Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-11
Original Qaprs.
To the Justices of North Carolina.

To the Justices of North Carolina.
| have, for number of years, been
connected with the administration of
Justice in North Carolina. l have
always been more than ordinarily OBJ
servant of the administrators of the
law. And this, not from any DISPOSE
ton to be censorious and fault-fnding,
but from high appreciation of their
position, and keen sensibility as to
whatever affected their regulations
and influence whether from without,
or from their own characters, qualif-
cations or departments. l never
heard we'll meaning officer assailed,
that I did not feel that he ought to be
defended. And have often abso-
lutely loathed the pertness with which
l have heard them abused.
Of all the positions of judge, juror,
clerk, sheriff, coroner, constable, law
yer and magistrate that of magis-
trate is by far the most important and
difficult. Il use magistrate in the
sense of Justice Of the peace.O There
is not one single question, which can
arise before Judge, which may not
arise before magistrate, either IN or
out of court. There is not a single
crime that can be committed, which a
magistrate has not power to prevent,
if attempted in his presence, or if ii
come to his knowledge. And every
conceivable legal right is cognizable
before him. Can larger powers be
conceived of, or more important du-
ties be imposed And yet they are,
Of necessity, called to the discharge
Of these various duties, without train.
ing, and often without time for delibe
ration, and without the aid of argu
ment There is no officer in the state
entitled to more consideration. And
certainly none is entitled to more in,
diligence for errors committed. AL
that ought to be required is, an hon.
est purpose to do right. 1t makes NJ
difference if he is awkward if it Cal
be seen that he respects himself, ant
his position, and tries TO do his duty
he is entitled to, and receives the high
est praise. Yet | concede that if h,
abuses the higher trust reposed on him
and degrades himself by little mean
nesses in his office, no official deserves
and none will more certainly receive
the contempt of all who know him.
If, by having had opportunities
which they have not, | can aid thi
numerous corps of law-officers, in tn
discharge of their duties, / ask no otl
er reward than their approbation.-
And | hope that the excellent inter
tion of this address, will not only r,
lieye from all suspicion of impert
nence, but will insure for it an after
tive consideration.
To point out the round of magi
trate's duty in all cases, would f
books: which, if written, would n,
be accessible to you, as 1 desire tn
little address to be to every Magistra
in the State. / think it best to sele
one or two cases Of Importance, an
run them out from which you W
see your duty in others.
| know Of no case more fruitful
occasions for magistrates actio
and of more Importance to the CO
munity, than those of trading wi
slaves, and the liquor traffic. And
certainly know of none in which t
magistrate finds more difficulty in az
ing with credit to himself, and wi
satisfaction to the co. munity. II
lect these, therefore, as illustration
Trading with slaves is one Of t
most detestable crimes in the state.
II Is more than ordinarily demoral
ing, as it is inseparably connected W
stealing, on the part Of the slave, a
with receiving stolen goods, on
part Of white men. And it not OIL
jeopardizes the property of mas
and neighbor, but, as the article gi,
in return for what is stolen is, gen
ally, liquor, which makes the 81
vicious, it endangers life. Trad
with slaves is inseparably connec
with the liquor traffic. When
guard one you guard the other.
law has put them both almost c,
pletely under the control of the m
istrary. And yet good portion
the maglstrary, are long ways
hind public sentiment in regard to
and are so exceedingly remiss in
discharge Of their duty, that they
greater nuisance than the LIQUOR
lers themselves There are in I
counties, few who are known
the "liquor-justices, the "whis'