The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-04-03
Convention Notes.

On trluay AFTERNOON tue Cousti'ulioua
Convention adjourned until the 18th of
April. for the purpose of allowing mem
bers to attend to personal and professional
business. The proceedings during the
week were important, if not very interest
ing. 90 Tuesday the Convention did
rot sit, but the members attended the
launch of the "Iudiaua" Wednesday was
chiefly occupied with discussing the article
on military service. The committee re
ported a provision holding all the citizens
of the State as liable to militia duty, but
this was strongly opposed by many mem,
bers. Various propositions we're presented
for the exemption Of persons having re
~igiousor conscientious scruples on the sub
iect. Anamendment by Mr.. Broomall, that
mo one having conscientious scruples
shall be compelled to bear arms" was re
jected. Finally, an amendment proposed
by Mr.. Carter of Lancaster was added to
the section, which was then adopted. II
provides that the Legislature may by law
excuse from military service those VIII"
have conscientious scruples against bear
ing arms. 1t is surprising that IN the
State founded by Penn there should be
any opposition to the proposed exemp
ton. On Thursday, the report OF the
committee on juGicai system was submit
ted by Mr.. Armstrong, the Chairman =
IL contains SO sections. The courts OF
Common Pleas remain as they nov are.
with an increase OF judges. The Supreme
Conrt consist Of seven judges ; and there
will be a Circuit Court of nine judges, to
he intermediate between the others. with
appellate jurisdiction The State is to
be divided into six circuits, iD which this
court shall sit. In the counties it will
have concurrent power with the Common
Pleas, and will try cases that cannot OF
ought not to be tried in the latter. In
Philadelphia the District Court and the
Common Pleas are consolidated and diVid
ed into four branches, each having three
judges. The judges now sitting are ali
continued in office. The Nisi Prius Court
is abolished, In Philadelphia one police
Justice, learned iu the law, is to be elect
ed for every 10000 Inhabitants. to exer
else the jurisdiction now belonging to the
aldermen. The Supreme Judges are to
be appointed by the Governor for 81
years, with the approval of the Senate
the Circuit Judges are to be elected by
the people of the State at large, for 10
years /; aud others Judges are to be elected
by the people of their respective districts
Tor the term Of ten years The Office OF
Associate Judge is abolished after the
end of the terms of those now sitting
The functions of the Registers Court are
transferred to the Orphans Court. Sew
eral members Of the committee dissented
from different features of this report
The committee on "declaration of rights
submitted a report, as also did that on
railroads and canals. The latter forbids
all special legislation on the subject con
cerned, ANIMALS all free passes, and lays
down stringent rules for the government
Of corporations. The committee on LIE
gislature made supplementary report
providing for a Senate of 80 members
and a House Of $50 members. On Fri
day the subject of impeachment was dis
cussed, and the section reported was
adopted. The attendance was very thin.
many of the members having already
gone home,-BuckS Comfy hteHigencer