Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-24
NASHlL UNION AND AMERICAN TUESDAY AUGUST o. 1859

Eleventh. A Lieutenant Governor to
be elected by the people.
Twelfth. Nesting the veto power in
the Governor.
Thirteenth. Making the Offices of Sec
rotary of State and Comptroller elective
by the people.
Fourteenth. Doing away with the
present frequency of popular elections.
Fifteenth. Liberal provision in regard
to the requirement Of State citizenship.
Sixteenth. Encouragement of manu-
Seventeenth. Equality Of married wo>
men with the husband, as to the rights
of property and the custody Of their
children.
The Jackson Tribune makes some
suggestions in regard to the judici-
airy, which seem to involve ga clean
sweep" in that department, and will
therefore be obnoxious to such Re-
publicans as the Knoxville Wing.
The Tribune says:
What we need, in Tennessee, is repose
utter freedom from internal agitation.
This end can best be reached by the
election of our rulers for respectable
period, and prompt aequiescence in the
verdict so announced. We hold that
our Governor should be elected for four
years, and part of our Legislature (say
onesthird). should hold their seats for the
same period. This would keep in this
body healthy element, composed of old
and experienced members, who would
shape legislation Alright, and temper the
fire of youth with the soberness of ripper
wears. That the hand Of reform should
touch our judiciary, is not at all question.
able. Our judges are overworked, and
our courts flooded with cumulative
litigation.
The election of judges by the people,
imperiIs the dignity of the bench, and
open its ears to the demands Of insatiate
partisanship. If man, under our present
elective system, can be a judge and pre-
serve the spotlcss purity of the ermine, he
is altogether worthy of translation in q
chariot of fire, and with regard to such q
person, we might exclaim with McDufie
of South Carolina, that even the "angels
of heaven fell with less temptation" But
who is to build up this bulwark of our
Liberties, and 10 what extent shall the
spirit of reform be carried
The revision of the Judiciary will be q
delicate and important matter. Our
present system is too slow in its opera
lions, and our suitors find their cases
burdening the dockets for years, and such
are the delays of the law that the ultimate
decision of lawsuit becomes as intermin-
able as the celebrated one OF Jarndyoe va.
Jarndyce, immortalized in Dickens Bleak
House. We have heard it mooted, that
perhaps a Supreme Court or High Court
Of some kind, will be established in each
grand division of the State, composed each
of three Judges, and that the majority OF
appeal cases would not, in all probability,
pass court 30 constituted, Thig would
expedite business, and by a division
of labor, facilitate the ends of JUS
tice. But, then, would not this
method cFeGte new swarm Of ofhce-hold-
ers, additional salaries, and hence in
creased taxation? Besides, it seems not, 10
the theoretical eye, to simplify the system
under which our courts are holden. Un-
der this plan, would not judges become too
common to be respectable, and would we
not so emasculate their dignity as to leave
them in our midst, but the shadow of a
mighty name" In our opinion, the wants
of the people demand court of frequent
sittings-one of easy success, and establish
ed in every county. We have too much
vexatious delay in all our legal business,
and our clearest rights can not be enforced,
30 cumbersome ia our present routine of
the administration of the law.
In Mississippi the people established
county court, which is presided over by
one Judge, and he must be skilled in the
law. This is court of intermediate
Jurisdiction, between the Magistrates
Court and the Circuit Court. 1t has
jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, and
in civil actions, its powers are greater
than those of Justice of the Peace, and
less than those of the Circuit Court,
1t meets, in most counties, every two
months, or six times during the year
In certain cases jury is allowed at the
reuu It of the suitors. This court has
been found to answer well the demands of
the people, 1t opens short CUT to the
termination of all petty Law suits, and was
| found 10 be an efficient agent in the pro-
motion of Justice in that State.
Would such tribunal be out of place in
Tenno sect? We leave it for discussion in
future. To cur mind, we need not so much
an obliteration of Radical judges, as an en-
tire change in the system of the judiciary.