The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-28
Communicated


lG-. E,{itoy-Some members of the New Orleans
bar have memoralised the senate and house OF repre-
sensatiYes of the United States asking, as they term
it. for the repeal of act, approved March j. lol9
for the better organisation of the district court OF the
United States within the State of Louisiana" This
memorial has been presented, and referred to the
Judiciary committee before who are directly inter
ested could know anything of such step having
! been taken nor would we know NOW, had not the
memorial been ordered TIC be printed. For this jus
and wise precautiOn we are indebted to strangers
who now represent u.s. from distant portion OF the
country and who have, in this particular, been more
considerate of our rights than prominent citizens
(some of them public men) of our own State.
Under the act above mentioned western district
was organised, and federal judge appointed to pre-
side over its courts. This western district is really
the country district of Louisiana and was organised
for the purpose of relieving both suior and advocate
from the inconvenience and expense OF attending th'
! court in New Orleans
These memorialiss now ask for the repeal upon the
ground that few suits brought in the courts Of
the western district. This they state fact, and in
support of it. refer to the returns at Washington
As a fact it is literally true, but it by no means
refutes the wisdom necessity of the act creating
the district.
| \ Judge was appointed and should have presided,
over the courts Of the district but for reason
unknown to the people of the district he failed to do
it. l desire to make no reflections upon the Judge,
Dut, as eluDeF Vi LDc Ill Tile VI hGslcIL
district, know that many suits would have been in
stituted in these courts had there been rei-
ance that the sessions would be held at the stated
terms. l remember but one term, held at Monroe,
during the many years that the judge presided, and
know that much litigation waiting only for the
| assurance of court.
The judge should be able to give satisfactory rea
sons for this apparent delinquency and doubtless can
do so, because know him too well to believe that
he would for many years deliberately draw the salary
of Office which he knew to be stnecure. He is now
member elect of congress, and will when admitted
be able to Yindcae the wisdom of the of Sd March
IS49 and will defend himself against the unustifable
act of having drawn many thousands upon SiaecMe
> While here cannot but express my SURPRISE that
1 the memorialists could not wait until mem
| bers could be admitted, who certainly would be the
/ best Judges of measure of local interest
| Their anxious solicitude for the convenience Of
sutors has not only hurried them into this premature
action but has caused them to overlook the fact that
when the act was passed, there not one foot Of
railroad in north Louisiana, while the sure pros
pect is that in twelve months will be placed i'll full
connection with the great southern routes. 1t they
! had noticed this perhaps it might have saved them
much disnterested solictude to the inconvenience
of nonresident suitors.
In conclusion they modestly state, that by the abo
ton of the western district the business of the dis
trict court of New Orleans would be much increased
and would probably oyerwhelm one of their pa
triotic number, who, in moment of weakness, might
be induced accept the position of judge of the New
Orleans district court. They, however, relieve con
| gress from this predicament by suggesting that q
proportionate increase of salary might enable the
sesacTifcing to bear it. at least for one term Of
office. They might have gone further and sugges ted
/ that in consideration of its bringing much litigation
and many litgants to the New Orleans bar they might
agree among themselves to cast lots as to who
should be the scapegoat of this increased business.
| The truth is, We know New Orleans is great city
and, as Lousianians proud of it, but we can
not tamely submit to revival Of the old heresy, that
| g New Orleans is Louisiana"
Another truth is that if the federal government
will appoint judge of the western district who
will regularly attend the courts, he will have many
cases to decide man can do justice to. Let the
law stand as it is. There is and was any sounc
public reason why the act should be repealed, while
on the contrary if chose to devote more time tt
! the subject we shew that, because of the man.
thousands of adventtious citizens, coming from
every southern State having left behind them unset
tied business, western or country district of tn
United States is necessary and Indispensable.