The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-01-09

to the importance of making immediate
provision for the relief Of the Supreme
Court. The court is now more than four
teen hundred cases behind in its work and
that number is steadily increasing. 1t is a
physical impossibiliiy for the Supreme
Court, As now numerically constituted, to
relieve itself of the accumulation of bust
ne>s now embarrassing il. The judges per-
form an extraordinary amount of labor, but
are confronted with daily Increase of the
number of eases upon the docket But
slight relief was experienced by the pass
age of the law giving the judges the power
to determine what opinions should he writ
ten In detail Ii is said that over three
wears of labor have accumulated i'm the
court. The delay i'm the adjudication of
Is simply denial of justice, and especially
so to persons of moderate means. Expe-
dition IN litigation increases the respect of
the people for the laws and for courts.
The proposed constitutional amendment
for the relief of the Supreme Crurt, by
increasing the number Of
Judges. having beeu 20 largely
at the late election, convinces
me that the electors desire the adoption of
some measure OF relief less permanent ana
more expeditions in its work. This leg
islature should not adjourn with this i'm
p0rtant question unsettled In nv judg-
ment. the creation of a temporary COM
invested with proper power,
would answer the demands Of the situa-
ton. This plan has been tried in many
States and has, so far as I am informed.
proven satisfactory in every instance.
THE CONSTITUTION.
have been urged by many of the most
and intelligent citizens of
Missouri to recommend to the Legislature
the calling of a convention - make new
State Constitution. 10 not feel it TO be
my duty to do more in that direction than
to call your attention to the respectable de.
mand for such a convention. That our
present Constitution possesses many seri-
Gus defects cannot be questioned. Whether
these defects can be remedied or elimina-
ted bv the ordinary process of amendments
adopted BY the people. in the manner pro-
yided in the Constitution, or whether they
exist in such numbers AS to render their
or correction impracticable by
you, alone are competent to
determine. 1t is not my province to ad-
wise you in this matter. | can only urge
you TO take such action in the premiess a.
your superior judgment may suggest rs
being best calculated TO insure to the
people of the State of Missouri q Constitu-
ton worthy of the dignity and commercial
importance of such q State and ae will
nm oct Snvolv s-ns rantoo so h.. c;t;,o.. III
The rights which free people should
possess.
THE MILITIA.
/ call your attention to the importance
IF > we'll regulated militia Such bsdy
III men Is vital necessity in every State,
as it is sometimes the last resort for the
of peace and the enforcement
Df the law. No State is entirely safe, at all
lines. without such an organization. II is
we'll said that it is the only power that can
eindicste the rights and preserve the liber.
lies Of the people and the autonomy of the
State in certain emergencies without call
ing upon the general government, and its
may prevent the necessity for its
use. The fact of It's existence and the be-
lief in Its readiness to perform its duty in
the enforcement Of the law and the preser-
vasion of the peace often has q deciding in.
iuence against the formation of lawless
Ii is both unwise and dan
geroHs for State to be without Q properly
organized militia force ready for any
A State ought not to appeal
10 the general government in every time of
danger. A community, like an individual,
should he self-reliant and always able TO
protect itself in emergencies. The useful
NESS ofsuch body of men does not depend
% much on the number of men enrolled as
npon the discipline and eff
cheney Of the several commands;
and To secure these We should look
10 the character, intelligence and patriotic
devotion to TIE State of the officers and
men i'm the service. As body of men
in the service of the State is not large-in
TACT not commensurate with the growth
and dignity of the State-some arrange
ment should be made for placing the
troops, periodically, in camp service.
This cannot be done without q reasoable
This should be seriously
considered. Sudden danger may find us
With special pride 1 call
YOUR attention to the commodious armory
hall erected BY the foresight and liberslity
Of few of the prudent property holders
Of the city of st. Louis. 1t is used as the
headquarters Of the artillery, cavalry and
infantry military forces of that city. 1t
is sufficiently large for purposes Of drill
and possesses all thelappliances for athletic
exercises. The arms of the State now held
BY the several branches of the military
service are securely preserved in that
building This building was erected At
cost of sixty thousand dollars. The main
building is one hundred and ninety. three
ieet long and one hundred
md nine feet wide. The first
floor is occupied by the artillery and the
second by the infantry companies. The
third floor is large hall one hundred and
ninety feet long by one hundred and six
feet vide and is used for general purposes.
Some expenses were incurred BY the mill
Tia during the riot in April, 1881. which
should be paid by the State You will be
supplied with detailed statement of these
The Stafo ehonld ronocc;,a tho