Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-04
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS
A FINE SHOWING AS TO LAW
AND ORDER.

important Subjects for LegisIation
TALLAHASSEE, Dec. Our Circuit
Court, which met on Monday of last week.
adjourned sine die on Saturday. Only ten
cases were disposed of-three civil and
seven criminal. In former years-that is,
some ten or twelve years ago-it often
happened that the two weeks allowed for
holding a term here was insufficient. and
an adjourned term was necessary. Now
it ditferent-we are law abiding commu-
nifty. The negro has learned that there is A
difference between nleum and tultn,. and a
wholesome administration of the law has
been attended with good results.
Quite an amusing incident occurred at
the late term. A notorious character.
known as Chicken Gus.7 was indicted
for stealing some three or four hundred
dollars from Captain Bob Wright.
When arraigned for the Otfense and re-
quired to plead, he said he admitted that
they found Captain Bob's money on him.
but he was not guilty. 1t was such
strong case though that Gus finally
pleaded guilty and he was sentenced
accordingly. AS he is an old offender.
and formerly spent twelve month among
the striped breeches fraternity, it will be
some years before he will again have an
opportunity OF preying on the property
of others.
The grand jury, after being in session
until Friday, then made their general
presentments, and were discharged. We
have seldom had a better body of men i'm
paneled for such a purpose. Composed
as it was Of some Of the best business
men in the community, their general
presentments were able and exhaustive.
The financial status of the county was
understandingly and thoroughly handled,
while incompetent Justices of the Peace
were noticed in a manner by no means
tattering to delinquents. 1t too often
happens that country justice is ira
vesty on the administration of the law
He IS Ignorant of its first principles, and
his main lookout is for his fees This
applies not only to Florida, but through
out the country; and for this reason |
have often questioned the wisdom of law
that gave fees to every judiciary officer
He should be placed above temptation
and either receive a fixed salary, or no
compensation. l remember very we'll in
my native State, when boy, the Justices
OF the Peace were not allowed to receive
any compensation. They were appointed
from among the best men in the cOmmuni-
ty, and held the office, not for purpose of
gain, but as patriotic citizens. Now, as
most of the fees of these officials are paid
by the respective counties, it would be
wisdom and policy that an equivalent be
paid to limited number in each county
as salary. If we had such a
law and intelligent men were appointed
in each county-men who were not
wholly dependent upon the limited pay
1t would be much better for the country.
His Honor having in his charge to the
grand jury alluded to the short coming of
some of these officials, that body thorough
ly investigated the matter, and recon-
mended that in future every Justice Of the
Peace leave with the clerk of the court. at
least three days before the regular
terms, his docket, so that future grand
juries may be able to judge of the
competency of these officials,
and if they find them incompe-
tent, to recommend their dismissal.
The building of our new court house has
been delayed for some time, as the cOntrac-
tor makes his own brick and burns his lime.
But these preliminaries are now COM
pleted, excavation for the foundation has
commenced, and the material for building
is being hauled every day. 1t will be a
handsome structure, costing some twenty
odd thousand dollars. Many doubt the
wisdom of such a large expenditure, al
leging that small building of one
fourth the cost would answer every
purpose, But would such building an
swer as well? Then why not put up a
plain frame building, and unpainted, too?
For myself, l believe the hall of Justice
should be magnificent and costly accord
ing to the wealth Of the people. 1t should
be costly temple, for when you surround
the court with the insignia of power and
wealth its dignity is enhanced and respect
increased. Blackstone says that the king
should move i'll state with brilliant reti-
nue., etc, i'll order that the pOpulace may
honor and revere him, The same rule ap-
plies to our courts of justice. Let them
be in temples of architectural beauty, if
we can afford it.
The rumOr that our State Board of Can
vassers have given a certificate of
election to General Finley, of the Second
Congressional district, is false. as up to
yesterday returns had not been received
from all the counties. Brevard, | think
was still to hear from.
The elections being over, our thoughts
naturally turn to the Legislature. which
will soon convene. Various measures are
being discussed by the State press as
proper subjects of legislation. One ques-
ton, however, seems to OVershadOW all
others, and that is the revision of the
present constitution. On this quite
diversity of opinion exists. Some, while
admitting the patent defects of the pres
ent one, say that a revision can only he
effected IN the way prescribed. which
would take about three years. Others
venture that if the coming LegislatIre
should call Constitutional Convention.
to meet next May, and the constitution so
adopted should be subsequently ratified
by vote Of the people, that it
would be binding. Quite a Num-
Der on the other hand object to anv reyi-
sion of the present constitution. They
urge the expense of calling convention.
and say that we had ''better LET we'll
enough alone" When, therefore. the
Legislature assemblies, those who favor
the calling Of convention will start the
ball by introducing a bill to that effect.
and then will ensue war of words. The
hight Will be not so much as to the pro-
prlety of calling convention, but as TO
hOlo il may pe called, as some contend that
unless a Legislature is elected on that
issue 1t has no power in the premises.
Another important question looming up is
the temperance reform. The various
churches, notably the MethOdists and
Baptists, have taken this matter up and
demand stringent legislation, A prOhibi-
zionist party is rapidly gaining strength in
this State;. and but for provision in the
present constitution that prohibits laws
local in their operation, ''local option
law" would be proposed. AS the advo-
Gates of temperance were pOwerless to
prohibit at the last Legislature, they sue
ceeded in raising the license to sell
Spirituous liquors. At the coming session
it is probable that the license tax will be
still greater increased, and an effort will
be made to fix it so high as to make it vir- |
Iually prohibitory. As Florida, through |
its board Of internal Improvement, owns
millions Of acres of land, donated BY Con- |
gress for specific purposes, there will of |
course be various bills introduced in aid |
)f sundry railroads and canals-all will !
want a slice. But as the Legislature has /
granted several millions of acres |
more than belonged to the trustees of the |
internal improvement fund, how they can |
Ill get a slice it is difficult to see. On the |
of ''first come, first served,v |
hose corporations that Grst complete |
heir work will enjoy the benefits of the |
legislative grant, while those who are
ardy will be left out in the GOLD, The |
most muniicent grant to any railroad was !
hat to the Pensacola and Atlantic. char. |
cred by special act in 1881. This road is
% receive twenty thousand acres per
Every mile completed, and as it will be
about one hundred and fifty miles /
n length, the grant will amount
% not less than. three mil !
ons of acres. AS it is very nearly COM
Dleted, it will soon begin to make its selec-
ions. Such a liberal grant would not
lave been obtained at that time. but for
he complications of the internal i'm /
fund. The VOse Judgment and
)ther claims amounted to nearly million