Newspaper Page Text
Miscellaneous Extract.
Chances of .Marriage.—When n fine yonnit
girl reaches the age of fifteen nr sixteen venrs.
she begins to think of the mysterious subject
of Matrimony; a state, the dcliahts of which
her youthful imagination shadows forth in the
most captivating forms. It is made the topic
oflight and incidental discourse among lo r
companions, and it is recurred to w tli increa
sing interest every time it is brought on the
tapis. When she grows a little older, she cea
ses to smaller about matrimony and thinks
more intently on the all-important subject. It
engrosses her thoughts by day and l.er dreams
Lv night; and she pictures to herself the fnliei-
fy of lining wedded lo the youth for whom she
cherishes n secret, but consuming fltmn. She
surveys liersoD in the tnir-or, and. ns it gener
ally tells a “ flattering tale,” she turns from it
with .i pleasing conviction that her beauty w ill
enable her to conquer the heart of the most
obdurate, nod that, whosoe.ve; else may die in
a slat- of “single blessedness” she is destin
ed t i become ere many years roll by, a happy
bn lo.
From the age of eighteen to twenty is “the
very witching lima” of fem.ilo life.—-During
that peiiod. the female heart is more suscepti
ble of the soil und tender influences of love
than at any other: and vve appeal to our fair
n aih rs to snv whether, if inclination alone
wore consulted in the business, more rnarria-
or-: would not take film e, dol ing that ti klisli
season, (ban in any by w bi b it is mneeded or
(blbiivod. It is tlio grand Hiir.'ictcr of love,
anil she who passes it, w ithon' entering into
the state miilrimoni.il. may • •'inner? to pass se
veral years of her life ere sin" icaught in the
meshes of Hymen. The t. tJ- is. that the
majoiity of women begin to he more thought
ful when they have tuned the ago of twenty.
The giddiness of the jgiri give-, pined to inn
sobriety of the woman. Frivolit is su, coeded
bv reflection; and reason reigns wir-r- passion
previously hold undisputed sway. The cares
and the anxieties of life press tliemsi Ives more
on the attention; and as it- sober ica’i'ios he
roine more palpable, they tend to woken the
eff ct of the sanguine anticipations of unmiii-
gli-fl felicity in Ibo marriage state wi-irb the
tninil has formed in its youthful day-dreams
In short to use a common plnaso, wu.-mcn, ni
ter twenty. “ look before they leap.”
Matrimony, however, though no? so ardent-
jy longed for by trie damsel who tin- passed
what wo have styled the gran ' eliomcter of
love, is never lost sight of either by the young
est nr by the most nged spinster 11 is a slate
on which tho eyes of the whole female world
no- turned with the most pleas-oaide anticipa
tions nod the spinster of forty is ns full ofhope
uf one day being married as t!-- damsel of
twenty one. But, sorry as »t are to utter
anv tiling which may tend to dump the hopes
or to cloud tho prospects of a fair ladv. truth
Compels us to say that when once she has cros
sed >h' line, which, on the map oflovn, is mark
ed thirty. tho chances are fearfully agamsl the
probability of her obtaining a husband even of
the sedate ago of forty or filiv. If »lu> pass
many dogreestieyond tlio line, her state be
comes alliiqst hopeless, tinV, desperate, and
she may reconcile herself to live und die an
old rnnid. All experience confirms this lament-
nblo truth. No wonder, therefore, that wo
men make n mighty secret of their age. and
that thev occasionally tell a purdonahlo lib. in
the attempt to induce the men to bclievu that
iliev are several years younger than they real
ty ;re. Who can Maine them for prae i-ing n
liitje finesse on this awful suhjerf, teeing 'hat
flour age. if divulged, might utterly aiimiobite
the chances of their ever enjoying the blessings
of wedded love ! 1!
Kxperience, wo have snid, confirms the In-
mrntiiblo truth, that females who have passed
the line seldom reach the harbour of matrimo
ny. best a;iv of our readers should lav that
“ fl.tUcring unction to their souls” that though
they have rrossod that nwliil point in the voy
age-'. f life they shall yet escape tlio rorks on
xvl h, if they strike, all hopes of wedlock must
hr forever abandoned, we shall preseet them
tt.bi a table which, whilst it will exhibit to fo-
m ties their nutty chances of marriage ill vnri-
o s ages, it willpiove the truth of the positions
xvt ich have been already advanced on the sun-
p. t. The table to which we arc iilmut to
d, nv their attention is extracted from the re
port of the select committee of the House of
Commons on the laws respecting friendly ho-
eietics. It was drawn up by Dr. (irnnvillo. a
physirinn and accoucheur of very extensive
practice, connected with several puiilir institu
tions in the metropolis. The doctor, whose at-,
tention had been directed to the statistical
Questions of the increase of population among
the poor, thought that the public institutions to
which he belonged might bo made mailable m
obtaining tho information which lie wanted.
