The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-22
Kentucky Constitutional Convention.


FsAsrroRr, November IL, 1s4s.
The Judiciary .qrtiess-Report Of the Grand Committee
Prospects Of an .idjonmentNsw Phases Of the Slave.
Nv Question-The Negr, Meetings IN New York-Ftel.
tngs of the Rsnuekisps IN Relation Thereto Col Ben
ton in Missouri- Thanks giving DIy-TAs WsaihU.
Land no J.! At length, dimly, through the mists and
fogs Of treess discussion begin to discern the
termination Of our journey snd the period at which
the Conventions labors must cease. The results Of
those labors now becoming evident In tangible
FORM and already indicate the period when they will
terminate sltogether-s contamination most devout-
ly to be wished.
The grand confederatsd committee, a. 1t Is called OF
thirty to whom you will remember, the several art.
elss on the Judiciary referred with instructions
no to compromise upon them, and to blend them and
form one harmonious and consistent whole made their
report yesterday msrning. As this committee Is
posed Of thirty Of the most distinguished and leading
men in the convention and their report Is under
stood to be compromise Of the conflicting aud variant
views expressed In tina convention on the subject there
can De So, ns,s aoaI, 81 tbs Soa,
mittse Itself comprises nearly majority In numbers
and much more than one In talent and their sagges-
tons and actions hardly fail therefore to fall With
irresistible weight and influence upon the convention
The foo~ing the leading features Of the system
The Court Of Appeals shall consist Of four Judges to
be elected In each district BY the people and u hold
their Offices for four years and oil the terms on their
Court at the capitol. Provided, however, that the
Legislature in its discretion may reduce their number
TO three or increase II to i've may alter the dtrcng
Of the state accordingly and may direct the terms to
age practising lawyers for eight those whose
service upon the bench OF any Court OF Recorasvhen
added to the time they may have practsed law shall
be equal to eight years. Judges lot TO be removed
cept upon impeachment, OF upen an address Of two
thirds Of the members Of the Legislature clerk Of
the Appeals TO be elected in each district to hold for
eight years and to possess certificate from the Court
Of qualifications for the ONCE
Circuit Courts to be established In each county;
the State ths be divided into twelve circuit districts
In zach q which Circuit Judge shall be elected TO
hold for six years Candidate. sha possess the same
qualifications as are required OF appellate judges;
whenever II shall be deemed necessary the Legislature
may from time TO time, inerease the number Of dis
trcts and judges but until the population OF the
State IL 800 600 above the number OF sixteen In
eli trials for treason felony the commonwealth shall
be entitled to challenges 81 urors equal to
one fourth the number allowed the accused.
County Courts to be established In each county,
and to be composed 81 presiding and t-o associate
Judges any two Of whom shall constituts court for
the transaction of business the judges shall be elected
BY the people and hold their Offices for four years
ddstss to be Il years Of age and residents Of the
cosny for year next preceding tho elections the
jurisdiction Of the court 10 be determined by Law the
counties shall be Distracted as the Legislature msy
Peace shall be elected to hold their Offices for four
years, whose Jurisdiction shall be coentsnsivs With
the county; these officers shall assist In evyng the
county tax and In making the appropriations thereof
All the sectisns for Judicial officers are TO be held
day other than that OF the general election Tor
political officers
This IL an outline Of the system. and you will OBJ
that the contested questions ~ to branching"
the court and the number Of judges have been com
promised by leaving those matters to the Legislature 20
determine. The question ~ to whether the Judges
should be eligible IL not specifically touched upon;
but the report stands In the absence of any declsra
tion TO the contrary they would undoubtedly be
Bile believe however, from the indications that the
convention will insert provision rendering them In
eligible Such TO be the feeling Of the majority
Besides, IL understood that Mr. Clay, when he vas
here expressed himself decidedly In favor Of the ine
eibiity principle ~ applied to judges and u must be
that he still has sufficient influence such points at
least TO render bis suggestions Of great weight with the
uhis members Of the convention. at any rate IL IL
also that he expressed himself strongly In
favor Of the elective principle and gave In addition,
the general advice that the convention should make
only such changes in the uic Law
TO rsmsdy obvious defects therein
The members are all looking forward TO an sd.
journmept ss early a. the 18th Of Decegbsr at any
rate In view Of the occurrences Of such an event,
they have directed the appointment OF committee,
20 and prepare the several articles that msy
be and have been adopted in their appropriate order in
the constitution
The article In relation 10 county and ministerial
officers embracing court clerks sheris coroners sc,
has been gone through With and adopted and the
convention have under consideration the article
reported by the committee the legislative depart
ment So, you will that At last business IL pro-
crossing right rapidly. great deal Of impstisncs Of