Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-25
aOyERWORKED JUDGES

To the Editors of the Union and Americans:
PULASKI, Nov. 81, 1871.-A very pointed
and pithy article under the above caption
appears in your paper of Sunday, but the
point in the article is not the true one, or
the one which has required the serious con-
sideration of those acquainted with the
Courts and Court business in Middle Ten
nessee. In this county-Giles-we have
90 cases for trial on the Civil Docket, and
l29 on the State Docket, and about 20 of
them felony cases. We have four weeks al
lowed for our Court. Three cases on the
Civil Docket, including one heavy contested
will case, viii consume the first week of the
term. The Criminal Docket will then be
taken up, and cannot be worked
of, working night and day,
in the three remaining weeks of the term.
We have tried it, our Judge has tried it,
working from morning till night, and fire.
quently al night, and itcan not be done.
What is the result of all this?
1t is true the Judge is ''overworked" but
that is not it. Give "Cumberland' the ben
eft of his smart points. The result is the
civil law is not executed, the public bust
ness is not done, and the accused on the
criminal docket cannot get a speedy trial.
There are some few persons, good citizens,
and tax payers too, who are so unfortunate
as to have some rights that have to be ad-
justed in the courts, but it can not be done
as matters now stand. Bringing a uitin the
Circuit Court means that the parties may
get a trial after all the witnesses are dead,
and the facts forgotten. If we are to have
courts and civil law at ALL for the enforce
ment Of contracts and the
redress of injuries, let us have them in
some effective shape, and do not treat us to
a delusion by giving us Courts that cannot
possibly dispose of half the business de-
manded by the public. But the witty
Cumberland" lays it all on the Judges and
says ''they can resign. Nobody will inter
pose an objection. "There are many men
4 in the ranks who will do little extra labor
for the sake of promotion" Yes, there are
| always men in the ranks ready to hold Office
! and do extra work for a little promotion,
! but what will the work be worth when it
| is done? ave are ruined by Chinese cheap
| labor" And Bret Harte might have added,
! ''cheap material in Office"
| We do not know to what Court or Circuit
/ Cumberland alludes in his article, but we
know that his sharp epigrams have no point
/ when applied to the Courts or Judges in
. p. Martin, has worked unremittingly
ever since his election. He dispatches
/ business well and promptly, was able and
distinguished as judge before the war, and
was then able TO keep the business up, and
! he would now DO so if mortal man could
/ do it. We know he would not complain of
! extra labor if extra labor would do the pub
/ lie business, but it will not, and we want
and must have an extra Circuit or a Grim
inal Court We have asked the Legislature
for it, and hope they will grant it. Epi-
grams upon the judges will NOT answer here.
Judge Martin has not had time to eat his
/ Christmas turkey at home since he was
elected, and we intend he shall do so this
approaching Christmas if he has to leave
some horse thief in Jail over to the next
term; that is, provided he can sell his State
warrant for his years work at 20 cents in
the dollar to paw for said tUrkeg.T.