True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-27

Superior Court.

o0pOkluL OOu4e
Mr.. RasAN 80 the newspapers seem
now 10 be filed with a discussion Of the
pFOptiety Of establishing Superior Conrl
in this County, It is important that every
one Of us who can have any interest in the
question should understand it as the re-
cent discussions develops the facts which
indicate ils necessity.
lnave been an attentive listener OF al
the meetings held in SleubenVille upon
this subject. and q careful reader Of The
various articles that have lately appeared
in the newspapers Of this city.
Ihave though. that summary Of ths
facts as they now seem 10 be conceded
may conduce somewhat to enable YOU
readers 10 form their judgments.
The necessity Of relief in some form
seems TO be BY everybody conceded. 1
seems pse.iy well agreed that the over
burdened state Of our present Courts rem
ders it improbable, BY reason Of the nun
Der and the rapid accumulation Of causes
that suits which hereafter may 20 there
can be finally disposed of in the Distric
Court fOI three Of four years il they art
litigated. y
IL seems 70 be also. conceded that tht
evil does not cease with denial to liti
gants OF Q speedy determination of theil
controversies.
The rnadequacy Of our present Court.
to the business Of the county, operates Ia.
some Of us who have been unfortunate
enough to have any litigation, have fell
in our pOckets) to create ruinous accu
mutation OF costs 10, Ihe people whose
causes are waiting for trial.
Tenn after term, our Court house il
crowded with witnesses waiting in vain
for the calling Of causes which are never
reached. and which Of necessity are otter
continued at the close Of the term Al
he expense Of litiganls. .a,.a
It seems 10 be- further conceded BY ev.
cry body that there win be no increased
expense to the people Of the County
while it's proportion Of the salary oI
ajudge will b. amere trifle, that the de.
creased expense for Jurors, and the de.
crease Of bufdensome costs, will save to
the people Of the County ten dollars,
where it cots them one. The salary
Of :he judge being paid out Of the
State Treasury. the proportion of our
county is only about Eighteen Dollars.
was astonished to hear on last mon
day evening hat the argument against the
establishment Of this Court had reduced
itself down 10 the bold proposition that
all these facts being conceded, the Court
ought not at the present time to be estab.
lished just b,cause it will facilitate the
administration Of justice, and pu. litagan,s
speedily Ou, Of Court. At that meeting
this argument seemed to come from gen.
llemen whom one might suppose were
afraid they might be sued for very large
debts. Whether this be so or not the res
olutions offered in the meeting furnish
as basis Of their opposition TO the mea
sure, the idea that there are some great
capitalists some where in this County, who
owe large debls which il is not convent
cot for them to pay, and that because the
present tedious delays in the administra-
lion Of justice best suits their interest,
tha. the convenience and the necessi.ies s
Of the whole public shall be sacrifsed 10
relieve their embarrassment.
But suppose one of these great capital.
lists owes me. need my money as bad
as he needs his, does be ask me to favor
the present system if it will keep me out
of money three years without my consent,
and thus possibly affect my pecuniary ru.
in.? G
l wont do it! have interests as well
as he, and it may beggar me il he keeps
my money, though i. may inconvenience
him il he islequited to perform bis en-.
gagement with me.
The doctrine that /! "is inexpedient
at this time" 70 open the Courts 10 me,
because il is iuconvenient 10 pay me, il
carried one step further, is REPUTATION
But what is the present working oil
this system : A judicial system should
afford equal facilities for relief to and
against every one.
l can get credit for ten or twenty dol.
lars by the present system. my creditor
can put me through in thirty days A large
Capitalist can command credit 10 ten OF
twenty thousand dollars; 10 put him
through will take three or four years.
At least we are told by legal gentleman
who pretend they know, that this may
done If the large property owner, can gel
up some cock -and.bull defence so lha. his
cause can he "set for trial. in the Distric,
Court. Is not this ground of opposition
to the new Court monstrous
The necessity for the establishment o.
this Court exists. II will not tax the
people. lam In favor Of il: and no ar.
gument which requires that the convent
ence and interest Of the whole people
shall we subservient to the desire Of Q
few men to extend or avoid the paymen
r - =. G. .