The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-09

lien upon the real property Of the party
against whom il is rendered, from the
date Of its entry in the clerks Office,
until the final determination Of the cause
either party to have the right to APP
peal upon payment Of costs, and if no
appeal be taken within limited num-
Der of days, then the award to have the
effect Of a judgment with respect to the
party against whom it is made, with the
consequent right to execution. The ar
bitrators might be chosen in the office of
Of the clerk of the district court, and be
allowed mileage, and reasonable per
diem compensation. They should be in
vested with the power to issue subpe-
mas, grant attachments for witnesses,
commit for contempt, adjourn for cause,
or upon agreement of parties, adminis-
ter oaths, in short, enjoy all the functions
incident to courts 50 far as necessary to
the proper conduct of trials. A certi-
fled copy of the rule of reference should
be served upon the the opposite party,
or his attorney, at least ten or fifteen
days before the day fixed in such rule for
the appointment of arbitrators; and ten
or fifteen days additional notice given of
the time and place of meeting. Such a
system would furnish means for speedily
terminating disputes; abridge litigation
in courts; provide eventual correction
for all errors of judgement by securing
the right ofappeal; and by giving to the
creditor lien upon the real estate ofthe
debtor, secure the former without need
less oppression of the latter.
A slight modification of the law for
summoning petit jurors seems also q
proper subject for consideration. Under
the present system, the petit jury is sum
moned to appear at | 1 o'clock, A. M. o.
the second day of the regular term.
The non-attendance Of the panel at the
opening of the court, involves delay and
expense, and not unfrequently protracts
the terms of courts beyond the first
week, thereby imposing on the county
treasures an expense which could 9TH
erwise be avoided.
The laws, too, regulating marriage
licenses, and the solemnizatlon of mar
rage contracts, require modification. In
remote districts of the unorganized
counties, compliance with the presen,
statutes, on this head, is difficult aud al
most impracticable; and in a country
where population is by no means incon-
veniently dense, the wisdom of policy
may well be questioned, which shall an
mex additional obstacles to those which
naturally inhere in the premises.
Much delay occurred in the publica-
ton of the volume of the acts and re-
solves of the last Legislative Assembly
Under the circumstances, the delay prob
ably was unavoidable; but in future a
time should be specified beyond which
the publication of the laws should in no
case be postponed.
The total amount of orders or war
rants drawn by the Auditor upon the
Treasurer Of the Territory, as l learn
from the former officer, is Sl03l 50.
This includes the salaries of the Terri
torial officers, and it is believed, all
debts due from the Territorial Treasury
Returns have been received at the of.
flee of the Territorial Auditor, Of prop
erty assessed in the counties Of Ramsey
Washington, abashaw, Dakota, and
Wahnahta. From the other counties
no returns have been made. In the
counties returned, the total assessed
value Of property is as follows: