The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-23
COMMUNICATION.
PARISH OF RApIDEs,(
April q, 1879. {

In your last issue you have a very
sensible article on the Organization
If the Judiciary by the Convention
now in session. No body Of men
will ever convene better able to Crap
pie with this important subject, and
| commend your views as worthy of
their high consideration. l have no
doubt they will present system far
preferable to the one in existence.
But when they have done so, will
leave to future representatives of the
people the power Of revision, for how
ever wise they plan the practical
working Of the machinery, will sug-
gest many valuable and necessary al
terations to adapt TO our present con-
dition, and we WILL need all the re
forms within the grasp of human
wisdom.
In the olden time, there was a
magistrate for every plantation, and
whether they administered justice
wisely or not, they did so without
charge to the State. This is heavy
burthen from which the State and To-
cal authorities must be relieved
Some efficient plan must be devised,
a higher order of magistracy than
the present justices of the peace
must be created, which will bring
thoughtful men to the enquiry,
whether it would not be better to add
to the duties of the Parish Judge, in
stead of abolishing that office. We
must have criminal judge or mag
istrate, to take cognizance Of all pet
ty ofenses and deals summarily with
them, as in police courts, making the
offender pay all costs when able
Institute self sustaining work houses
for the vicious and impecunious, with
a Parish internal improvement sys-
tenn to work the highways, by the
labor of the lawless. The admins
tration of Grimm al justice is too
costly, and we have no hopes Of an
appreciable reduction under the pres
ent system. Think the article 81 of
the constitution Of 1852 far seeing
and wise. 1t leaves the Legislature
with ample powers to respond to the
wants of the people, by correcting
any defects in their judiciary, and
prevents the necessity for any future
| call of a constitutional convention
for with a perfected judiciary all
other defects could be cured by sub
hitting amendments. Pennsylvania
has abandoned the short term anG
elects her supreme judges once il
twenty one years.
The election Of the judges of thu
supreme court for sixteen years an,
the district judges for eight year
would meet with the wishes of til,
people of this State, who are CROWN!
tired of frequent elections, and viii
cease 10 give them that attention
which their Importance demands
But on this subject more Hereafter
The questions which have absorbed
! the minds of most of the correspon
dents of newspapers, have had bu
little place in your paper, as it il
not in the latitude of extreme ideas
You have not worked up the suffrag
and financial questions. L,uisian
is deeply interested in their prope
solution; but as I am not a repudia
Zionist or an advocate Of the view
of the Bond holder, or for Unite
suffrage, I have never had any fear
about their satisfactory adjustment
I have seen number of communics
tions urging the poll tax receipt q
the certificate of qualified vote
The grave men now on duty at th
Capital will adopt no short sighte
policy. If the principle that one i
default to the State should not exc
else the high prerogatiye of ruin,
is not the man who owes Stat
Parish or city tax in the same col
ditiUh, and is this delinquent cla'
to be shown preference over tt
poor man, who only has his head
pay for? The proper test is the ia
. receipt, and longer Parish ar
ward residence. Here is the Geo
gia oath to the challenged voter:
do swear Tor aff1rm) that I am tive
. ty-one years of age, have resided
this State one year, and in this cou
|ty six months next preceding til
election. ! have paid all tax
which, since the adoption Of Il
present constitution Of this Stat
have been required Of me previo,
to this year, and which I have b.
an Onnortunitv tn nav. and T ha,