Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-07
A VOLUNTEER.
For the Standard.


Mr.. EDITOR 1t will hardly be denied that those
parts of the Stay Law" passed at the last session
of the Legislature which transfer ed 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: unan-
nous condemnation of the people. In actions of
SANDER, trespass "a ct arms, ejectment, detinue
trover for the conversion Of personal property, the
grossest injustice will be inflicted on sutors now in
court, By this part of the law. The long delay
the death of witneSSes-the utter inpOssibility of
trying with but one term of the Superior Court
per year. of twentieth part of the civil business
in many Of the counties, prove the injustice of the
law. 1t operate most cruelty persons impriS-
oned for capital offences. | have how in my eye
two capital cases, in one of which the State was
not ready for trial. and the other tie defendant
not ready at the last term Of the Superior Court in
which the cases were pending. They 1oere impris-
oRed for tneLre months. Is this Justice: Is this
long delay nothing to one who has to await 1t in
one of your county jaiiS?
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 battericS-of the
wrongful seizure OF personal prOpcrty-Of the hold
ing over Of tenants, &c, Who things now exist,
will resort to the law for redress. Who will go
into the Courts for his rights when the fact StareS
him in the face, that he will be subjected to three,
ton before he can have hearing? Under such
circumstances men will take redress INTO Il 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 he the mode of redress If tenants refuse to
surrender at the close Of their terms expulsion 10y
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 no
terrors for men, who find that they 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 of
which are OF great Importance to the suitors-arge
numbers of witnesses sun:moned-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 elapse before these
suitors can have hearing in your courts? Yet 1t
was this very delay of justice, that contributed
largely to drive orefathers to armed resistance
against the mother country. If our people lose
confidence i'll the courts of juStice-if they find
that their appeal to them for a redress of wrongs
and successful assertion of their rights will be
vain, condition of things must follow which will
be wOrse-a more dangerous enemy to our peace
and Independence than the whole power of YAM
keedom.
Will not the wise and patriotic members of the
Convention look to these things and remedy the
evil by promptly restoring the courts? They will
be sustained by the overwhelming voice of the
people. They demand it as an act Of Justice and
policy. lido not believe the Legislature would have
done this deed Of madness and folly had they fore
seen the consequences and known that there would
have followed so quickly on its heels the condem-
| nation of the people. Restore tile Courts, if the
huS are 10 be ereeVted! FIAT JUSTITIA
November %, 1861.