St. Landry democrat., 1880-07-31
Opposed to Holding Country
Terms.

One of our Supreme Judges, on his
return to New Orleans, was interviewed
by newspaper reporter, upon the sub
ject OF the recent terms of the court
held at Monroe and Opelousas. The
Judge said, in substance, that not only
himself, but the other Judges also, were
very much displeased with these country
terms, aud assigned, among other OBJ
jections, the want of proper law books
to enable them to arrive at ineligible
decisions, bad hotel accommodations,
expensive travelling, etc, etc. He init
mated, in the course of his conve1sa ton
with the reporter, that the Legislature
should abolish the country terms, and
make all the appealable cases from the
country returnable to New Orleans.
Every Supreme Court that Louisiana
ever had has kicked against the country
terms. And it should be in order, here
after, for the Governor of the State,
before he makes any appointment of
Judges, to ascertain from them person.
ally if they are opposed to holding
country terms. If they are, he should
let them sercrely alone, and select none
other than those who are willing to
serve the people of the country parishes
as we'll as those Of the city. We are
aware that the country towns at which
the court is held do not offer so much
attractions and facilities as does the
city of New Orleans, but, then, that is
no valid reason why the whole business
of the country parishes should be merged
into New Orleans.
When they accepted the appointments
at the hands of the Governor, the Judges
knew just exactly the amonnt of labor
they had to perform, and for which they
were to be paid, and all about the in
conveniences and privations-either i'm
aginary or reaHthey would have to
encounter in the course of their terms
of service. If these labors were too
much for them, or too repugnant to
them, they should have declined the
appointments rendered them. Others
nave UCCu 1OuuO VI Cluul
legal abilities to fill the bill.
For the Judges, personally and indi-
vidually, we entertain the highest
regard, for we believe each and every
one of them honors the position he holds.
No Supreme Bench ever made more
favorable impression upon the people
of this section than did the present one.
But we are free to confess that know
ing, as we do, that everything was done
here that human engenuity could devise
to promote their personal mfort, and
make their short stay among us agree
able and pleasant, and that they had
free access to the finest law libraries to
be found in the State, not excepting
New Orleans, we feel astonished and
even mortified to hear of their COM
plants. We are not prepared to speak
Of the accommodations and treatment
they may have received at Monroe, but
here at Opel0usas, we are certain, they
have not one particle of reason upon
which to base the slightest complaint.
They urge that they had not sufficient
room facilities for the proper delibera-
tions of cases submitted to them. This
may be so. But we are puzzled to know
how much more room they required
when the best half Of an entire hotel
building was placed at their disposal,
and every attention lavisLed upon them
that mortal man could imagine or de-
wise. Further comment is unnecessary
to show up the real cause that underlies
these gratuitous complaints-for it con-
sists in nothing more nor less than an
absolute aversion to holding terms of
court outside of New Orleans. This is
the secret in nutshell.