Tor this purpose he put questions to the fe
males who, from time to time, came under his
care, to nseertnin the earliest nge at which wo.
men of the poorer classes marry. He submit
ted to the committee the registered eases of
876 women; and tho following table derived
from their answers as lo the age at which they
respectively married, is the first ever construct
ed to exhibit to females their chances of mar
riage at various ages. Of the 870 females,
there were mariicd,
Tears of .Ige.
Years of .Ige.
Year
Of .Iff.
3
at 13
85 at
22
7
at 31
11
14
59
23
5
32
16
15
53
24
7
33
43
16
36
25
5
34
45
17
24
26
2
35
76
18
28
27
0
36
115
19
22
28
2
87
118
. 20
17
29
0
38
86
21
9
30
1
39
It
is to be home in mind, that tire
females,
whose re*alive ages at the time of their mat-
tinges are ubove exhibited, were all of die low.
er ela»seg. Among no oqnnl number from l!u
’ middling or the higher classes we should tie;
probably find so many ns 195. or more than
one fifth married under the age of 19, er so
few as l-1Glh part after SS; or only 1 -30th part
after 30.
From this curious statistical table, our fair
readers may form a pretty accurate judgement
of the chances which they have of entering in
to the holy state of matrimony, and, of enjoy
ing the sweets (we say nothing of the bitters;
of wedded love. They ought always, howev
er, to remem' er. licit such of them as indepen
dently o' per-oi, :1 charms possess the more
powerful reemmnendatiori of property, will he
deemed eligible as wives whatever may be
their age.
Athens. Oct. H. 1823.
RETURNS
For Senators and Representatives in the next
Legislature of Georgia.
q-p, Tim q rH | nntnr( ; j n Ifnlirs arc the Senators, the
others nre the Ttrpr.-weritntives,
Those marked thus (f) belong lo the Clark party.
Clark.—Thomas,{ Dougherty, l!olt,Moere.
Columbia. — P. Crawfotd, IS. Crawford, Hamilton,
Cmtledge,
Greene.—Starke, .Inn s, Cone, Ray.
ffalt. — Bird, AVholhot, Bates,f Brooks.
-faeksnn.— rilarlin, Burns,f Bowen,f Slmw.
f.inrohi, — Bratton,! Currev.f Bnrkcsdnle.f
Madison.—Grores,! Dnniel, Morony.
Morgan.—l.rmard, Nesbil, Davis, tones.
Ogltllwrpe.—Jordan, Freeman, Billups, Townsend.
Putnam.—ftrmham, Golden, Hudson, Holt, Sanford.
Richmond.—McTyre, Walker,! Rhodes,! Carter.f
Talliaferro. —Janes, Thompson.
Walton.—Phillips.! F.cliols.f Kasley.t
Wilkes.—Woollen,! Brown,f Erwin! Render,f Willis.!
Jlaldtoiu.—Williams, Howard, Worsham.
Twiggs.—Wimberly, Durlia u, Burrows, Pearson.
Il'P/riuJon.—Halt, Hatcher,! Simmons.
Washington.—Ttnnall,I bong, Curroy, tlicklin.f
Uihb.—Rogers, f.nmnr.
Monroe.— Rattle, Phillips, Simmons, Smith.
//imrorfc.— Crawford, llnynes, Devcraux, Alston,
Museogrr. — Wovlfvlk, !,liens.
Upson.—ftoUeway, Slurgc-3.f
Tt[fair.— Wilcox,! I.ca.
t.aurcns.—Monroe, 1 arren, Kclln.-n.
Pike.—Wilson,! Gray.f
Houston.— Wi .brrty, Williams.
Harris.—McHougal, Jackson.
To'bot.— Cox,t White.f
Troup.— Sledge, Dougherly.
Coweta.—Shoto,! North.f
Meriwether. —Cental,! Tides.!
