Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-08
The supreme Court.

The supreme Court.
The election Of Judge Peck to the office
of Governor will vacatc one Of the seats
on the bench in this State Ii not likely
that the vacancy will create any unusual
commotion among the gentlemen Of the bar
who would be likely to be candidates for
the office. The able lawyers Of the State,
who would be thought Of for the vacant
judgeship, find their positions at the bar
much more lucrative. TheState has always
pursued niggardy policy in regard to the
salaries Of its judges, and the Office is OF
little account to any but second rate
lawyer, or an attorney who has accumulated
competence and whose taste or aspira-
ton leads him to wish to round off his pro.
fessional life with an honorable position.
We can safely assume that there will not be
any very eager cauvassing for Judge Peck's
place. Its honor is not so great as to COM
pensatc for the smalness Of its perquisite.
1t has been suggested that the State
might, under the circumstances, and with
out increasing its expenditures, diminish the
number Of judges by one, and divide the
salary Of Judge Peck between the others
who are left on the bench This would
give them an income Of $4,000 per annum.
If this is the only way in which the State
will consent to abandon its parsimouy, We
should favor even this plan. 1t would in
crease the duties of the judges, but it
would give them salary enough to meet
their expenses, if they conducted their
affairs with prudence and economy. Most
certainly then, if it is needful to decrease
the number Of the judges in order to raise
the salary to living point, let it be done.
II is disgrace to Veymont that its high
est judicial officers should be dependent in
part on their own resources for subsistence
while engaged in her service.
There is one reform in the method Of our
judicial system, which the Free Press and
Woodstock Post have urged with force, that
the present time furnishes a good opportu-
nifty to introduce. The Supreme Court
should bold all its sessions at one place,
and there is no place so convenient as the
Capital for this purpose. 1t would very
much lessen the expenses of the court and
Of the bar and Of the State, that it should
be SO. In such case only those causes
which ought to be appealed and have the
decision Of the full court, would be likely
to be carried up 1t would reduce the Su.
preme Court Docket to considerable ex-
teut, for the trial of an appeal out Of the
county would be attended with so much
more expense that few cases that were not
really meritorious would be carried to the
Supreme Court. 1t would reduce litigation
of the petty and contemplate cases.
A general term of the Supreme Court
held at the Capital, would also be of great
benefit to the bar. 1t would bring together
twice a year the able lawyers from all parts
of the State and put them into relations Of
contact, intercourse and antagonism that
would be likely to elevate very peroeptibly
the character Of the bar in this State. AS
iron sharpeneth iron so one lawyer would
sharpen another in the attrition of Supreme
Court conflicts While all appeals arc
tried in the county, the bar has but the
benefit Of the ordinary local stimulus. Let
them be taken to the Capital, into a larger
arena, where the best lawyers from every
part Of the State are collected, and the tend
ency would be to advance the grade of iega
attainment and ability. la such a schoo
our lawyers would have the benefit of t
higher training than is now possible to them
The Capital seems to us the best place fol
? the Supreme Court terms to be held On,
term, at least, might be held in connection
with the legislature, which always bring
together the men most noted for wisdom
and virtue in the State, and in our iudg
4 ment the action and reaction of the abb,
r men connected with the different branche
: and departments Of government is usefu
and wholesome. The Superior Court o
4 Great Britain sits in st. Stephens Hal
during the session of Parliament. Tn,
Supreme Court of the United States sit
at Washington, in the capitol, during thu
session Of Congress. There is mutua
benefit to be gained by this contact of thu
law-makiug and the law-interprctiog power
in State.
. Besides, the Capital has the advantage o.
the State Library, containing most needfu
books for reference in the discussion Of law
cases. Here are the Judicial reports Of al
the States, complete record Of all Amer
lean and foreign decisions, that would fur
nish an invaluable aid both to the bench
I and the bar. In every respect such I
change in the judicial system would be o
advantage to the State to the court, aud t.
, the legal profession. No small local jeal
+ ousies should stand in the way of its &C
/. compishment. We trust that the election
e of Judge Peck, besides giving US Gov
ernor Of the first magnitude, may result il
this change of the place of holding the su
7 preme Court, and in giving our judges
fair and decent income.
,, Secretary Bristow is instituting sys
f TEN in the treasury department, which viii
n make it impossible for partisan rogues