The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-01-18
SPECIAL COURT OF APPEALS.

]! Court will be merely ancllllary to the present.
Court Cases which the Court Of Appeals
cannot determine for want of time, it IS H.
tended shall be dispose, of by this Special
Court This we esteem very p:oper' as JUS
tice demands an early disposition OF a" llll-
gated causes. In many instances all advant "a
ges and benefits are lost by delay-securislles
in appellate bonds may fail, or the financial
condition of parties wrecked during the PEN
deucy of appeal Connected with this pro-
position is another which exceeds any effort
/ in legislation that has ever been proposed
even in these degenerate days. 1t is propos-
ed that the Judges shall have each allowed
them per dem--the same pay as chat OF a
Member of the Legislature! It is expected
of course, or it should be, that this appellate
Court shall be composed Of the best legal tai
ent, in order to attain correct conclusions.
Those who are capable of arriving at them, by
mental discipline, vigor and education,
should be selected.
| ~ utdu VIM WiSHSS W UutQ HOuSCI ClCSC-
ed upon model of the best architectural style
would hardly select an apprentice or journey
man who just knew how to shove plane or
drive nail He would select master ar
ehitect and workman. IF he wanted an Gle
giant piece Of statuary Clipped for his parlor
he would not select stone mason from the
WA Try to conceive the design. IF he affected
tie and beautiful pictures, sign dau-
1Aqu's' aru,ly fill the bill. So in law, if
oet "ou'a A ,tain truth and legitimate
results in Jurisprudence, 49,, of noroon
trained in the law, with fac4 -.
ton, keen, clear and discriminate.
be perferred, and not one of that mum, :.
,, profession who indulge in the luxury of fit
teen shilliugs fees by suit on plain bond,
with the promise soemnly, to hunt the debt
or to. his last shirt, or who recognize paper
shaving as the greatest glory of the profession.
A lawyer whose capacities are adequate to
all the mysteries Of the law and not a petit :
|
engine is the desideratum.
We presume the Legislature will expect to
select from the class Of public benefactors.
good lawyers, and not from the class OF pub
lie pests, paper shavers and abettors Of strife
The proposition We allude to as so remark
able, is that the Judges Of this special Court
shall be paid per diem, the same as members
of the Legislature
The effect Of this would be that the czqss
pettifogyer would receive the appointment:
for no lawyer Of capacity could afford to be-
stow his services for such small compensa-
tion-and then toss of heads and tails would
be much preferred. For in the toss JUS
tice would have an equal show in luck, pos
sibly, whilst the speculative student of
Sands Form Book and Mathews Guide would
almost certainly perplex himself to an erro-
neous result.
Mental talent every where is paid the
highest wages. The supply is not generally
adequate to the demand, and the demand gov
ems the price. A good stock actor on the
boards, pockets $50 and 800 night, and
curses his luck at that. A preacher ofpower
lays up his thousands very year, and has no
respect for a congregation that does not pro
vide him with his extra turkeys and study
gowns at holidays. Nsillson and Parepa Rosa
count their poorest notes as worth so many dol
lars and even an organ grinder would esteem a
community destitute of all musical taste, that
would not come down heavy with the need
full for strain Of the Marseillaise or the
''Homeward fly Of Swallows" A respectable
gambler would scorn to play seven up for
dollar, and the rider of Harry Bassett look
upon Sl00 bill stuck deep down in his
pocket, as a small business after the second
heat. To obtain good talent you must pay
its price, for good talent respects ITSELF 1t
may starve, but won't stoop to eonquer-Dr
johnson came very near it once, and he was
a man of liberal appetite.
Ii the members of the Legislature were re-
ceVing four shillings per diem, perhaps Sc a
day for Appellate Judges might not be regard
cd as so pa'try when coming from them; or
if the graduation Of judicial and legislative
services at equal prices would effect the i'm
possible metamorphosis of elevating the men
tality Of the one to the standard of the other.
the proposition would be very sagacious and
commendable But you can't produce intel
lectual equations with autereas or a. there
fore resolved, any more than could Jack Ea
sy's father have made Methodist preacher
out OF Galley slave by pressing his bump of
combatlyeness with chronological screw.
! The'present salaries are small enough for
all the Judges, County, Circuit and Appel
late Only let the Legislature, casting aside
personal taste, and political considerations,
and acting solely for the country's good. select
the men most capable Of performing judicial
duties, and it will be money we'll spent to
pay them literally.
| The State is poor we know, but the people
are not mean, and as each citizen wishes tel
fairly paid for his labor, SO be is willing to
pay public servants accoyt3inn to tbejr 1exerts