Gwinnett — Worthy,! Park,! Greene.l Boring.
Jasper—Phillips, boynl, M'Clondon, Hardman, Craw
ford.
Jones.—('lowers, Jordan, Iverson, Flewoljcn, Nor
thern.
Dr K itb.—lzrard, Mavse.t Aikenf.
.Vrieton.—f.veHe. Perry, Kolb.
Rails.—lien.trick,! Hark ley-!
Eibrrt. — Ta'e, Oliver, BlsekweJI, Iferrin.
Rurke —ttnriow, Dye, Bailey, Byne, Carpenter.
Scrims.—llryan, bovet*, Gross,
Warren.—Monerief, iVilson, Jones, Ryan.
Chatham. — Owen, Millcn, Mvers, Barnard.
Effingham.—llurlon, Wshlhauer.
Trank tin.—.in tier son,! Marlin,f Freeman,! Ash.t
Habersham. — Rlair,! Wofford,! Clcavclnnd.t
The following estimate composes tho aggregate
Congressional vote of all the above counties,-tti in v,um-l
her, except Twiggs, Wilkinson, Washington, IlihVi,
Muscogee, Telfair, l.aurens, Pike, Mon-Ion, Harris,
Troup, Coweta and .Meriwether, from winch we have
no returns, viz :—
Gilmer 1G150, Wilde 1591.1, Thompson 14G2G, Fos
ter I-I0G9, Wayne 13041, Haynes 12.V.10, bumpkin
10952, Meriwether 0173, Williamson 6307, Brailsford
5401, Triplett 7323, Charlton8555, r.nd Cuthbcrt S973.
From the data before us, und from the usual vote of
tho counties whc-.'i yet remain to be heard from, we
feel warranted in saving, that Messrs. Gilmer, Wilde,
Foster, Wavne, Tltonipaou, Haynes and bumpkin, will
compose the Georgia delegation to the next Congress.
The Congressional returns will be given in full, so
aoon as they ar* completed.
—<K>—
In announc ing in our lust the result of tho election
for Senator of this countv, time was no; allowed us, to
advert even briefly, to the subject—even now, it is ap
proached with those feelings, which the recollection of
nn unexpected, as well a- unnecessary defeat, usually
hegeta. 'Che question has more than nnre been asked,
to what cause so unlooked for an event should Imattri-
huted. Not we reply to Ihe numeral force of our fo'i-
ticol opponents. As Clark wasthree years hark, friend-
tv to Ihe principle- then so strongly advocated—so
is she now. To the want of concert and energy nnllie
part of XI r. Hull’s friends, combined with a reprehen
sible rlispositinn to compromise, together with the ef
forts of a zeal that never tired, on the pari of his oppo-
sers, in hi- defeat attributable. The political finesse
played off"upon the republican parti-, as was designed
bv its enemies, lias been bn' b«o successful. I idled h>
the notes of peace, oesee, pence, thsr flowed incessant
ly, though in manvcases from lips of honev but lies-t-
of gall, thev slumbered at their nost, till th- deception
had triumphed over their political faith, and the p-o.
Cress of the tide became too strong to lie resisted. If
peace had been the object, opposition would not linv.
been thought of this was rho pretext—the renewal
of party distinctions the molivo. At no Giruter elceriou
has the measures of the opposition been adopted with
greater concert, or prosecuted with greater vigor ; these
measures were seconded by parlizsns ubrosd, who,
notwithstanding the spotless character of Mr. Hull
sc upled at no means “ to make the worse appear the
better cause.” The plans adopted, arrorded well with
the spirit winch excited opposition, l-nth have been dia-
■litmus. The '-.sa of Mr. Hull's raloots, his friends can-
not but regret; high in the estimation ofthnse who have
been hi- associate labourers in the toils of legislation,
be has ever by them been regarded as a useful and in
fluential neatSer-sueh to one, as esunotheaupplie 1 bv
every everyday member that crowds the legit leu veim'J.
FromMr. Thomas, who we ha re no doubt will be a zeal
ous member of his; arty, we have nothing to hope— t
posed in principle and feeling to the policy of theTroup
party, the character of his measures will, it is expected,
be in snison with its dictates. Of Mr. Moore, though
suspected of a dereliction from the republican ranks,
we feci authorised on the authority of others, in saying,
that lie is still with u“, anil that his vote and his influ
ence will ho united in the support of those principles,
of which he has ever been considered an advocate.
