The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-06-05
Fortunately FRUSTRATED.

Fortunately FRUSTRATED.
We copy this moSnipg from the
Washington specials Of the Cincinnati
Esguirsr mention Of the defeat of one OF
RrrLERs tricks, which was intended TO
;rdc. serious loss aud Inconvenience
mon the people of West Virginia.
The District Court OF the United
States was originally confined to avery
msagre and petty jurisdiction. Its
powers were, however, enlarged
by successive statutes in order
10 suit the public convenience,
and Of late years the District
Court. have been generally allowed to
exercise the jurisdiction which was
originally confined to Circuit Courts o.
the United States. BUrLERs bill for
withdrawing from the District Courts
IN the Fourth Judicial Circuit Of the
United StaLes, which embraces the
States OF Maryland, Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina, all Circuit Court powers,
would have the effect of taking from
the D strict Courts fully three-fourths
Of The business they now do. For in
stance, Judge JACEsoN's Court would
have Jurisdiction ouly in civil cases
involving less than $500, and in Grim
ina cases under the laws OF the United
States whose punishment is lees than
capital. Nearly all OF the civil bust
ness now done by the District Court
would he transferred to the Circuit
Court which meets in this State only
oace year, aud is presided over by
Judge BOND. All OF the extensive land
cases which now occupy much OF the
attention OF the Court would be trans
ferred, and suitors and defendants would
be subjected TO the inconvenience and
expense of taking their witnesses to
Psrkersburg and there waiting one or
two months for hearing in the Cir
cult Court.
The District Court, presided over by
Judge JACKSON is 10 session al Wheel
Ing, or Clarksburg,o ,or Charleston, on an
average about four months in the year.
If its Circuit Court powers were taken
away it would lose at least three fourth
OF it's business, and session OF the Cir.
cult Court ofnot less than three months
duration per year would De necessary
10 meet the demands OF justice. Judge
BOND, of the Circuit Court,
does not average sitting Of more
than two weeks per year
in West Virginia, and we presume that
the other States in the Fourth Circuit
are not much longer IN each year al
tlic;ed by his presence.
In order TO have the few cases that
NAV arise in this Circuit under 1.-The
enforcement act" heard before and pass
ed upOn by a prejudiced and unjust
Judge BUTLER proposed TO virtually
abolish the District Courts and place
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia
aud North and South Carolina under
the power OF Judge BNoD. Under the
p-eten-e Of desire to secure
favorable decisions in the cases
o. q few impudent and unruly negroes
who may choose to insist upon thrust
ing themselves Extensively into the
society OF the whites, BUTLER proposed
to ,uhject the people OF these five States
10 sreat inconvenience and expense.
The scheme was surreptitiously in
auguratei and forwarded. 1t passed
the House without knowledge OF Its
enormity, and it has only been acci-
dentally discovered and frustrated. The
people of West Virginia owe thanks to
Nr. HEREFORD, of this State. and Mr.
JEwErr, OF Ohio, for exposing and de-
festing this dastardly trick. ls there
any villainy too low to secure BEN
BUrLER's aid?