Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-02-18

iniamy, and disgrace, with and amongst all his
neghbors and other good and worthy citizens ofihi
state insomuch that divers of those neighbors and
citizens have wholly refused to have any intercourse
transaction or acquaintance with the said plaintiff
as they were before the committing of the said Sc
vera grievances by the said defendant he enle ore
mentioned, used and accustomed 10 have and other
wise would have had, sustained great damage, to
wit-Ten thousand dollars, and therefore he brings
tbs suit +. R. ATTY.
Contrast, too the following declaration in an as
sault and battery with any form now in common
use:
[SUPRENB CoURr7
A B. complains that c. D, on the 1st dav of
August, 1876, struck him. the said 4. B, 10 his da
mHge. CT. Att'v.
Are not such reforms as these practicable? Are
they not demanded by the spirit OF the age-by ev-
cry consideration OF public interest and public safe
ty?
do not pretend that any practicable measure of
lega! reform will enable 10 dispense with that
useful and honorable profession, the prefes, ion OF
the law; neither do join in any sweeping TRADE
OF denunciatioI against calling which has been
the school of many of the brightest in;ellects and
most pure and brilliant statesmen the world has
ever known. | will even admit that much Of the
keenness and readiness of intellect which peculiar
cling with the rigid ard technical forms would see
reformed, In their practice in courts | honor that
Industry VIII ca quail fees lis possessor by rat ent
study of those forms for deendrg his client from
injury through their msappcation. At the same
time, while regard the public good which demands
the changes have limited al, as paramount TO eve
~ interest OF the lew, most implicitly believe that
the profession " would be elevated in usefulness
dignity and popular estimation by a thorough Judi
cial reform. This would winrow the FRO ession,
diving oil to more appropriate, and, for such, more
useful pursuits, that pettiiogging class of lawyers,
the disgrace of the fraternity, who make their adj
vantage IN deepening the mystery which surrounds
the system, and live solely by plying the tricks and
illnesses of the trade while it would retain and Sc
cure IN the public confidence those whose minds
are lmbued with the principles of justice and whose
talents peculiarly fit them for rightng the wronged.
however subtle the web in which injustice may have
enveoped itself
Mr.. President, The spirit of innovation and reno
walton which is constantly remodeling every other
department of government, has, until recently left
the judiciary almost intact, venerable relic of the
past. Its changes have commenced. Our judicial
unctonarIes can no longer be left TO hotd their Off
ces by any other tenure than the fee suffiages Of
the peopIe-other aud more important changes are
projected. The people will determine that the sys-
tenn which governs all their relations and transac-
tons shall no longer reman mystery. New York
has taken decisive preparatory steps towards radical
reorm-the initiative of which was tue work of
the enlightened convention which recently rev scd
her constitution. The friends of legal reform are
now anXiou>ly watching how far she will venture,
and what will prove tie result OF her efforts. But
nothing, save the actual experience that the seeds
o! hope which have been engendered in their minds
will produce nothing but fruitful mlsches vii, era
dictate the beerthat is practicable to open short
plain, and direct road to tribunals of public justice
-thatthe difficulties of obtaining justice should be
confined to the nature of the wrong Itself, and not
be found chiefly, in obtaining access 10 the pc?ef
that can afford the redress.