St. Landry democrat., 1890-11-22

pie, SO the cOuFt uouSc, tAe 1onPAo VI
Justice, in it's turn is the place where the
public character receives its deepest i'm
uressions.
It il the place constructed for the en-
forcement of the laws enacted to regulate
the acts and the conduct of individuals, in
their relations with the persons and prop
erty of others and with the community at
large.
1t is here that the highest authority has
been conferred as the common arbiter, with
power to Judge and determine between
men, without other control but the law of
the land as the basis of it's DEGREES.
H ere are deposited for safe keeping the
re hives of our rights, our privileges and
our covenants. The records of our agree
m ents, of our titles to property, of our
m arriages, of the descent and relationship
of our families, are here preserved against
tn @ assaults of time and the destruction OF
the elements.
The court house is also eminently the
place where alone, our dissensions and
disagreements should be settled and where
crimes and offences should be punished
and repressed.
No man or set of men in civilized
country have the right to do without the
law, or to take the law into their own
hands.
The court house, therefore, is the en-
blematic representative of law and order.
No one has right to appeal outside of
its four walls for redress of grievances,
real or imaginary.
The law commands permits and for
bids; and the law itself has fixed place
where it's orders have to be executed,
where appeals for redress may be granted
and where Gisobedience to its behests may
be punished, and this place is the court
house.
From the moment that this authority is
no longer respected, the rule of law ceases
and the reign of anarchy begins.
You must readily conceive, fellow citi-
zens. how immense are the great prerogs-
tives of the law, and of what supreme i'm
portance it is that these prerogatives
should not be assailed from any quarter.
They should forever remain unimpaired,
unabridged and inviolate by any people
who desire to preserve its freedom and
independence.
The power of the law represented by the
court, sitting as a court in tribunal OF
Justice, is the only power under our re-
publican form of government, which, per-
haps, has no limit.
This tremendous power reaches US in
our properly, in our persons, in our pas
sions and affections, and in all our varied
relations in life.
1t has no terror for the virtuous and the
good; the dishonest and the wicked alone
should be taught to fear it.
But, unfortunately, judges and juries
are all mot angels, but men," They are
like other men, not infallible and it some
times happens that judges and juries
themselves ignore the law, so that in the
end their power is not even limited by the
law itself.
This last reflection, fellow citizens, leads
me inevitably to a new order of ideas, and
that is to say something of the qualifica-
tions and the duties of courts of justice.
What is court of Justice? The court,
in it's true sense, is not only the judge
sitting on the bench.
Our courts, as presently constituted,
consist of judges, juries, clerks, sheritfs
and lawyers. To each of these, specific
duties are assigned, and upon the strict
performance of each depends the harmony
of the whole. 1t may be stated in general
terms that the essential prerequisites of
the judge is that he be impartial, of the
juror, that he be honest. of the clerk, that
he be correct, of tie sheriff, that he be
diligent, and of the lawyer, that he he
honorable. First in rank, first in dignity
and first in Importance is the judge. His
Office is the highest and most honorable in
the land, not excepting that of the Presi-
dent of the United States, who is only
elected for term of four years, while the
judges of the Supreme Court hold their
offices for life or du'ing good behavior.
The chief executive of the nation him
self, although he may have achieved I'M
bounded popularity for eminent pulic ser
vices, and his presence may be always
signal for the acclamations of the multi
tude, yet he will never inspire that feeling
preser ca of the Chief Justice of the Su-
representative of the law in the republic.
political structure, the first duty of the
from his high position to the level of the
applicants for justice at his hands.
Though clothed with the official ermine,
he should at all times remember that his
dignity is due not to any personal attris
of the law which he represents and which
he is expected to enforce.
1t is required of judge that he should
be learned in the law, but it is still more
essential that he should possess a deep
sense of justice.
He must be endowed with an uncom-
mon degree of patience, and be prepared
at all times to encounter, with unruffled
foHin of
aminations and cross examinations and the
lengthy and oftentimes Incorporate argu-
ments of lawyers.
1t is always easy for the presiding Judge
to be kind and courteous to lawyers, off.
GERS and parties to the suit alike, because
the very power of his Office renders these
qualities obligatory.
But above all, the integrity and Impair
TALLY of the presiding judge should never
be disputed.
After the Judge comes the jury. 1t goes
without saying that Juror must be intel
legent, because none but fool would con-
sign his fate to greater fool than him
self. From every juror that is sworn to
try case, the public, if not the interested
parties, have right to require that they
should be endowed with fairness, honesty
and common sense.
With these three qualities empanelled
in the jury box, and evenly distributed
among twelve intelligent jurors, there can
never any fear arise of denial of justice.
The clerk and the sheriff are but the |
ministerial officers of the court.
What is demanded of them is thor
ough aptitude for the discharge of their
duties, integrity, dispatch, and
above all. a close observance of the prin-
ciple that they are the servants of the |