Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-26
Remarks CT Mr.. Williams,

In the House of Commons ON the bill relative to the New
Hanover Superior Court
Upon the bill concerning two weeks Superior
Court in the county Of New Hanover, Mr. Williams,
of that county, remarked that at the last session of
the Legislature an act was passed. requiring the regu
lar spring and fall terms of the Superior Court for
New Hanover County, to be held two weeks. This
act made provision for summoning two sets of
jurors for each week. but required the jurors OF the
first week to hold the entire fortnight, and fur
thermore this act made it the duty of our county
trustee to pay to the Judge ninety dollars for his
services for the second week. Those two provisions
in that act are Objectionable because oppressive to
our people. If any one will look at the map of that
section of the State he will that the geography OF
New Hanover County Is very unfortunate for the
accommodation of her citizens in attending to their
public business. The town of Wilmington, in which
all our public buildings located and public bust
ness transacted is situated in the southern portion of
the county and before many of our citizens can
reach that point, distance of over forty miles has
to be overcome, and in many instances difficult and
dangerous watercours crossed. But our spring
term comes in the month of April-the busiest
month in the year to our farmers Two days
| loss of labor at the first working and cleaning
! of a young crop is injurious than week
at any other time. Now, many of our jurors are
the principal laborers in their farms, themselves, and
families depending upon their own labor for support.
! In fact, the farms of all, at this season, whether
rich or poor requires the superintendent, If not the
work, of the Then, to take our citizens from
their farms, at this critical time, and keep them away
for two weeks is injurious and oppressive in the ex-
treme This BILL now before the House, proposes 10
remedy this grievance and expense in great mea-
sure by requiring the grand jury to sit but one week,
and the number of fifteen to be moned for the
trial Jury Of the second week.
This bill also proposes repeal of that section OF
the former act requiring the county TO pay the Judge
hold that the State should pay for the second week,
we'll as the first, it, indeed, any pay is required.
! The Judge is a saared oficer-paid so much Ier
year for his services, and aver that no Judge now
upon the bench would be willing to vary this salary
with the increase decrease of business for in many
of our western countless the Superior Courts seldom
hold over two days. The State is bound for the ad-
miniStration of Justice in Superior Courts; the
judges and solicitors of the elected by the
legislature and paid out of the treasury of the State
| if it were otherwise, and the expense thrown
upon the several countless then these counties
would prefer eecting their judges and solicitors
But this additional week to the regular term of
| Superior Court, borrowed from the county Of
Arson, in the same judicial circuit, which by law
was Untitled to two weeks court, and she no
taxed to pay the Judge neither the counties o
Guiltord, Buncombe or Rutherford, which Untitled
by law to the same privilege. Would it then be RICH
| in the Legislature to exempt these and tax Nv
| Hanover County for this additional week Would
the large amount Of revenue she pays into tn
treasury of the State, justify such on tn
part of the Legislature She now pays over sever
thousand dollars little over one-twentheth of tn
whole State revenue while some of western coun
ties, entitled by law to the benefits and privli
ges, pay but little four hundred dollars. 4
high sonse of public justice as well as impartialit
among the several counties of the State appeals t.
this Legislature i'll behalf of the passage of this bill