New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-12
THE SUPREME COURT.

Among the many reforms which the present
session of Congress will doubtless institute,
that of thorough reorganization Of the vari-
GUS Federal Courts is one If the most urgent.
To the Supreme, Circuit, and District Courts
of the United States are committed some OF the
most important branches of litigations, inyoly-
ing the property and the rights of large classes
of the community. All suits of an Admiralty
aud Maritime nature. all which spring from an
enforcement of the revenue laws, AL arising
under copyrights and letters patent for inven-
tions with many others affecting vast interests
on the sea aud on the land, arc heard at the
bar of these tribunals. They take cognlzance
also of large circle of crimes, defined and
regulated by Federal statutes. But, graSer
topics than these are nodded by the plastic
hand of our National Judiciary. Constitutional
questions, which determine the destiny and In
voVe the fate of the Republic, are sub
lion which fills every corner OF the land
with bloody strife, aud makes even the solid
tremble, els due quite as much to an unsound
and unwise decision of the Supreme Court as
to any other single cause. AS Mt present con-
sttuted and organized, the Federal judiciary
is not only inadequate to the discharge of its
ordinary duties, but is, and long has been,
grossly and Extensively sectional in its cbarac-
ter. The interests and convenience of suitors
at its bar and the safety and stability of free
institutions, demand thai this department OF the
Government should be thoroughly renovated,
remodeled, and reformed. Even if there were
no rebellion in the country, and the old order
Of thipgs were restored, the number Of SUI
preme judges in the Northern States would
not be more than half enough to transact the
business of the Circuits, while at the South
there would be twice as many as we're
necessary for this purpose. The pres
ent is favorable opportunity to re-
store just equilibrium between the
sections, and at the same time, bring back
public confidence to the Court by placing men
upon its bench who believe that one OF the
original objects of the Constitution was to
{" secure the blessings oil liberty TO ourselves
and our posterity." OF the five recent
Southern Judges, three reman-Ianey, Wayne,
and Catron. They are abundantly able to per-
form all the business which, even in the most
prosperous times, has ever been transacted IN
the Circuit Courts of the Slayeholdlog States.
OF the four recent Northern Judges three re-
nain-Nelson, Clifford, and Grier. Five more
are needed for Circuit duty in the Free States.
Another JuCge is needed in New-England; one
would find ample employment in this city and
It's enylrOns alone; two are wanted Ia The
large Circuit made vacant by the death OF
Judge Mclean, and one may wisely be sta
toned on the Pacific coast. These additions to
the bench would, Of course, render necessary a
new organization OF the Crcults-a measure
of the last Importance. If eleven were deemed
too large a number of Judges to hold the Court
in bauc, 1t would be easy to designate
smaller quota for that duty.
But waving oil minor matters OF mere de-
tail and arrangement, our sole object now is
to impress upon Congress the tranScendent
Importance OF embracing this opportunity to
thoroughly reform our Federal Judiciary.