National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-15

ator West, but we think It can easily be
shown that this is mere pretense, and that
such q consideration never entered into the
mind of the promoters of the bill We
think that it can easily be shown that there
Is not the slightest necessity for the estab-
hshment of new court in Louisiana, and
that 50 far from saving money to the Gov
eminent it will involve an increased expen-
diture. The first reason why the bill should
be rejected by the House is that neither the
people residing within the limits Of the dis
trict set apart in the bill nor the officers of
the Government have called for the estab-
hshment of q new court in Louisiana. The
scheme originates with few politicians
and ofice-seekers interested or residing in
and about the town of Monroe, and its only
promoters are persons who intend to apply
for the Offices thus created or have friends
who viii be applicants for the same.
The second reason which may be urged in
opposition to the bill is, that the present
judicial establishments in Louisiana are
amply sufficient for the convenient and
economical transaction of all business
brought before them. Not q single fact
has been communicated to Congress going
to show that the territorial Jurisdiction of
the Circuit and District Courts at New Or
leans is too extended, nor that these courts
cannot and do not with rapidity clear their
dockets.
The third reason is, that the city of New
Orleans being the commercial centre of the
State, great majority, perhaps ninety per
cent, of the litigation instituted in the
Federal courts of Louisiana exclusively
concerns parties resident in the southern
part Of the State; and thus the argument,
based upon the great distance $500 miles)
that litigants, witnesses and officers sery-
ing process have to travel in coming to New
Orleans, falls to the ground.
Besides the foregoing, it may be alleged
that this very question of distance from
court proves terror to evil-doers. If the
court were established in turbulent dis
trict of the State, law-breakers would feel
secure from pursuit and punishment. They
would not fear the verdicts of juries com
posed of their own neighbors. As circum-
stances now exist there is very healthy
apprehension of the discomfort of trip of
two or three hundred miles to New Or
leans and detention in prison there, and
this acts as a restraint upon the eVilly-
disposed. sit possible that the Democrats
in the Senate, in their feeble opposition to
the bill, were influenced by such consid-
eration9 cd.
Evidsncefrom trustworthy sources is now
in possession of members of the House
which shows that when Louisiana was d.
vided into two judicial districts the judge
assigned to the northern part Of the State
(Henry Boyce) rarely found it necessary
even to open his court With the excep-
ton of trying mail robber now and then
Il is well known to the legal profession and
others that he had little or no business be-
fore him during the entire time he held the
Office. He himself used to say there was
30 little business he had no need for clerk.
If the foregoing statements be correct
(and there Is no doubt of their accuracy
will any one pretend there is need for
new court in louisiana Do our law
makers desire to open the door for an ex-
penditure like that made in Arkansas,
which, for the years 1871, 1872 and 1878,
amounted to $74S, o2S.75f Economy
Who ever heard Of lot Of oflce-seekers
asking for the establishment of court for
such q purposef Let the bill be allowed to
slumber until necessity shall be shown for
action upon it.