True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-03-03

Ternaps JuSdOo w uuI Ioauctss WOutd4
require us to correct some of The efrone.
Gus Impressions under which the writer
labors. NSSN
The data as heretofore published in
this paper, and referred to by the writer,
can be verified by the records Of our
courts, but his conclusions are very erro.
neous. IN
If the witness fees in six cases amount
to $677, does it follow, that ali other costs
attorneys fees, Sc. must amount to $3O67!
Strange reasoning that. But suppose
that these six cases in the aggregate cost
$3754, or 626 each, does il therefore fol-
low that each of the other 504 cases must
cost $939--making total of $473,256!
Does our correspondent believe that the
courts of Justice in this county costs the
people half million Of dollars annually,
or even the twentieth part of that sum
Certainly he is too intelligent man to
suppose any such thing.
The six cases referred to are not isola-
ted cases, for there are others equally fla
grant, as we ae informed, yet they may
be termed extreme cases--one would
suppose they are average cases. They
were merely given to show the rank in
justice now necessarily perpetrated upon
such litigants as are unfortunate enough
to have their claims resisted and taken
to the District Court.
Our correspondents foundation being
destroyed, of course the immense fabric
which he has constructed, falls with it.
A few words as 10 his remedy:
Whenever The time shall come that all
men are honest, and all honest men are
so constituted, mentally and physically,
as TO see things precisely alike, in other
words, when the millennium shall come,
then, and not before, will Courts of JUS
tice with their Judges, Lawyers, Jurors
and Witnesses be abolished. There is
not civilized, or half civilized nation up
on the Globe, but has its Courts Of JUS
tice, for the redress Of injuries, including
the collection Of debts.
The experience of ages teaches that in
proportion as nations advance in civiliza-
tion, do they increase their judicial facili-
ties. ..t,..
The same experience teaches that
Courts OF Justice are the bulwarks Of ci-
vii and religious liberty, and the surest
protection to the freedom Of the citizen,
against official oppression. They have
ever been the last barriers surmounted by
despotism, in her crusade against the righs
of the people.
If then we are willing to jeopardze
our civil and religious liberty, to surren-
der the great magma charta of those lib
berties, the writ of Habeas Corpus, and
become the willing instruments and vic
Tins of despotism, then, but not TILL then,
should we consent to abolish our Courts
Of Justice. .-...
But suppose all laws for the collection
of debts were repealed, would other States
follow our lool-hardy example =! Ger
tainly not. The result then would be
that every rogue ond cheat in the Union
would fly to our State as paradise
where he could laugh to scorn the effort!
of honest creditors to collect their debts
Ohio would become a den to harbo
rogues, bankrupts and dishonest debtors.
We feel sure ,ha. our intelligent cores
pondsnt could not approve proceeding
entailing such disgrace upon the fair fam,
and name Of our young Empire State
As to the ironical fling Of our correspond
ent at Judges, Lawyers, &c. we have on
ly TO say, that they are likely to surviv
his tilt. ......... ........ ....
As it relates to the Superior Cour
question, we shall only say, at present
that our Court of Common Pleas com
menced its session on the lst day Of Feb
ruary and continued for four weeks with
out losing day. The number of VII
nesses in attendance was much less tina
usual, because there were no very impol
taut cases for trial; yet large numbt
of cases were plac. d at the heel Of III
docket, and could not be tried for want
time. 1t is quite common remark
. Court and Counsel, when proposition
q submitted to place a cause at the heel {
the docket" that's no use, it can't |
reached-let it be continued at once. -
But the evils attending the delays in tn
Common Pleas is triaing in comparisc
TO those which occur in the Distri
Court. Here is an evil which can nev,
g be remidied, but by one Of two plans :
e First, by the creation Of Superior Cou