-<se>-
In the “ Georgia Journal” of the 2!)th ult. and the
“ Statesman k Patriot” of the 4th inst. strong indies*
rious xve perc eive are given, of a disposition on the part
of the F.ditors of those papers, to enter into Borne ge
neral regulation forihe better government of the press
iri Georgia. Our limits prevent us fremevmtingour ap
probation of Ihe sentiments expressed, aod xhe object
meditated, by a re-puliliealion of their views. The inci
dental remarks wehave bof ire taken occasion to rnske,
were then, as now, the result of a thorough conviction,
that the abandonment nfthat high and elevated stand,
which it is their prerogative to nssiime, is sritvorsive of
the object, and destructive to the influence and utility
contemplated bv their establishment. The press,capable
of becoming nt onr c an engine of corruption,or a medium
of instruction, must, in character, become assimilated
in the view of the public, to ttxe character of the indivi
dual by whom it is conducted, and the respect paid to
the latte- vvi;| Re proportioned to the moral dignity
and elevation of the former; while concert of action,
unanimity of feeling, and the cultivation of mutual re
spect, would be attended with reciprocity of advanta
ges. Onr limited experience authorises the belief that
many oft'ic evils incident to the press in this state, are
Ihe result of the want of a better faith among its con
ductors, and a more efficient system in the regulation
of its financial concerns. A conviction of tho necessity of
a change is onlv necessary for its accomplishment. Who
among us, knowing the evil, will not apply the remedy?
Due respect, we conceive, is not paid to the means ne
cessary to insure its perpetuity, and to relieve those on
whom its management devolves, from the many incon
veniences and Irarraesing peiploxities under which ti
labours. These can only he remedied by an inter
change of views, and by the adoption of measures, in a
more organized and connected capacity,
-<&>-
The passage of the late tarilflias been productive of
at least so much good, that the people of the south are
opening their eyes, and casting about for substitutes for
the almost unlimited quantity of cotton, which ia now
rnised and carried to market. Thatthere are many oth
er articles, braider cot Inn and rice, to which our climate
and soil is perfectly adapted, will not admit of dispute.
Who doubts for a moment that the vine will grow os
well here as in Burgundy? Who doubts that indigo
can lie made here equal to tlio beat from Bengal ? None
who have devoted skill,and havehad experience on the
subject. We do not propose to go into this subject at
any length, believing that all intelligent farmers arc al
ready convinced, that not * nly those but several other
substitutes,nowalmost entirely negleet- d, might be cul
tivated, with much suceeas and profit to the groxver.
We will merely give the result of experience, in the
hope that our neighboring farmers will read and profit
by the example.
Major Adhim, in the district of Columbia, xve are in
formed, has made a small fortune by the cultivation of
the vine—Mr. F.ichclbergor and several other farmers
about York and Lancaster in Pennsvlvania have done
the as me. These gentlemen have attended to this cul
ture for some years, and had it not proved profitable, it
would long ago havr been discontinued. In a recent
account we are told that a planter of South Carolina
sold wine, the produce af his own farm, during the last
year, to the amount of jti.-IOO. The gentleman hero al
luded to wo presume i« Mr. Nicholas Ilcrbemont, of
Columbia. He plants I'jnr pine land, nurli as can be
got in abundance nt tuo and three dollars per acre.
The cultivation is not More difficult than that of any
other crop.
The silk is another article for which our climate is
perfectly ailupt* d. Tic renringnnd care nf the worms,
and procuring the silk, is very simple, and may bo at
tended to hy boys and girts.
The Sugar cane can he cultivated in many parts of
this state. Qn the sra-bna-d it has been raised abun-
dantlv, and is rortainlv worthv a fair trial in the interi
or. In tin- neighborhood of Montgomerv, in Alabama,
we learn, that it has grown this year very luxuriantly.
A late Montgomery Journal informs us that Col. Hooks,
Col. Crcyon and lion. Bolling Hall have all planted
this xrenr nnd succeeded heyond expectation. A gen
tleman who resides in Louisiana, on seeing the cane of
Col. Hooks, pronounced it equal to any he had over
seen.
Indigo ran also he grown in the greatest abundance,
and made of the first quality. This is a plant requiring
no cultivation, und iB found wild apd in abundance all
over the country.
