Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-03-24
The Evils Of Eitiga tion:
A COMPARISON.

once interesting and instructive if We could avail
ourselves ofhe statistics requisite for the purpose to
follow out somewhat in detail, a parallel between
the GIRLS Of litigation and the eriLS Of icGr.
In doing this we might institute the following
as some ofthe leading particulars in which the two
great evils, and litigation, may be compared
with each other.
Which ofthe two employs the greatest number
of those making it their leading occupation!
Which of the evils originates and perpctuates
most of ill-.eengs hatred, and hostility in human
beings towards each other?
Which of the two evils occasions a pervcrsion
(ten-tod worse than waste) of the greatest amount
Of time, capital, and labor?
Which Of the two evils operates as the greatest
drawback upon the industry, the harmony, the con
Gdcnce, the social and moral improvement and the
| general prosperity of the community at large!
Which ofthe two is effective 10 the greatest ex-
tent, in making wrong 10 appear right, and the
right TO appear wrong-honesty to appear mean,
and villainy TO appear honorable!
Upon these and similar points of inquiry, par,
| allel might be drawn which would exhibit the two
evils as by no means so unequal in magnitude as
some persons might, at first, opprehend. And if.
! upon thorough Investigations the one witch is com
monty esteemed ncomparably the less evil, should
in nine points out of ten be found vastly the greater
OF the two cc at least should not rdicule charge
with tanaticism, those who adopt and avow such
a conclusion.
A full statistical report of the entire jurspru-
dence Of the country, showing the number OF suits,
of tigants of witnesses, &C. in Justices Courts
and all OF higher grade, op TO the Supreme Court
Of TIE Union; and report too, which should ex-
hibit the expense, in time and money, to all con
ccrned in each suit ior any term OF years such
port, we think, would not only task credulity, but
would produce in many thousands OF minds, con
yictlon that REFORM, both for the purpose of less
ening the labor and expense of litigation, and OF
preventing resort TO it, in great proportion OF
cases, at least, is one of the most important and
most desirable reforms Of the age.
1t matters little where we begin, or what class
Of persons engaged in the wasteiul and wicked
work, we look at first. We can find wherever we
touch the subject, superabundnce Of material for
remark, and for establishment too.
live speak of lawyers frst it is not because
they are as profession, wholly or chicdy response
bic, for the existence and continuance of the evil
under consideration. They are only the opponents
OF long prevalent public sentiment and public usage
in the matter. They are responsible much in the
same manner as the volunteers iii our army and
navy are responsible for the Mexican or any other
war They are merely the agents employed and
paid, to shape the activity and give effect to the
evil passions and deprayed dispositions, of the hun
dred fold more numerous class, who demand
and obtain their services. Hard knocks will be
given to that profession and possibly in many
cases more than their due proportion; but SO far
as zee arc concerned other classes shall not be pass
! ed by in the attention which we may bestow upon
this subject from time TO time.
Ii we say one lawyer for every five hundred of
populaton-and zee have ncrer been in commuui-
ty where the supply was less than that--Wc have
two thousand for every million ofour population,
and forty thousand for The twenty millions com
prsing the entire present population of the coun-
| try A number greater by many thousands than
our entire military and naval force ia Mexico and
cmnIoved not for vn,r or two bnt for Iifc in
the work never to be accomplished, of conquer
;oo neace not between our own and a f,rciop
,,oyerp,,cnt and nation hut Lotv,o.p poobLor anil
,o;dbor hrotbnr and brother ali oror +ho lorc,b
orJ bro,Itb Of o,,r ,,ost co,,,,,,r;,,, 10 s,, ~,
thing of the expense OF preparing for the procs sion
,,o do,lt NOT b,t i will, mo concodoI ,ba, Ia,,,ors
arc l,l, roo,o Ihar,II,, mid than so1I;ors ana
r,;a IN ratio At hast three GIJ ,,ro,,or
,,.o ,,.l, ,o1 ,ot o.oooa ITO tr,,h CO.. ! !
,,.o,r ,,,,,., that s.,,;o.- Gamma, ,o,.,r
.o.,,h = ,...,aI.ori.,al
,o sI,ro of ro,,,,,n,r,,;,, :, ,,t;ro
I,,,ors l,at ,,r,,soI,, ror,,,s, ,,o,,. ana
ta,o .sI, rho ,,loIn oo,i,,tr,, fr,.,, a., ,..,I
is awake to the subject OF the ruinous expenditure
and national bankruptcy to result from supporting
for two or three years military and naval force of
some thirty thousand or SO, IN Mexico while from
but few quarters do we hear an expression OF I'M
easuess as regards the policy of supporting an
army of forty thousand lawyers forever, and sup