Year: 1871

courts to attend, very many cases
to prepare has not had opportu-
nifty to learn the circumstances OF
his case, or the character Of his
testimony. Now, in ordinary times,
when cases of violence arc rare,
shock the humanity Of public
opinion, and excite the indignant
activity of those who arc interest
cd in the suffering parties, this Ia
bor of preparation was spared the
Solicitor, because he always had
an individual prosecutor behind
him. But when the crime is one
in which the sympathy of public
opinion is not warmly interested,
or where a disturbed condition of
popular sentiment is not disposed
actively to assist public justice, or
where the parties suffering arc
toe fricndlcss to make themselves
heard, then the duty Of the SoIlcl-
tor, while it becomes moro cimpcra-
tive, also becomes more difficult.
10 do justice, he needs largerpow-
ers, and more assistance.


would, therefore, recommend
a more complete and efficient Or
canizatlon of the machinery ne
ccssarv for the administration Of
criminal justice. The Attorney
General is the proper representa-
tive Of the criminal justice Of the
State, and lie should have the au-
thority, not cnly as st present to
consult and advise with the SOlic-
itors, but to review and direct
their action. They should be re-
quircd to report to him regularly
the condition Of the prosecutions
in their respective circuits, and to
be governed by his instructions
whenever he may deem it judi
cious to issue them. He should
also have the power whenever in
his opinion the Importance Of the
case requires it, to retain assistant
counsel, and sec that the State is
fully and efficiently represented.


think, also, that a corps Of
Detective Police Officers, should
be placed under his control, to be
used by him and the Solicitors as
occasion may require. l do not
propose that these officers should
have any power of arrest. This
responsibility must be assumed BY
the law officers of the State. But
the crimes which society suffers
can never he suppressed without
some efficient organization by
which the preliminary investiga-
tons can BE- conducted, thc traces
Of guilt promptly followed up, and
Such testimony procured as will
justify a prosecuting officer IN ask
ing from conscientious jurics q
verdict of conviction. Neither
the Attorney General, nor the So
Iicitors, can give more than a gen.
craI superintendent and skillful
direction to such investigations,
and they need the aid Of 4 body
of discreet, practiccd and temper
ate minded men to perform this
important duty. AS the Attorney
General and the Solicitors are
elected by the people, they have
it in their power to select men in
whose character they will find
sufficient guarantee that tnis pow
er will not be abused.


To carry out this plan, would
require that a contingent fund,
sufficient to meet its expense, be
placed at the control of the Attor-
ncy General, which l therefore
recommend.


l think it proper also to call
to your attention the fact, that
TIE Judicial District in which
these disturbances arc most fla





grant, is practically with5;it a
Judge. The presiding Judge Of
that circuit is now underimpeach-
mcnt before the Senate, for high
crimes and miSdemeanors, and
while it would not become me to
anticipate this solemn trial, yet l
cacaot forbear saying that no.
thing would contribute more ef.
fcctivcly or more speedily to the
restoration of order than the pres
ence in the courts Of this ciycuit,
of q magistrate who shall possess
the ability to know his duty, the