Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-11
A VOLUNTEER.
For the Standard.

Mr. EDIroR:-It will hardly be denied that those
parts of the "Stay Law" passed at the last session
of the Legislature which transferred the whole of
the civil jury cases, pending in the County Courts
to the Superior Courts, and abolished the spring
terms Of the latter have received the almoS: unani-
nous condemnation of the people. In actions Of
SANDER, trespass oi ct arms, ejectment, detnue,
trover for the conversion Of personal property, the
groSSest injustice will be inflicted suitors now in
court by this part of the law. The long delay
the death of witnesses-the utter impossibiity of
trying, with but one term of the Superior Court
per year, of one twentieth part Of the civil business
in many of the counties prove the injustice of the
law. 1t operates most cruelty on persons mprs-
oned for capital offences. l have now in my eye
two capital cases, in one of which the State was
not ready for trial. and the other the defendant
not ready at the last term of the Superior Court in
which the cases we're pending. They usre impris.
oned for tuelre months. Is this justicey Is this
long delay nothing to one who has to await 1t in
one Of your county jails!
But there are other serious evils which will likely
be caused by the adjustment of one of the terms
of the Superior Courts In cases of the grossest
slanders-of the most violent batteries-of the
wrongful seizure of personal property-of the hold
ing over Of tenants, &c, who. things now exist
will resort to the law for redress Who will 60
into the Courts for his rights when the fact sares
him in the face, that he will be subjected to three
four, or five perhaps six eight years litiga-
ton before be can have hearing? Under such
circumstances men will take redress into their own
hands. If SANDER is INDUCED, violence will follow
If personal injuries inflicted immediate retalia-
ton will be resorted to. If personal property is
wrongfully seized, recapture, by force of arms,
will be the mode of redress. If tenants refuse to
surrender at the close Ct their terms, expulsion by
force will be the landlords resort 1t will not meet
the difficulty to say that the criminal law, with its
penalties, will restrain those who may thus be dis
posed to take the law into their own hands. In
times like these, the criminal law will present 10
terrors for men, who find that they are denied the
courts of justice for the protection of their rights
and that resort to the strong is the only way
to defend them. know three counties in the State
in the Superior Courts Of which are pending an
average Of three hundred jury cases each-many o.
which are of great Importance to the suitors-large
numbers of witnesses suEnpned-each term at
tended with heavy costs. Now pray, if this mon
ument Of the folly of the Legislature is permitted
to stand, how many years will eapse before these
suitors can have hearing in your courtsf Yet Il
was this very delay of justice, that contributed
largely to drive forefathers to armed resistance
against the mother country. If our people lost
confidence in the courts of justice-if they fnt
that their appeal to them for redress of wrongs
and successful assertion of their rights, will b.
vain, a condition of things must follow which vii
be worse-a more dangerous enemy to our peac
and independence than the whole power of Yam
keedom.
Will not the wise and patriotic members of tn
Convention look to these things and remedy tn
evil, by promptly restoring the courtsy They wi
be sustained by the overwhelming voice of tn
people. They demand it as an act of justice an
policy. lido not believe the Legislature would hav
done this deed of madness and folly had they for,
seen the consequences and known that there woul
have followed so quickly on its heels the condeu
nation of the people. Restore the Courts, If I'll
la,os are to be executed! FIAT JUSTITIA.
| November g. 1861.
Jusr CoMpLAINT-Th Wilmington Journl
complains that the soldiers of the two North Carr
lima Regiments of Volunteers, which recently wen
to the South Carolina coast for the purpose of asss
ing in the defence Of that State shaoed on ever
cent Of North. Carolina money they expend. Tn
is not only wrong, but it is outrageously unjust
The North Carolina Banks are as solvent as any
the country-certanly as safe as the South Carolir
Banks-and there is no business or fairness in tt
demand of the people of our sister State that ten
fifteen per cent shall be knocked off of every do
!, of N G. money offered by our soldiers. There h,
always been disposition on the part Of South Car
lima to depreciate North Carolina Bank notes, b.
we were not prepared to see such disposition col
tinued and manifested at time like the present.
For the sake Of good feeling, if for nothing else
do hope reform in this respect will be inaugurat'
by the authorities of our neighboring State
: would do them no harm at home, and will certain
i. do them much good abroad. Cha, lotto Democrat
/ dispatch from Indianapolis, Indiana, dated u
! 18th says: From all parts Of the State We ha
information that there is considerable disaection
( the course pursued toward Fremont and there
no mistake that the people arc fast losing con6den
10 the Administration"