Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-11-10
converse of his proposition will hold good.

| WeHnu the IollO@lnS COMMUNICATION Ill the State Rights Democrat, with a request that we would copy it. We do so with pleasure and take the liberty of adding some remarks there- to:
 Shall the Salaries of the Judges be Raised.
 "MR. EDITOR; question will be presented to the next General Assembly involving the character and dignity of the State of Arkansas, as much if not more than any other that has been agitated for years But it is one that must be met in the spirit of the age It cannot long, CT be avoided. It is neither more nor less than shall living salary be paid to the judges and governor of the State?
 The salary of supreme judges and governor Is now eighteen hundred dollars per year, and that of circuit judges is fifteen hundred dollars per year. These salaries were fixed many years ago, when the relative value of money as com pared with all other articles was double what it Is now--when the State was in its infancy, and the revenue hardly sufficient to meet the cur rent expenditures. When the salary of the su- treme judges and governor was fixed, six hun dred dollars would buy negro that now sells Tor twelve hundred, one hundred dollars would ouy horse that now sells fortwo hundred: and 50 or other things in the same proportion.
 It Is a well known fact that the duties of JudSe or governor lncapacitates man for any other business. His official duties require his whole ume or so nearly so that his vacation shouid be spent in relaxation to fit him for the atuuous duties of hls busy season. None other ,hafl asood lawyer Is it for d judge; and a good lawyer In good practice, practice, too, not more laoofious than the duties ofjudge, makes from three to hve thousand dollars year. It $ true nF tha a4i,,.
 ton, to those who can afford to pay for hopors But the salaries should certainly be fixed at such an amount as will afford living compen- sation to competent men. A competent man can make from three to five thousand dollars per annnm; why then should he be expected to give up this, and serve the people for the pitifI sum of fifteen hundred dollars a sum totally Inadequate to support man of family in that position In life which judge must maintain- and out of this sum at least three hundred dol lars must go for travelling expenses, leaving onlv TOT the judges support, twelve hundred dollars Ihls may have been sufficient twenty yeas ago and Tn the infancy of the State. when her popu- iatlon was sparse and her revenue but slight Now, however, with large, increasing and wealthy population, and an overhowing reve- nue, justice should be done to public servants.
 The present rate of salaries effectually ex- cludes the poor man from office, and retains them to the wealthy, as much so as though property qualifications prevailed-a course of thlh9s certainly not proper in a republican go- vernment.
 know not how it may have been in the other circuits, but Tn this the Hon. T. B. ian- ly was driven from the bench by inadequacy of salary; lion. c. w. Adams for the same reason: and our present incumbent, Hon. Geo. w Beaz- ley, Will be forced to retire br the same cause. On the supreme bench insuficiency of salary has likewise deprived the State of eminent iu- dlrial ability, with present impending pros- pect of other vacancies forced for the same cause.
 It is clear that the laborer is worthy of his hire; and that the State should command the best talents and qualifications within her bor ders. It is equally clear that the poor man and the poor mans son should not be excluded from the States highest honors If the salary of governor and supreme judges were fixed at three thousand dollars, and of the circuit judges at twenty-five hundred dollars, all this might be accomplished. As it is, by the time judges become au fat in the duties of their office. pov- erty, or d sense of i'll requted services. forces them to resign. And high character for our judiciary cannot be maintained on such salaries. There may be rich men willing to hold the off, ces for the honor; but they will not labor as is necessary JUsTIcIA."
 Justica will see that, so far as regards the salaries ofjudses of the supreme court, the go- vernon, in his message, recommends liberal increase. In an article on the resources of the State we showed that Arkansas paid her judicial officers less with perhaps one or two exceptions. than any State in the Union In one or two of the northern States where a man can live in style on Sl 300 year and where State may be travelled across in day at a cost of two dol lars, such salaries might do. Here, the duties are more onerous. There, the division of fcomts and peculiar practice render the number of ap- peals but few. The various questions arising under the construction of their statutes have all been settled long ago, so that, while the cases are fewer, the questions are sooner and more easily disposed of. Here, where DO courts with appellate jurisdiction intervene between the clrcuIt and supreme courts, the cases are numer- ous, and our State, only twenty-two years old has many unsettled questions to be determined To clear the docket will require an almost con- tinual session for two years. We want men of ability, and want the long pending questions be- fore the court speedily settled To this end. we should pay liberally and then require prompt performance of duties.
 As to the increase of the salary of the gov- ernor, we apprehend that the present Executive will not consent to receive any greater salary than that now fixed by law. We have not consulted with him on this point but know that such was his disposition two years ago. Gov Conway has performed those duties heretofore performed by three swamp land commissioners, each with larger salary than that of the Co., vernon, in addition to the usual duties of his office, and for part of the time has not even had private secretary. We mention these things not for the sake of elicting praise but to show that the present executive is averse to an increase of salary during his term of of1ice even if the constitution admitted it. The General Assembly may increase the salary, the increase to commence with the term of the successor of the present incumbent.
 The argument of Justicia is full and ample. but we can state of our own knowledge that we know of good lawyers, emnently qualified for the bench, who, to use their own words, cannot afford to except judgeship. We commend the article we copy, to the consideration of the members of the General Assembly.
 The Fort Smith Times asks the following question;
 We received two letters on Sunday last, by the overland mail, one from Washington city. and the other from Providence R. l., in six days. What does the editor of the True De- mocrat say to that for western interests?''
 To which we reply that they are sadly neg lected. We consider ourselves lucky to get letters from Washington in t,oelve days. aad as for getting letters from Rhode Island. if one should be started we should trust to Providence for gettingi it. Think oft From Providence h. l., to Fort Smith, in SIG days. A facetious and classical correspondent the Times named
 Wax" exults over the fact of the mails to Fort Smith beating those to Little Rock in no;pt Of time and cnm mencos opa or