Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-08

FROM cur Special CORRESPONDENT

Inc matter Of some surprise that the pub
attention to the proceedings IF The various
Courts, County and SUPERIOR 1t is not,
indeed. desirable that the names of the stc-
tors in petty misdemeanors hould be made
known to the public, or even that higher
crimes should be set forth i'll all their de-
tails. The disgusting nvidity with which
everything of Thu, character is sought for
and published hy the Northern press,
has had, it must be admitted, very iniu-
rious effect upon public morals. and is
greatly to he deprecated. But our South
ern Journals fall into the other extreme
A happy Medium might be observed by
avoiding all details untitled for d refined
public taste, but yet by reporting such
cases as might entertain as we'll as instruct
and such intellectual efforts, either by way
of address or charge to a jury, as might re-
fleet credit on the members of our bar and
judiciary. I feel well justified i'll saying
that the bar Of North Carolina presents an
array of talent second to none in the Uni
ted States, and yet the most distinguished
members thereof are scarcely known be-
yond the limits of the State, owing, in a
great measure, to the fact, that the pro-
ceedings of our Courts are excluded from
the public journals.
You are aware that Judge Merrimon was
assigned to this Judicial circuit, and he at
tended all the Courts thereof save two, and
as to these he exchanged with Judge Gill
liam. My personal acquaintance with
Judge Merrimon is very slight, but the
very highest testimony is borne by TIE bar
to his ability and learning. and it is uni
versally conceded that he unites in him
self all the qualities OF a great Judge It
is rumored that the inadequacv of his sal
airy will force him to resign, which will be
q very great loss to the public service
How long will our State persist in the pol
icy of SO limiting the salaries Of our pub
lie men, as to render the acceptance of Of
fee source Of pecuniary loss to the in
cumbent i'll nearly every instance This
is peculiarly the case with our Judges, every
one of whom might, at this day. secure a
much higher income at the bar than thew
receive OH the bench.
Judge Gillian Is ,tlvav8 welcome to the
people Of Halifax and Northampton coun-
ties, than whom nCue are more apprecia-
tive Of eNcellenry Of character. The Judge
is ali exceedingly sunGli lawyer and one of
the best bellies letters scholars ~ tile whole
State. He is too, a man Of the utmost
kindness of heart, and 40 better represent
tatiyc OF that courteou. Htlabiiity and
charm 81 manner which characterize the
weIl-bred North Carolnq gentleman can
any where pe found.
Nowhere can the effects Ct or late strlIg-
gle be better studied than in our Courts
The moralist who gives his attention to the
nature of their proceedings, will find much
food for reflection, and the statesman
might draw lessons Of wisdom from the
same source. 1t can scarcely admit Of
question, that the efforts Of both are re-
CURED to amehorata the present state Of
affairs. But. 1t we arc let alone. these
evils in the social system, now SO apparent,
may correct themselv es; public opinion is
a great rcformer, and does more, very of
ten, to correct public abuses, than the pull |
psf or the statute book. To it We must
look to bring about a return Of that state
Of morals when the criminal docket was
disposed Of III one day.
1t must he noticed, however, that the Wis |
tations Of the criminal law are not general !
ly such as evidence q great decay of public |
virtue. The noble qualities of our women,
50 Srandly exhibited during the terrible |
days of our struggle. are still untouched, |
and Notwithstanding the loss by our people |
Of nearly two-thirds of their available means |
and the pecuniary distress consequent there
On, the public and private faith are still |
The great Reputation meas
IRE of our late Convention was passed I'M
der duress, and met with no contirmatory
response from the public heart. So long
rs people preserve their public and pri-
Vate honesty, and place upon female virtue
The very highest moral estimate, so long
will that people hold the highest rank in !
he scale of civilization nor does the his
5ory of the world, under all the circum-
stances, present aninstance of that honesty
more religiously observed, OF that virtue
more devotedly cherished. than that afford
I'd by the people of the South.
Now whilst have been thus descanting,
you have been waiting for the proceedings of
Halifax Superior Court They, indeed, so
naturally induced the reflections I have
brown out. that Icould not well avoid them,
md have given to them so much space
hat | cannot trespass much longer on your
patience.
The court was occupied the whole week
III the State docket, and did not more
han half dispose of the business thereon,
L4C IAObO1ICJ NSuGId4 OSSIItS d OOuft Oh ,
)yer and Terminer necessary, but the mem
'ers of the Halifax bar are SO pre-engaged
With special terms, and such courts else
where, that it seems to be impracticable to
all one for Halifax county. The Legisla-
ure about to meet should consider the pro-
'riety of providing for three terms of the
superior Court in each county, annually;
ne to be exclusively set apart for civil bu-
less. This would render necessary addi-
ional Judges and judicial circuits, but the |
'ublic Interests imperatively demand it, al !
hough tits to be feared that course directly
ontrary to that here suggested will be fol-
owed.
large number of Freedmen, as many
erhaps as seventy-fye. were the subjects
f Indictment. It was but fair to add, how !
yer, that this large number was included
4 two or three bills, and the offence was I
n unlawful assembly, !" involving in one &
ase only, base breech of the peace, the
hole caused by contest growing out of
ne pretentions of Buck and Mitchell, rival {
reachers, whose followers might respec- {