Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-04
fCeElfUNICATEDl
rnE IrnICIARY or EIsSIsSIPPI.

ia ILDlCAAhA Bh 8ASSA9SAAEA- -
Fditers Memphis Appeal:
Tha iudges of Mississippi are Of high
order Of iurists. Popular suffrage IN the
election Of a judiciary stands approved
In that state by the choice OF such emil
neut men as Sharkey, Clayton, NergeT,
etc. The circumstances under which
that state Of facts followed are, however,
now totally changed. Men Of private
fortune-as those lights of the bench OF
Mississippi were some time ago-they
accented the choice Of the people, regard
less OF the pay, for the h0HOr. Their
estates destroyed, their families, in several
cases. on the brink Of ruin, those gentle
men are COMPELLED heneefOrward 10 EN-
plOy their talents as means OF bread;
Eminent jurists, of wrecked fortunes, VIII
surely not consent to give their talents
70 the service Of the state al compeu-
sation Of a few thousand dollars year,
srSIle the necessities Of their households
,csIf their attention TO the fact that prsc-
fisiuO LAWYERS of inferior ability are
making iDcomes Of forty or fifty thou
sands.
the next elections TO the courts Of
Mississippi may, under existing circum-
stances, be expected to present a painful
deterioration as to the quality OF the
state bench. Amongst other rumors IN
iicative of that impending danger ]
may instance one In which, as bottom
man. l am directly concerned, that OF
the intended withdrawal OF Mr.. Justice
Vsrger. A terror to evil-doers, judge
who knows, in the discharge OF his duty,
neither friend nor foe, neither fear nor
favor, ne has been for many years as a
shield and buckleF TO the law-abiding
people Of the river counties Of Missls-
sippi. The honor Of the position wasi II
a true, a sufficient reward to him while
he was a man Of fortune; but now that
ne has, / presume, been ruined by war,
there Is but too much ressOn 70 fear, to
conclude. that the rumOr Of his cOntem-
MATED withdrawal from the bench has al
It's base bis own conviction Of his over
ruling duty to his household.
An attempt was made during the last
session OF the legislature Of Mississippi
TO meet the altered condition OF the state
by an increase Of the salaries OF the
Judges. The assembled wisdom OF
ON people insisted, however, that the
men charged with the adjudication OF
questions Of life and property, the custo-
dians of law and order, shall not receive
q compensation higher than that paid in
a first class dry goods store in Memphis
20 & clerk. The peOpleOf the state have
vet a remedy for this ignorant, parsi-
msny OF the legislature; and surely are
not 50 utterly blind to their own inter-
.ssts as 70 delay in applying that remedy,
syhen the consequences Of thst delay
foreshadow themselves in reports Of the
sVitbdrawal from the bench Of such men
As Mr.. Justice Hergef.
Nv concern in the case Of the Judiciary
OF Mississippi lies most directly in the
counties Of the bottom. / dwell, there
fore, more particularly on remedy in
the case Of that Judicial district. The
representatives Of the five counties Of
that district voted, believe, TO a man,
for ihe proposition to fix the salaries Of
the state Judges at 5000 year. In hav-
ing done 80, these gentlemen represented
faithfully the views and wishes Of their
constituents. The people Of the bottom
would pay his present salary four times
over rather than lose the services Of that
stern but just man, Mr. Justice 1erger-
The boards OF police, throughout his dls-
trict, will but carry out the wishes o.
ther fellOw-citizeus by taking al the
steps necessary 70 hold Judge Nerger on
the bench. II $1,000 year be sufficient
10 accomplish the purpose. let them set
ID apart; if not sufficient let them set
Ausrt 81, ,000l The taxpayers will not
give up Judge Yerger.
Three Thousand dollars a year addi-
tional 10 the three thousand paid by the
stste. will probably retain the services
- Yerger. To each Of the five counties
~ bis district this will involve an outlay
~ but $500 a year. In order 70 give
lore erect 10 the allowance thus made
i beg leave 70 suggest that, as the quar-
terly payneDts OF the judges are some
tiuies not paid for months alter then
,rsseutation 81 the state treasury, th'
new stipend, as proposed here, be mad'
t,svable punctually. With that view 1
would be highly important that th'
board OF police order the sheriris 10 pas
over the whole quarterly salary 10 th'
judge-S3O0 for each eounty-and eoliee
the salary paid by the state IN their set
Elements with the treasurer at jackson
Puuetuslity secured thus in the pay
ment, the 5000 made up by the counties
would no doubt go farther as an induce
ment 20 q jurist OF shattered fortune
than even a larger sum paid, as thi
present pitiful salary is, irregulsrly.
hope, sirs, you will feel il your dutl
30 urge this very serious subject on th'
people Of Mississippi / beg Of you Z
Understand that l call your attention {
the case Of Judge Yerger as one Of th
many painful examples OF the folly Q
he legislature Of Mississippi in refusing
~ deal with the Judiciary according Z
The necessities Of the time, and not b
INV means with the intention OF mar
noSripg down yOnr protest against suel
golly 10 that very striking illustration