Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-11
THE SUPREME COURT.
HOUSE OF Observation-Disclosures 8 lsas

/ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 6. Is4s.
Mr.. j. r. INGERsoII, moved ba, ,be,nIs. BE- .,sosos.
CD Tor me purpose Of taking up the bill supplemental to the
acl entitled An act concerning the Supreme Court of the
umea htes approved June IL 1874 and the amendment
moved ny Mr. bowLiS to the same
The motion agreed TO- and the hill ,vos tokan m
MT = " NuEAoOLL explained the necessity and urged
!e passage OF This bill reatng the arguments used when
Wa ass peole ne House He also replied some objec
.ions MADE py he gentleman from Missouri (Mr BowLIs)
The bill proposed TO relieve the Judges of The Supreme ourt
OF Inc United STATES from attendance circuit for the term of
TWO years or the purpose OF enabling them give their whole
aenon 10 the appeal docket which cases had greatly c
cumuated he had been surprised 10 find that doubts ve,
entertained in some quarters whether any business copla ~
done by the district judges circuit if the Supreme Conr,
Judges OF the United States discharged from that n,v
II there any force that objection the If me
bill would have the effect of bringing business on The cir
CUTS 10 stand but TO show that based on error he
referred TO the act Of Congress of the 29h of Ap 1902
which would be found page 1885, p Of the statutes at
age which gave the district Judge alone the power TO hold
circuit courts at any and all times. He the fourth sec
ton Of that show that the power which he had sneceJ
was given to the district Judge. E
he should be very reluctant take away the circuits
the learning and ability and industry Of the circuit Judges Il
ne were not perfectly assured from ample experience, Of the
learning and ability and industry of the district judges them
selves In the Penn ylvana district after the death Of Judge
Baldwin, and during his sicknessa period of than
yesa the business Of the circuit done by the district
Judge, man OF great regulations and the business
better done than during that time The district judges
men OF ability, and they perfectly competent discharge
the duty that would devoye upon them during the years
that they would be deprived Of the assistance Of the circuit
judges by this BILL while the Supreme Court would thereby be
enabled dispose Of the its calendar which
accommodating and the decision Of which Of pressing
necessity.
Mr. T. then gave historical review Supreme Court
the enlargement from time time Of lis TERMS from early
period down to the change by which the
Of its session altered the first Monday Janu-
airy the first Monday December He read tabular state
of the condition OF its docket number cases
disposed OF during succession years. and went on to emu
the States from which the that
the docket and thereby showed that in this bill suitos
from the distant States had the deepest interests and be then
great length urged with much earnestnes the passage OF
the bill.
advocacy of amendment which he proposed substitute for
the bill of the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Nh. STEPHENS moved the previous question.
Mr.. HOUSTON, of Alabama moved to lay the bill upon
the table which motion decided in the negative Yeas
67, nays SO.
The question secondng the demand for the previous
question then put and refused Yeas g. nays rs.
Mr. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, moved to amend The bill
by striking out the words two years. and inserting
year., to limit the operation of the bill for year.
Mr. L. said he convinced that reform should DO
made in the judiciary system this country twas required by
the number Of appeals from all sections of the country He
had the House this morning determined not sup
port this bill but he frank confess that the remarks Of
the chairman OF the Committee the Judiciary had induced
him to change his mind He understood the honorable gen.
eman say he would introduce bill for the reform of the
judiciary not possible for the House at this time to
consideration
but any who familiar with the number Of and
the progress Of business before the Supreme Court must be
convinced that absolute injustice perpeaied the clients
before that Court He would mention and from
this they might Judge Of others His attention had teen cali
cd to by of his constituents. II involving
SIS 000 and brought up the Supreme Court by appeal
1884, and entered the docket of lsf445. was con-
tinued the docket Of lSf5-46. lsi6-47 and
the docket of ls474S, number IS, there being some
twenty before IT,
Mr.. J. r. ISGERsoLI. The Court has just got beyond
number 4S.
Mr. THoNpsoS (contnuing) said would be impossible
reach during this session of the Court unless bill of
this character passed Congress Now TO the necessary
result OF this delay the parties SS 900 invoked in
the controversy the defeated party brought up with
expectation Of the appeal but for the benefit Of the
delay They refused to submit to the Court printed
guments, but insisted that counsel should appear The
sequence that the party who had justice his side
about be sold out having been deprived of justice for four
years, and desperate condition That but
case He knew how many there Of a ST.
mlar character He thought the House should take the sub
jeci into consideration and adopt system, pos
spe which these judges could be constrained greater
progress, be enabled TO make greater progress Gas was
said they unable TODD For has part he found that
the increasing the length Of the which they held had
increased the number Of disposed Of He went
details to show the fact that the dispatch OF business
great before that Court formerly.
Now, il of the moment 10 the State which ne
had the honor in represent that they should have the
circuit judges go there and be in doubt whether
Of importance have the Supreme Court deciding here
or going into the circuit Of Mississippi But he thought il
beie that they should 20 here and attempt to clear
the docket With this object he moved the amendment Of
one year II adopted, would enable this Congess-upon
whom he thought devoved the dutyto change the ju
dietary system within that time For himself he
WINGED that much of that which said by the genemsn
from Missouri II relieved the Supreme
Court judges from circuit attendance for limited
time he afraid they would again attend TO circuit
court duties and the result would be that would have
nine judges for life fastened upon this Government But
Of the ageness Of the docket he willing
eyc them from the performance Of circuit duties for yes,
hoping t there would be reform in judicial system.
He suggescda change in the places for holding the conrt
and suggested that should sit in two different aes OF the
Union for the Of suos and parties OF the legal
profession. He ntimaicd that Washington, during the
excitement Of session Of Congress, less favorable for the
dispatch Of business than any other place would be- lie sug-
gesed reconstruction Of the Ou ITSELF but reserved me ex
preston Of his opinion that point until promised bill u
reform the Judcary should up for discussion, and
Guided by urging the adoption Of his amendment
Mr. VNTON said this not bill he thought, for the
relief Of Supreme Court but for The reie OF It's suitor
He could bear testimony the uthunes OF The remarks OF
the gentleman from Mississippi He bad cause on the docket
himself which had been for three years without being
reached and this fact Of opinion, inducemen
with some parties 10 carry up their thereby they
ayaed themselves OF the delay which appeal produced To
oppea 10 the Supreme Court Of the United States
nv an absolute denial Of justice, and something should
be done TO remedy the existing cv II one year would be
sufficient to enable the judges dispose Of the business the
docket should be content adopt the amendment Of the