ii many Instances has been the I'M.
mediate cause Of loss Of revenue 70 the
State; these results have been produced +
BY fraudulent combinations between some
of the lax collectors and publishers oil
newspapers and persons assuming that
character. Presses have been establish
ed fasl have been informed "a several
or the counties for tho seLe purpose of
advertising the ands liable 10 be sold for
taxes. From these presses weekly
shees OF hand bsA has been issued Of ve-
ry limited circulation, containing fre-
quenlly, separate description Of every
half quarter section Of iauds thereby de-
:, ......- a LLa Lana e-nar- aL ~ aE the han--