New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-31
THE SUPREME COURT.

| 1hlS tribunal OF last resort IN the State
| closes its session in New Orleans to-day
In noting this event, we deem it not I'M
important nor improper to refer to and
pass in review some of the more striking
features of our republican system. 1t is
| now conceded on all sides and by all
parties that the governments of this
country, both national and State, are
separated into three Independent co-or-
dinate branches or divisions The Judi
ciary is as distinct and independent of
the executive and Legislative departments
as either of those are of the Judiciary
In our State or local system this division
and separation into distinct and indie
pendent departments of the government
is clearly defined and well understood.
The Supreme Court occupies the COM
handing and controlling position in the
judiciary system of Louisiana, and as
such has the high prerogative conferred
upon it of shaping and directing its own
department in conformity with established
laws and usages, as well as supervisory
power and control over the legislative and
executive departments. To prove that
the judiciary has this supervisory power
which inheres in its very structure over
the other branches of the government, we
need only to cite the reader to the several
cases of public interest which have passed
under consideration in the court during
its last session just closed. The question
of the extent to which the Legislature
with the sanction of the executive, can
exercise the taxing power, has been the
subject of judicial construction. The
prohibition imposed by the constitution
on the Legislature against increasing the
public debt above certain amount, has
received its final order from the Supreme
Court, SO that hereafter no one need to
fear that the State debt will be allowed
thanks to the judiciary to exceed its
present maximum. Numerous other
politico-judicial questions have come be-
fore the court in the various and ever
varying complications into which we
find ourselves involved, which more or less
affect the interest of the citizen, and in
the examination of which we are gratified |
to be able to announce to the people that
our Supreme Court has brought to bear
great ability, answering integrity, to-
5ether with united energy and industry
hat has not only gained for them the con-
idence and appreciation of the community
generally, but has placed the State and
he people under lasting obligations to
hem for having been at the opportune
ime the medium through which they
we're saved from hopeless and helpless
uin and bankruptcy.
Itwouid be out of place for US, as a
'ublic journalist, to even express an
pinion of the merits or value of the
many decisions that have been made by
ur Supreme Court on questions of a
urely private character, affecting the
interests of individuals only. For in
ormation as to the great number of well
onsidered opinions rendered by this
tribunal, we refer the reader to the re-
orts made by the able and efficient re-
orter of the court, regularly printed and
ublished in neat and elegant style at
ur well appointed job Office.
The arduous labors of the court will
lose for the season after holding two
Ountry terms-a first at Opelousas, be-
inning on the second Monday of June,
nd second at Monroe, beginning on
lie first Monday of July.
We bid each one of the judges pleas
Mt goodbye, and hope their short
'spite from their labors may prove as
3reeable and beneficial to themselves as
leir labors have been of advantage to
lie people and the State.