Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-17
SALARIES OF THE JUDGES.

There is now pending in the General Assembly,
bill which proposes to increase the salaries ofeur
Judges and Chancellors. We are very clear in the
belief that its passage would advance the public IN
terest, and meet with the general applause of the
people. There are three separate and distinct
branches of the Government OF these three the
Judiciary is of the first Importance because ats
officers are every day called upon to decide ques
tons affecting the life, liberty, property and honor
of the citizen. He then who is clothed with this
immense power should have profound learning,
commanding talents and incorruptbe virtue He
should be equal fnot superior to the abest advocate
who appears before him.
win the salaries now paid our Judges a''Oays
attract such men to the berch7 We think not. de
who has the learning and ability absolutely neces-
sary for the proper discharge Of the duties of
Judge, can always in this State at the Bar make at
least three times as much as he would receive if on
the Bench. The honors of the station, it is true,
frequently tempt rich lawyers of eminence to give
up lucrative business at the Bar to go on the Bench
Buttis not always So Besides the principleiswrong
The honors of the Judiciary should be open to the
poor as well as the rich.
The people are about to elect their Judges In
our view the office is about to be invested with
newer and higher dignity The elect of the people,
who is by them clothed with power, to whose judg-
ment and skill they every day submit questions of
the gravest importance; should be so paid as to
able him to devote his entire time to the discharge
OF the duties of his high Office The law fixing the
salaries of the Judges was passed many years SINCE
when money was scarce and property low. The
times have changed, most happily for the better.
Our State has increased to an amazing extent in
California, the establishment of unnumbered Banks,
and the general prosperity of the country has depre
GATED the value of money and increased that of
property With our wealth and population so has
litigation increased. The number of causes now
heard and decided in the Supreme Court is three
times greater than in 1885, That court is now in
session about seven months in the year. While in
session the Judges are engaged night and day in
earnest toll. They are absent from their families
and homes, and of course unable to pay any atten-
tention to their private affairs. ~ n
Is salary of $780, commensurate with the
labor and dignity of the Officer We think not 1t so
happens that the three eminent citizens now on the
Supreme Bench, have each of them handsome pri-
vate fortunes made at the Bar. 1t is no great diff
ference to them, but hereafter it may happen that
the people will have some favorite who is eminently
qualified to grace the bench, but who is compelled
to decline on account of poverty. Let this be
changed. The people are willing, most willing to
pay In liberal manner those who serve them faith
fully. We are quite sure the subject is worthy the
careful consideratonof the members of the General
Assembly, and We equally sure such consider
alton will satisfy them that our Judges are but lily
Daid