Wo have hut barely mentioned these subjects to draw
the attention of the farmer to them, in the hope that
■dme of them wit' lav out a portion of their land fir ex
periments on tires* and other articles during the next
year. We shall he happy to hear the result, nnd give
publicity to such as tuny be communicated.
-<585—
The New York Morning Courier contains an account
of a Miss Honeywell, who is new exhibiting at Peal's
Museum, in that citv. She was born without arms—
using her mouth, w ith which she draws, writes, works
on silk, satin, nnd paper—cuts out of paper the most
difficult landscapes, figures, flowers, and even pieces of
poetry, txc. Her cuttings are of the most exquisite de-
li< ary, and executed with uncommon taste. She holds
the scissors, needle, pen, or pencil in her mouth, with
which she produces tire moat astonishing exquisite pie
ces of work, equalled by no other person.
She has spent several years trsv-lling in F.urope,
passing through! F.ngland, Germany, Switzerland, and
France, where she expects shortly to return.
She is affable and agreeable in her conversation and
manners, and being unrivalled in her art, meets with
great success wherever she goes.
—<35>—
Electors of President and Vice President.—Our citi
zen- will recollect that the privilege of appointing elec-
to' * of!'resivl. nt anil Vice President of the United States
is now vested n the people. The act establishing this
power passed Dei . IS, 1821, and provides that on the
that Monday in November, 182S. and on thcfi-sl Mon
day in November of every fourth x ear thereafter, an
election shall hr held throughout this State at the seve
ral places nt holding elections for Senators and Repre
sentatives in the General Assembly, for the purpose of
choosing electors of President soil Vice President of the
United States, to he conducted and superintended as
elections usually are.
2d. Pi rsons entitled to vote for members of the Ge
neral Assembly, may vole for electors, the nnttiher of
whom gbaU equal the while of ewr Htspreientatires and
Senators in Congress, and the Justice* or Magistrates
presiding, shall rnuke immediate returns to the Govern
or, of the result ol the election, specifying the nu.diet
of persons voting for electors, the number of votes giv
en, the names of persons voted for, and the number nt
votes each may have received.
3d. In counties, w here, Ivy law, votes for meiubmsof
Assemblyare given at different places, the person* pre
siding shall meet, and consolidate the returns of the
different districts, and forward them as directed in the
second section.
4th. On the 18th day after tire election shall hal e ta
ken place,the Governor until! lay before both branches
of the General Assembly a consolidated return of the
number of persons voting for electors, the names nt
persons voted for and the number of votes received by
euch ; und immediately notify the persons who may
have received a Majority of the whole of the votes giv
en in, of their election, and require their attendance, at
the lime, and place, prescribed hy low, to vote for a
President and Vice President of the United Stntes.
5th. In ease of none nf the persons voted for, having
received a majority of the whole of the votes given j.t,
the members of the General Assembly shall by joint
ballot appoint electors of President and Vice President,
or if seine persons should have received a uiaioritv of
all tile votes given in, then the Assembly sOali hy
joint ballot supply the number deficient, -o as to make
upthe whole number of electors which the slate is en
titled to.
Glh. If from death, or an vother cause, any electoror
electors so appointed shall tail lo appear ut the Seat ol
Government at 12 o’clock on Monday preceding the
1st Wednesday in December, the legislature will pro
ceed by joint ballot to supply the vacancy.
The electors who will be supported hy the Troup
pa‘tv are :—
DAVID BI.ACKSHEAR, of Laurens,
AUGUSTUS S. CLAY TON, of Clark,
SOLOMON (JR WES, nf Newton,
JOHN MAXWELL, of Brvan,
JOHN MOORF., of Oglethorpe,
OLIVER PORTER, of Greene,
ROBERT R. RKID, of Richmond,
JO 11N KUTIIKKFORD, of Baldwin,
WILLIAM TERRILL, of Hancock.
-<3S>-
f COMMUNICATED. ]
There is nothing more important to the well
being of society, itx nriv state, than a well
regulated judiciary system The poxvers of
government in this slate are wisely distributed
among the three diflf i'eiit iloimilurciris. Vm
notwithstanding the wise manner the powers
nnd duties are assigned to each, if tiny one of
those branches is badly constructed, its ill ef
fects will pervade the whole community.
