Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-13
THE SUPREME COURT.

series OF articles over Jhe HO"Se uo
,,lume Reform" attacking the Supreme
Court of the State, recently appeared IN
the Avalanche, and the positions assum-
ed have been backed up editorially in
that paper. Reform intimatea that
he has practiced before the Supreme
Court, that he was engaged in the Cous'
ms case, and has not always been able
TO secure decisions to suit his clients.
Perhaps he has been on the wrong side,
and took desperate chances too often.
If this is SO he should blame his clients
for not having the law and evidence on
their side; and even if this is not the
fact we question the propriety and the
good taste of counsel attacking court
through the columns of the daily news
papers, when he knows that the members
of the court cannot, with dignity and
selfrespect, reply through the same
channel Reform" makes out an ex
parte case, and puts it before the world,
knowing, that as far as the court is con-
cerned. his charges must remain unan-
swered. AS to the legal questions in
yolyed, It would certainly have been
more professional in "Reform" to have
admitted his etfusions of rhetoric, ridi'
cuie and satire 10 the editor of q law
journal. But tender respect for the
heaving bosom Of the legal waste basket
and an evident desire to reach the ear
of classes who do not read law journals,
doubtless weighed in favor of the
daily political press. The charges
set aaoat have been caught up
eagerly by the Knoxville Chron-
icle and papers of that class. and
the echo has even been taken up by the
Cincinnati Commercial and hurled back
with increased force at the Supreme
Court. The manifest injustice and un-
fairness Of 81 this has at length caused
the press Of the State, to some extent,
and members Of the bar who have
proper respect for the Judicial ermine,
especially when wern by able aud re-
speeted men, to make a rejoinder to
counteract the very injurious impress
sions which have been made among the
uniformed. The Union and American
of the 9th instant has an article at
length in its editorial columns on the
subject. We present some extracts Of
interest to the legal fraternity and the
people.
SO long as the criticisms Of the Su-
preme Court Of Tennessee continued 10
be respectful, aud so long as they con-
tinued TO be confined to the limits Of the
State. II was not deemed necessary 10
the vindicatiOn Of justice, to the truth Of
impartial history, or the character Of the
bigh tribunal in question, to meet those
criticisms otherwise than by silence. 1t
was felt that the members Of the legal
profession. the suitOrs whose causes had
been. we're being, and were TO be decided
by that tribunal, and the people Of the
State in general. possessed, within their
own knowledge and experience, cer-
receive against any unjust, improper or
injurious effects likely to result from so
much Of said animadversions as were
based on error.
The Supreme Court OF Tennessee, as
organized under the Constitution Of
1870 is temporarily composed Of six
rnembers This was done in view Of
The large number Of causes then pend.
inc in said court, and likely thereafter
for several years to be brought before
IL As thus organized, the court could
proceed TO hear causes in two sections.
In no other mode was il believed then,
and the belief has been justified BY the
event. could the accumulated and IN
creasinr business Of the court be dis
posed of within any reasonable n2e-
The new Constitution, aud especially
that feature Of Il. received the spprooa'
ton Of the legal profession and the peo'
pie.
The docket at Nashville has contained
upou IL from twelve to thirteen hundred
cases every term since the organization
o,- the present court. Just as rapidly az
~ court can dispose Of the causes, they
~ accumulated on the docket. To
meet sHis vast labor the Supreme Court
III Ternesase has performed an amount
III wark never equaled BY any court 10
tie state. Zach member has con
srientiossiy frit che pressure 81 public
dutr weighing on The court, aud has