The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-01-12


II TO your notice, together with very abs re.
port made to the last General Court, by most
competent commission, to whom the subiecthah
been committed by their predecessors
II mas hitherto been the good fortune of Mssa-
chusetts to have an able and upright judiciary, So
that the administration Of Justice within her courts
mas secured the confidence OF her own people,
ana made her respectable abroad. 1t is esseSti,l
to the rights and security of her citizens, that
the reputation of their courts, which the learning
and integrity of the judges have won, should be
maintained. Our present system seems welllad-
apted to the territory and population of the state.
Inc number otjudges in each OF the courts may
De increased or diminished, to meet the wants Of
the PUBIC, without inconvenience or arrangement
to the system. Steadiness uniformity, and GER
talnty, are so important in the administration of
justice, that any haste material changes, in the
organization and arrangements OF the courts,
should be avoided, unles they are rendered nee
essary by serious existing evils. The unusual
number of changes which have taken place in
the Court OF Common Pleas, within the last FIVE
years, necessarily have produced some delay in
the business OF the courts, and excited good
deal OF public attention. During that period of
time, nine Judges have resigned their seats on
the bench OF that court Eleven have been APP
pointed, and as many as ten gentlemen ofthe
legal profession have directly or indire city de-
clined to accept appointment judges OF that
important court. The responsibility and mpor-
taLce of that branch of the interest OF the people
in It's continuance, very naturally suggest inquiry
into this remarkable state of things | am salts
fee, that what was deemed an inadequate salary,
by the learned and competent judges, was, in
nearly every instance, the reason which led them
TO retire from the bench. The same considera-
ton operated upon the minds OF those gentlemen
who decliued going there. The large portion of
time, which the increasing business OF the courts
required them to be absent from their families
and homes, in holding terms and their personal
expenses attending that absence left SO inconsder-
able balance Of their whole pay that sense of
duty to themselves and families compelled them
either TO return to their more lucrative probes
siona practice, or to accept OF offers from other
branches of business, which could afford to pay
more literally for their services. The necessity
must certainly be very pressing, which would
compel highmnded men to leave posts OF official
honor for which the practice of their whole lives
had qualified them, and which, for years, had
been the objects OF their professional ambition.
The people of the state of New York, in the
constitution which they have lately ratified, have
established the salaries OF large number of their
judges, whose official duties are not more res
ponsible, and are believed to be less laborous,
than those of our Court of Common Please, at
twenty-five hundred dollars year. The judges
OF the courts OF the city of New York receive
much larger salaries. | am persuaded, that, I'M
less there is an increase OF the compensation of
the judges ofthat court, the instability and chang
es, which have been witnessed during the last
five years, will be continued until, at length the
business and rights of the people, and the char
acter of the Commonwealth, will both suffer from
having high and responsible judicial stations FL
eddy incompetent and unqualified Judges. Deep
ly impressed with the belief that the best inter-
ests of the people of the state require it, res
pecttuy recommend, that the sa aries of the
judges of the CoHrt Of Common Pleas be raised
to such a reasonable sum, as will secure the per-
manent services of able, upright, and competent
men in that branch of our judicial department.
The various public institutions which are Who'll.
ly, or in part under the direction and patronage
ofthe state, successfully fulfilling the pur-
poses Of their creation. dispensing benefits and
happiness to the objects of their care, and re-
1ecting credit upon the Commonwealth.
That sympathy and aid, which, by the provis-
ions Of laws, extended to those unfortunate
ones, from whom, by the ordinance OF an inscru-
table Providence, the music of sound and the
beauties of light are shut out, and to the still
more afflicted ones, who bereft oil reason, are
in harmony with the spirit of the age, and well
calculated to evoke the blessings of Heaven upon
people who cheerfully furnish the means of
their continuance.
Under the Resolves, passed on the eighth day
OF May, 1913, concerning training and teaching
idiots, arrangements have been made with DR..
Howe, the Principal of the Perkins Institution
and Massachusetts, ASYLUM for the Blind, for
receiving and teaching ten idiot children, accord.
ing to the terms of those Resolves This new
experiment in our country, for elevating and i'm
proving another class of depressed and neglected
fellow beings, is in progress. LII succeeds, and
there are encouraging indications that it may,
humanity will gain another trophy by the labors
OF the distinguished philanthropist al the head OF
that institution, whose patient and unceasing
efforts enabled him to communicate, to the dark
ened intellect OF that interesting prodigy OF human
nature, Laura Bridgman, the treasures of in
struction and knowledge, unaided by light, or
sound, or speech.
Reports from the different officers of the State
Prison, at Charestown, show that the same care
full, humane, and judicious administration OF its
affairs, which has distinguished it among similar
institutions, has been observed throughout the
past year Circumstances, over which the War
den or other officers had no CONTROL and which
are explained in the Warden's Report, have made
the expenses OF the year exceed the receipts,
something more than four thusand dollars. To
meet this deficiency, he thinks an appropriation
by the General Court will be necessary.
The subject OF penal laws has occupied very