The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-01-12
Going to Law.

with men OF various characters and isposi
tons, some OF whom do not scruple. when
suitable opportunity offers, TO take the ad
vantageto their own peculiarly advancement
With such as these, when their character i
proven, prudent will generally avoic
entering into business transactions. Yet j
sometimes becomes necessary, and even un
avoIdab!e. IL is then a wise course to bt
very cautious that no margin is left for ai
vantage or misunderstanding Bu. should
difficulty arise, where the amount 10 dsp ite
IS too large to be sacrificed with impunity
after all reasonable efforts have failed to set.
tie the matter on something like fair terms,
It VIII be found far better in nearly all cases,
to reter the matter to artitraters. The wri-
ter has had some experience Juror, and
10 other ways many Of appealing to
law TO settle such difficulties, has fallen un-
der his observation; an! he can say unhesi
tatIn5ly, that IN many, If not most instances
both parties are the ioosers He has seldom
known case Of pecuniary differences be-
tween men decided by litigation, that mi yht
not have been settled with less trouble, ex-
pense. perplexity, unkind feeling, in short.
with more satisfaction to both parties, to say
nothing of their friends and neighbors, by
arbitration.
! Orange Judd, of the "-Imerican 4sricuk-
t"T'St. among other things on this subject,
has the following: with most men, the
first impulse. on having a Slight difference
VII neighbor, is, to go TO law about it.
10 submit the quietly to the arbitration
OF dislnterested persons, and yield TO their
decision. would not quite satisfy the dignity,
nay, the belligerant propensity of the par
Ties. how few men, comparatively, there
are. who have lived forty years without hav-
ing been IN court one more times. And
how few are the instances where even the
victorious party has not lost more than has
been gaIned--ln time, worry of mind, ex.
penses-to say nothing of the trouble en-
tailed upon others who have been drawn in.
TO the conflict as witnesses, interested spec
tators, jury men, etc. We have vivid rec
objection Of being called from pressing bus
mess to 90 fifteen miles to attend county
court and of waiting four whole days 70
give evidence as witness, Ii case of which
we personally knew nothing; and TO cap the
climax, the case " as adjourned over three
months. when two days more were consumed
in waiting. Our protestations that we knew
nothing Of Importance. and that all we did
know was hearsav, amounted to nothing with
hose in eager fray. The idea seemed to be
lat that side would be the strongest which
ould bring the most persons on tie stand as ,
and SO with more than twenty 9TH
n persons we danced attendance. The whole ,
mount at issue was less than our individual ,
oss Of time in one of the days spent at .
,ourt. We received i'll return one shilling
l21 centsD IN ddrauce.
There is no doubt that most persons who
would first sit down and count the cost Of
uit at law. would be deferred from entering +
would allow HIM to trample on my righls' I
5 the common expression.
1--WE recently heard of case at the south, ,
worth relating in illustration. n whip was
borrowed. and on being returned, the lender
declared that seven inches had been worn
,ff from the end of the lash. High words
,nsued. leading to a quarrel. which was car
ried into court. and from one court to anoth-
er, with the the usual delays. until the ag-
gregate costs to the parties actually amoun.
ted TO seven thousand dollars--a thousand
dollars an inch for the worn lash, without
time, trouble, and the bad feelings
In another instance long legal contest en-
sned. the original cause of which was slight
trespass by a calf. The case ended by d
com promise, each party paying his own costs
the total amount of these h id run up to near
lv elcrea thousand doiiafs! How many such
cases-not quite 50 striking perhaps Shave
come under the notice of most PERSONS
How many estates have been wasted, and
heirs beggared, by an unwiiilngness 10 make
slight concessions.
..But necuniary loss. serious as it often
NAV be. is not the worst feature III the bus
mess. The hatred engendered. and bad pas
sions nourished. react sadly upon the parties
engaged The disposition is soured, peace
banished, and constant vexation and appre
hensiou embitter life. Said one who had
finally obtained his suit, involving large
amount, and one which he could Ill afford to
lose: Had foreseen the anxiety and vexs
ton | have suffered from this business,
would have given a receipt IN tul tor the
amount, rather than have commenced. =
MANY others will bear the same testimony
There are cases where it is positive duty to
invoke the aid of law to secure or preserve
rights, but reason. not passion should pre-
side when such interests involved
I'VE repeat, then. if any of our readers
are now, or hereafter, tempted to indulge In
law let them first ( i've this picture careful
study. and then inquire II 1t Will not be bet
ter to lose the milk at once, than to hold the
COW with might and main, for an indefinite
period, and in the end find all the labor los" "
Between men of the most perfect integ
,itv and honesty, difficulties in pecuniary
from honest differences of opinion. Ia suct
cases men are apt TO plant themselves too
firmly on what they consider the absolute
correctness of their own Judgment, withou
stopping 20 consider tina. possibly from no
knowing all the facts that bear OH the case
added 10 their desire for gain. their opinion
NAV be slightly incorrect. Thus may
small matter, between two upright and hon
est men, lead 10 difficulty. In such cas-
each one should remember that his friend
ss Justly entitled to be considered fair an
.. honest as himself. unless his previous cours
Of life has plainly proved to the contrary
, and that there is quite possibility ths
both parties may have erred in their judg
: msnt Were this view of the matter taker
fewer difficulties would be heard Of
There is one plan for settling peouniar
q differences. especially where the amount
! dispute is not large. which the writer has 81
|, ted on for many years. aud has never know
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