Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-08

existence where under his tuition made my
first pot hooks. IA ro
After NV first election. mad no
,.,-,I,sr auxieties about denominations
r received twelve successive eiection>
of three wears each. the last closing Oh
Dec. 3Ist. last. At the convention held III
August last. a majority Of the deiegates
thou yht il best tina; should be retifea- VI
that do not complain No one Is "o.e Sen-
sibIe than myself how much the innrmities Oh
wears have impaired my activity and useiainess.
MANY a time for the last three or lour years
a. have climbed those long stone stalr-cases
to the court room, or gone to my home ai.-r
night fall through the slippery streets, nave
been comoelled To ask the question. mo"
long will these crippled AMI weary limbs ena-
bl. me to do this?r Ii is we'll that am per-
mitted to rest.
Towards NV successor ! bear no anlmosltv.
He has nv best wishes for his success. ana
bespeak for him at YOUR hands the same cour-
tesy and Kindness that you have so constant
" accorded TO me-
OF NV own administration of the office II
does not become me to speak. Ii Is nv nigh
est satisfaction to know that il meets your ap-
prevail. One thing can confidently affirm
YOU have ALWAYS found ME at my post. tor
the A.; wears that have been connected with
YOU a clerk and assistant clerk, nave hard-
| " been absent from duty for single day
One other ,iuty remains to me to-night.
which do not forget, and must not neglect
and that is to acknowledge my obligations
| to the good people of Kennebec county for
the generous and constant support they have
given me. TO them am wholly indebted
for the means of passing an honorable and
pleasant life. Amongst my highest priv
| leges is that of being long associated In
business with men of liberal culture and
manners. | assure you. gentlemen. aPpre-
ciate it fully.
| I had hoped before sitting down, to speak
of the various judicial systems in vague IN
nv dav. But am afraid ! am using more
time than belongs TO me, as | am certainly
exhausting my little remaining strength.
| can do no more. therefore, than to take
verv cnrsory glance at them. As an inferior
court. the old Court of Common Pleas exist
ed from the separation down to the year 1889.
The venerable name had always a charm in it
for me. 1t is still in use in England and il some
of our own States. C. c. P.-how smoothly
the initials slip from tongue and pen. In the
wear 1889 il was abolished, and the District
| Courts established in its place. The change
was made merely to get rid of an obnoxious
Judge. Except in name the two conrts were
; identical. The principal objection to these
courts were that they dill not possess final
and exclusive jurisdiction, so that they only
served as strainers TO sift out the more i'm
pnrtant matters for the higher court. which
might Just as well have been brought there
originally and thus have saved time and eX-
pense. Another serious objection in the
larger counties was that the practice of allow
ing dilatory. frivolous and false plcadings to
so clog the dockets with pretended defences
| A. ,ptc An1a
| The bar and the public demanded a reform.
Accordingly. in 1852, the number of judges
in our Supreme Court was enlarged. and
they were given exclusive jurisdiction of all
matters above the jurisdiction of magistrates,
the District Court being of course abolished
| The change was great improvement and
has given satisfaction in all the counties ex-
cept Cumberland and Kennebec. Unfortu-
natclv the same diatory proceedings which
| ruined the old inferior courts. crept into the
Supreme Court; in the large counties the
docket became unwieldy, and suitors unreas-
onably delayed. Hence there came a call for
our Superior Court which was established
three wears ago. / confess was heartily and
honestly opposed to the movement at the
time. / believed that it would be but a copy
of its predecessors which had been
| tried and found wanting. But a trial of
the new court has caused me to change my
opinion of its necessity. The Judge has thus
far kept his docket well in hand, and every
sutton has had prompt justice. l congratulate
you, gentlemen. upon your fortunate choice
of Justice of this court. Had it fallen to
man in whose legal ability you had less con-
fdence, of less industry and persist
ence in bringing causes to prompt deter
mination, your court would soon become a
cumbersome. unwieldy machine, and like lis
predecessors, a nuisance to you and the pub
lic As 1t is, think it most useful and econo-
mical court. and as such am happy to conf
mend it to the public favor.
| Gentlemen, my work is done; my record
as made up: Saiute you and bid you fare
areH.