That onr judiciary is defective, is admitted
by all wt';p make any pretensions to a knowl
edge of tho science of jurisprudence. The
present system is .maintained without nn advo
cate. The honest f«t»r of the people which
have hitherto existed, has been its ordv sup
port. They have been fearful that it tho reme
dy should be applied, that it wftdd he worse
than the disease; I know of no error more pal
pable, nor to which the public, mind lli.'s been
stronger riveted, than to the belief that tlit' es
tablishment of n supreme court would be injur
ious to the community.
It is indeed remarkable that such nn error
should prevail among a people so enlightened
as the citizens of our stnte. Relieving that the
enuso of tliis error is attributable to a want of
due deliberation on tho subject, I shall there
fore offer a fexv remarks to tho public.
It is the object and design of this as well as
nil freo governments, that the people shall be
governed by certain fixed principles, which are
prescribed by the supremo poxver of the state—
That such rules or laxvs as are thus prescribed
for tho regulation and government of society,
shall bo universal throughout the slutc. If the
laxvs xverc not thus universally extended, it
xvould be useless for the whole state to remain
in compact.
Each county or district should compose its
oxvn sovoreign power, w here it is to lie govern
ed by laws different front the rest of the state;
for states are but societies of men united togeth
er lo procure their “ mutual safety and advan
tage hy moans of their union.” And so soon
ns different sections of the same slate, come
under different laws and regulations, the bond
of union eeases. Their interest are no longer
“ mutual,” they become several. They can
do nothing for their general “ safely and ad
vantage” because the rule of their actions are
ut variance. The uppclation of state could no
longer be properly applied. Rut in this state
wc have one common head from whence all
our laxvs ernenate, and thev arc prescribed for
the whole stale. We have but one legislatix'c
body, whose duly it is to make laxvs for the
whole, and xve have hut one executive, whose
superintendance likexvi-c extends to every part
ofthe state. And xve should have a judiciary
xvhose duty should ho to construe those laxvs,
and see them properly nnd equally applied in
every section of the state.
Rut when wo examine into the structure of
our judiciary,xve find that it is incompetent to
perform this part. That nolxvilhstiinding the
laws are intended to equally npply throughout
the country, they in tact in tl.cir application
are unequal. There are eight Superior Judicial
districts and one judge assigned to earh, xvlio
have a general superintendance over all judicial
proceedings xvithin their respective districts,
butjiro independant of each other. For the
purpose of convenience, and to bring justice
home to the doors of the people, these judicial
divisions are very proper. Rut xvhero xve see
them entirely disconnected, each forming a
complete and independant system, and each
distributing justice in a different manner, with
out any head to control and give them like di
rection, we arc ready to ask why have wc not
a legislative and executive in each ofthese ju
dicial divisions. Why not each district become
sovereign and independant. Why not each
form its own code of laws, as each construes
nnd applies them differently and independant
from the others. But it is said hy some xvlio
are not conversant with judicial proceedings
that the laxvs may he made so plain and simnle.
that none can mistake them .and therefore if wo
will appoint honest judges the laws will be
alike administered in every section ofthe state.
If the minds of men were all alike constructed,
and all xxere possessed ofequal knowledge, xve
could have judges xvlio would alxvays make like
decisions
Hut this is not the ease, nor ever will he, so
long as men remain in an imperfect state, for
none but perfect beings can have like views on
nil subjects. \nd when xve arrive to a state
cf parfccuow we vital i stand ia no seed of jud
ges to decide upon find regulate our conduct.—'
There are certainly some general principles in
which all judges may agree. But when we
take into viexv the many cases which may rise
from the various transactions of men, xve find
much difficulty in applying them to the princi
ples of law. It is impossible that the makers of
our laxvs can foresee the various cases -viiirh
may arise for adjudication, together xvill all the
rircuinslanc.es connected with them, so as to
prescribe tlio rules for their adjustment, in
language so plain that none can misconceive
it. The rules of our law are finite and the sub
jects of it infinite, consequently there xvill often
fall out case- which cannot be determined by
the itnnied ateapplication of those rules—They
therefore must !xe determined hy tlm result of
the conclu.-.tons, xvlitch the judges may arrive
at bv a long etnog of deductions—And there
fore in going through this process,the result of
their reasonings xvill frequently differ. Ifthcn
men xvill tli Ter in tl.eir decisions on the same
subjects, the only way to direct and micro!
these decisions, so as to give them uniformity,
is to establish one supreme tribunal with power
to control and direct the dicisians of all others.-
Every stranger who will examine into the
structure of our judiciary .xvill at once point to
this dulect. When xve take a viexv of all out
inferior judicatories, with (heir several powers
and limits, beginning at the justices’ courts a id
from thence to onr county courts, and tip to
the circuit or superior courts, xve are naturally
lead to look on for a general head. Rut in Uau
xve nre disappointed. We find ourselves at tlio
head when xve arrive at the circuit court. And
we find several others nf equal magnitude, and
entirely independant of each other—We fiud
no grand depository of the law from whence
equal justice flows to every par! of the state.
