The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
The Judicial system or the United States.
10 the Editor of the Dispatch:

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
A wise, just. and expeditions judicial
system Is OF the first Importance In society,
and merits the closest and most constant
attention. The acquisition OF property and
the maintenance OF proprietary rights
engages the whole attention OF the great
body OF society. and is promotive OF the
highest of all the yirtues--industry. homes
ty, and economy. Hence 1t should be the
first duty OF government 10 provide q
sufliciency OF courts, filled with able law
yers and impartial men 10 administer the
law with the greatest possible expedition.
The consciousness In society that the law
will be justly, impartially, and speedily
administered; that cripes will be punished
and wrongs rigbted without delay, il OF all
things the most promotiye OF the moral
lessons OF the decalogue and OF social
order.
Hence to deny to a litigant the right OF
appeal In any other than causes involving
frivolous amounts Is virtually TO have no law
for the great body OF society, and to put
the weak under the feet of the strong; is
to make a man not a judge, but an auto
crat, in the inferior court, more potent
over the great body of litigants than Car
or Khediye; and such is the judicial sys-
tenn OF the United States, for no appeal
car be had where the amount in coDtro-
versy is less than $4,000. IL is much to be
doubted whether any civilized government
requires so large an amount to give the
right of appeal. Ii puts all citizens
mine tenths OF the litigants and
nine tenths of human TRANSACTIONS
completely at the mercy OF the district
judges, and opens field of bribery,
fayoritism, and corruption without bounds
or limits, where redress is hopeless, and
Justice is trampled in the dust. But few, il
any, OF the State courts deny an appeal
when the amount in controversy il over a
few hundred dollars. The Congress OF the
United States, among its many other acts
Of Capitalization and oppression, has so
shaped legislation as to deprive the State
courts OF much OF their Jurisdiction. and to
transfer all cases between the citizens OF
different States into the United States
courts, and when there, puts their rights
under the cZarism Of the district Judge.
Economy in the number Of courts, or in
the number OF judges in the appellate
courts, is parsmony-"peDny wise and
pound foolish and a mockery OF all
craftsmanship.
Why not have as many judges as States
one from each State in the Supreme Court
and divide these judges into several
courts: the whole court to sit in bank
when constitutional questions are involved,
and to take appellate jurisdiction when the
amount in controversy is $500? This would
give security to the great body OF the peo-
pie in their legal rights, now treated with
silent contempt in the name OF economy.
The question Of the increased cost of such 4
court can have no weight with any man who
is animated with a sense of justice to the
body OF the people. 1t would be as a grain
OF wheat where great harvests and the mil |
lions who reap are concerned. The people |
have the right to demand Of their Govern |
ment courts numerous enough and judges |
able enough TO administer the law speed |
lily, promptly, ably. We are tired of |
this penny-wise and pourd-iOolish system,
now so prevalent IN many things, particu-
larry in the administration Of the law. |
Our statesmen, or rather our shadows of
statesmen, are ever discussing abstract
questions, TO the neglect of the real ques-
tions and wants OF the people. Some go
crazy about negroes, some about Indians, |
and seem to be mad with God because He |
chose to make the one, a cannibal, little |
and the other a wild man;
some go mad about the Chinese, some
lbout the Mormons, advocating the very |
the most promotlve Of their in
,rease; some 60 mad about the tariff,
ZONE about the finances, some about fore
ing capitalists to invest their money in ship
building and the carrying trade. some
about railroad freights, some about plum
1ering the railroads Gnstead OF improving
our rivers and building great trunk lines
or freight on Government account), some
)ne hobgOblin, some another. while they
ire casting to the dogs many things of the
asst importance to homespun people and
he great body of society.
II we would Danish from public life
hose ignoramuses who pack convent 'ons;
I we would Danish from the United States
Senate those shoddy milionaires who reach
heir high office by crooked ways, and Sc
ect men Of worth and manhood, perhaps
We would get along better. S.
CHARLESTON, W. VA.