The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-12

side oy side with the restless Pioneer Of
frogress, take his bearings, and correct
his irregularities on the instant Il
must recognize the existence of railroads
ana teiegraPhs -of speed as q .eopstitu-
eat part OF the national being. 1T must
cut loose from the lazy languor of anti
qnated preeedents. 1t must have thun.
der and Lightning it its composition
.nundef to announce its verdict and
lightning 10 set the seal. 81 F0SI :
Like . wen oiled machine it must
respond to the purposes Of it's creation
with a certainty, a precision OF move
ment and promptness that will know
no halting or irregularities. And it
should be a tribunal so easy Of access, 90
ready to respond to the demands of the
people that our laws would be constantly
receiving that additional validity and
certainty which accrue from the inter.
pretatlon and decisions of high author
ity. Thus would men resort to our
courts as to public servant in whose
Judgment they had confidence, to I'm.
ravel the difficulties and doubts which
surround our laws, and in the spirit of
men with honest difference of opinion
they could 60 to our courts as friends,
not to Cypress each other with cost and
delay, but simply to have the proper
authority determine the rule governing
their matters of dispute.
Now, our views of the means of oh.
tanning the tribunals of the nearest
approach to the character we desire
would be the establishment in each
county of the office OF County Judge,
to be filled by a man OF legal attain
ments and moral character, whose juris-
diction should be confined to the single
county, and extend to cases OF misde-
meanor on the criminal side, and to
certain defined limits in civil matters
Let the jurisdiction Of Circuit Courts be
confined to cases of felony, TO civil suits
involving certain specified sums, TO
cases in equity and to appeal from the
County Courts. and give them charge OF
the grand juries. Then abolish at once
and forever the two utilities known as
Justices and the Board Of Supervisors
Let the county Judge hold a term
once a month, excepting two or three
Of the summer months. Thus will the
legal jurisdiction of the county be
brought within specific and capable
compass. The county Judge will be
on his seat once month to dispose OF
all the minor and more pressing cases
OF tigation-he will be there land not
in some other county, to wait on the
business, and not have the business
waiting on him Thus will we have
the responsibility OF Interpreting and
en- orcing the laws centered upon a
point where we can find it. There will
be no more re-enactments Of the policy
of Boards of Superintendent member
shifting the responsibility of obnoxious
proceedings upon his brother member,
and his brother member pleading igno-
rance as a final resort which under the
organization of that body indeed, very
natural and valid excuse. We want
the responsibility OF our minor courts
more nearly concentrated and consplc-
uous-concentrated upon an object that
at least has made professions of COM
potency by assuming an acquaintance
with law and accepting the position, and
without any opportunity of shifting 1t
in an extremity upon some one else.
If space would permit, we might en-
large upon this proposition, and show,
as we think it can be shown by the
probable workings Of such a system
that it would supply in the largest
measure the pressing wants OF the ex-
listing system, as well as correct the
gross and growing injustice and wrong
resulting from it. We leave it for the
present to the reflection, and we trust,
serious consideration of the friends OF
rafnrm