Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-04-06
CrrEAP JUSTICE.

and left the State still 10 groan under
the burdens imposed upon it by the
present costly system of administering
the laws. II seems to us that every
government--to subserve the legiti-
mate ends of its creation-should be
paternalin its character and duties
as solicitous for the happiness and
prosperity of the citizen as the father
for his child. A failure on the part
Of the government, in this particular
argues the absence of proper motives,
or the want Of an enlightened percep-
ton of the relations which the gov
ernment bears to the people.
To make justice cheap and easily
obtained, is, or should be, the leading
idea of every ena ctment, and to make
it available, every idle form should be
dispensed with-the complicated ma
chinery of the present system of prac-
tiee in the courts should be so simpli-
fed that ordinary intelligence may
comprehend the process by which jus
tice is to be reached by those who
appeal to the courts for the vindieation
Of their rights. Atsa
We appreciate the difficulties in the
way of the reform above suggested,
but feel that it can be effected if the
people will take correct view of their
own interests and select agents able
and willing to give practical effect to
their demands. Every reform should
be undertaken with caution and pa
'ience, lest it become radical and sub
versive of fundamental principles; but
IL must have beginning. The con-
vention of Judges made the beginning,
and at the right point. Judge Baxter,
in his address to the legislature on this
subject, stated that the cost of juries,
to the State, in one year, amounts to
more than half million of dollars
and that the number of days lost to
the productive industry, swells the
loss to $750,000. The bulk of this vast
expenditure can be saved without in
fringing upon the right Of trial by
jury. All that need be done is to give
to Circuit Judges equity jurisdiction
in all civil cases, where a jury is not
demanded, and where demanded
charge the cost to the party demand
ing it. If A. and b. cant settle their
business transactions, have they any
moral right to settle it, in court, at the
cost of their ncighbors? We think
not; and if they will go to law, let
them pay for the luxury and excite
ment of litigation. The Chanccry
Court decides the most important civil
cases without the intervention of ju-
ries, and we see no sufficient reasons
why Circuit Courts may not be clothed
with similar power
Again: the vast addition to the cit
izenship of the State, since the war,
crowds the courts with petty offenscs
that add greatly to the county burden
and the vcXation of quiet citizens
TO alleviate this evil, the jurisdiction
of magistrates should be enlarged,
and work houses take the place of
jails and the Ponitentiary. This being
dono,and followed bya strict enforce
mcnt Of the laws against vagrancy, the
way will be opened to renewed pros
pcrity and an improved moral status,
50 essential to every private and pub
lie interest, We have not the space
for an argument, in detail, of the prop
oSitions above laid down, and present
them simply as suggestions for the
serious consideration of the people
with whom reforms must begin, and
who, alone have the power to carry
them into practical effect. AS doctor,
grow rich upon the diseases of the
body, so lawyers fatteu upon that de
pavity Of the heart which instigate;
crime and litigation. Tho people
themselves, cause the evils under whicl
they suffer, and the surest basis for al
reform is selfreformation by each in
iividual. All professions grow out OF
md thrive upon, the aggregate iguo
rance and immortality of individuals
and whilst many evils may be miiiga
ted by judieious legislation, no reform
can be what it should be, that is no
based, to a great extent, upon individ
udl efforts etsell-improvemcnti in intel
lcct and morality.