The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-11-16
4nB JlrDicIAaY.

Il H.n. q 9 ~
4 AT the risk Of being considered importu-
nate, ] again call your attention to the abso-
lutte necessity Of increasing the salaries OF
our Judges. An enlightened and impartial
JUDICIARY constitutes the bulwark Of liberty,
and there never has been time in the his
tory of, the State when such a judiciary was
\ of such vital Importance. II is q pleasing
bns shallow view OF the subject, to say that
eminent lawyers should accept Judicial po-
] sit ons and perform laborious and expensive
1 duties for bonor alone or even for patriotism.
Thuse balcyon days, II they ever existed, are
past. Il IL true that 10 our 6rst efforts to re-
store law and order, many Of the best jurists
ia the State did tender their services and ac-
cept positions on the bench Thay were ac-
/ tuated by patriotic and selEsacrifcing mo-
ilves and by the reasonable hope that their
salaries would be increased, at least in pro-
portion to their personal expenses. Disap-
pointed in this, and having done what they
considered their share Of the public burden,
mauy Of them have resigned and Others have
Only been prevailed upon to continue in Of
\ fee by the members Of the bar and their clt-
ents. In the exercise of the appointing
power, | have experienced the utmost DIM
Guilty in finding suitable persons TO fill the
I vacancies AS they EaVe occurred nor will
| say that | have always succeeded. Gentle
men Of the bar, while they admit that they
owe something to the publ: service, con-
\ ceive that their families have a.still higher
and stronger claim upon them. Nearly all OF
our Judges have long and fltiguing journeys
( and hard labor TO perform, attended with
heavy expense and priyations, and for SAL
ary that is barely sufficient to defray their
actual Outlays, much less ~ compensate
Y AZ. a.. l.. - Al. a Az
Y Is possible that most Of these offices will
soon be tilled by election, and as, under the
I Constitution, their salaries cannot be in
I creased during the time for which they may
| be- elec:ed. | once more, fnally and earn
estly invite your attention to this subject, in
volying, as Il does, the vital rights and inte-
rests OF every citizen Of the State.
| THE HERMITAGE.
! refer you to my former message and my
official report concerning that fine estate,
which is now the property Of the State,
known as the "ilernitige Farm The Leg.
islature of 1856, purchased this estate out
of respect to the memory Of it's former illus
trious owner, at the cost Of $4S 900. and in
cured h debt Of that amount by the issu
ance Of its bonds, which debt, n0w amounts
to about $50, 900 Since the purchase, the
interest OF the State in the property has
been wholly neglected. The present occu
pants have enjoyed It without being called
upon for q siRsle dollar, either for rents or
r. pairs; nor have they volunteered to repair
the dwelling, fences, or even the tomb itself.
II would seem that the use Of such mag
nifcent estate by private individuals would
compensate them for keeping il, at least, In
some sort of repair. But the en- ire property
presents a dreary aspect of dlapidation and
neglect. AS DO not understand II to- have
been the object Of the purchase to establish
a STATE charity, | recommend the sale VI the
property As measure due the State, and sat-
isfactcry to the tar payers and to meet in
p. II the debt incurred IN its purchase.
HOSPITAL Ron The INSANE.
| I refer you TO the report Of the Superin-
tendent OF the Tennessee Hospital for the In
sane. Under the eficirat management Of its
present able officers, this noble institution OF
charity proves to be an honor TO the State
| and blessing TO its Unfortunate inmates,
| It's proper that should call your attention
to the fact that theresare at the Institution,
y number Of pay patients IRON the SoutnerD
States, whose bills have not been met for
four OF FIVE years The accounts Of the par
ties wko placed these patients In the Hos
pitll have been regularly made out and for
Piled that they were unable to meet them,
while others have treated these calls with 81
lenl contempt. The outstanding debt due 10
this Institution in items OF this character.
now amounts TO nearly $4,000. Many Of
these patients were sent here through pride,
and Is desire To have them far removed from
their homes and families. ... ..t...
It is not Just that our people should be
taxed to support the unfortunate Of other
States, especially when the presumption is
that their relatives are able to deiray their
e1pen es Such a course would bs depart
ure FROM the rule that our charities should
bepin at home recommend t1at the rela-
tives Of these unfurtunues be once more no
tified, and IL no settlement Is made within
reasonable time, the patents be conveyed TO
their homes at the expense Of the State, and
turned over to their families.
rHE PESIfEHTIARY.
The condition and workings Of our Peni-
tentihry system will command your attention.
Recently the number Of eonyicts has been
rapidly increasing, aud viii soon, probably,
exceed AL former calculations. This was to
be expected, aI resulting from the demorali-
zi.ion Of war und remission offthe eolored
race 10 the penalties Of our criminal code,
instead Of the summary treatment applied to
them when slaves. bnt hpprehenu lpht
these penalties have not been impartially Hd-
ministered. The violent prgddiees and high
pissions engsndered by the war have not so
fir subsid q as 10 secure from jures, in
many c,ses that most sacred riRht-an i'm
partial verdict. From information derived
| from numerous aud reliable sources and ac-
mil investigation, Il appears that IN some
loruhiies, discharged Federal soldiers aud
cUlored defendants hsve a poor showing,
when once arraigned before those against
whom they lately fought or by whom they
were cl lined as property. These classes and
others equals obnoxious are convicted with
alneriiy and generally Sentenced TO the mszi-
mum punishment allowed BY law. feel that
am warranted IN the estimate, that twenty.
Ave per cent. Of the eonyiels now 10 the State
prison, are there on account OF the color OF
tlrir skin or their antecedents as Federal
soldiers or active Unlonists, or at least who
wonld rot have been there " ihey dad had
different anteeedents or different color
| am pained TO make this statement, seeing
20 adequate remedy. The courts can ane
Bboold do much TO prevent such vFOngs and
the EHeeuiiys may occasionally afford partial
rrlisi.by the eEereise Of The pardpning pogsr
BIt the tFbL BY jury B . sacred conslitn-
tiohal right with alf its faalts, Is probably
~. t.st e.... ~ tsta th.t AanE ha deaned.