It cannot bo said xve have a judiciary system
when xve speak xvith reference to tlio whole
state. Fr>r tlo-re are fnanv syciemc there is
.i system for each judicial circuit, all of w hich
are inuepetidant. The evils resulting from
such a regulation are apparent to all. Such a
eo: fusion of things,—Such different applica
tions of the law in different places and at differ
ent times in tho same society of men, without,
any eontrollmg poxverto guide and direct thorn,
so as lo restore harmony, is such a defect afi
must be apparent to tho weakest capacity.
The establishment of such a tribunal xvould
(end to lessen the number of lawsuits. Un
der the present constitution of our courts ma
ny law points nex’er become settled, .and indi
viduals frequently institute suits xvith a full
knoxxdedgo that there are points involved in
their cases which have been determined agnmst
I'lieni by some former judge, nr hy some judge
presiding in some other county.
Rut knotting that those decisions are not
bioding Upon other judges, and knowing the
points to he ffticli as lawyers disagree in opin
ion upon, they twill hazard the expense of o.
suit, under tho hope that the judge before
tvhom it may be tried xvill he favorable to a rc-
covcry. If xve had a supreme court a trial of
one of these eases xvould settle the point.
The decision xvould be binding on all the courts
in the stale, and none xvould risk a suit
xvhero they knexv Ihe decision of the supremo
court was against them. Rut under tho pro-
sent system suits are instituted when the par
ties instituting them are fully axvaro that the
result is something like a game of chance, and
they are therefore willing to risk the expen
ses. Individuals may have suits pending in
adjacent counties ofpreoisely the same nature,
and tho recoveries he opposite if different
judges should preside. And even cases in the
same county are differently determined nt diffe
rent times; for r.o judge under our system is
bound hy the decisions of his predecessor.
That xvhich is laxv at one time, is not law at
another; nnd that xvhich is laxv in one county
is not laxv in another. Strictly speakintr <ve
may be Haiti to have no laxv, for laxv should ho
“ permanent, uniform and universal” through
out the state.
From thn x'iexv ofthe subject xvhich has been
taken, xve discover that the establishment of n
supreme court, xvould have a tendency to les
sen the number oflaxvsuits. Make the opera
tion of our laxvs more uniform, render the rule
of civil conduct morn certain, place ourcilizens
more upon an equality in relation to their se
veral riahts and duties, anti place tho rights of
our citizens upon a more permanent foundation.
For under the present system, our lives, liber-
ties nnd properly rest upon no certain founda
tion, They nre completely under the control
of Ihe judges of the superior court of the dis
trict where xve happen to reside. From hie
decree wo have no anpeul. lie may strip us
of all xvhich is he.M dear, hy one hasty nnd in
deliberate decision. Or if he should he dispo
sed lo act from impure principles, he has it in
his poxver to destroy xvhomsoevcr he will and
none can gainsay his conduct.
To countorbat:i.nee the many evils growing
out of the want of a supreme court, there aro
txvo objections unjed against its establishment,
viz. First, that the ultimate determination of
causes xvould ho much procrastinated. And
second , that the expenses xvould be much great
er to suiters —To the first of these objections
there can be no weight. It is saying that wo
had better have injustice done us in the deter
mination of causes and have it done quickly,
than to have justice done bv a proceeding
xvhich is a little more tardy in its progress.
This is the result of the argument to give it tho
greatest force. Rut I believe the causes of
suiters ix'ould he as soon ended as under the
present system, and in many instances much
sooner. Under the present system xvhen a
suit is commenced, it stands for trial before a
petty jury at the sorond term after the com
mencement, but each party is entitled to one
continuance, xvhich brings the cause to trial at
the fourth term. The party cast may then en
ter an appeal and each may continue txvice,
which xvill bring on tho trial before a special
jury at the eighth term after the commence,
rnent of the suit.
Ill the progress of thn trial some point may
arias which the court may have determined er-