Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
Charleston
Too Much Law - The Supreme Court Clerkship - Concerning Jordan - Capital Prospects
Interference with the Personal Liberty of Harrison County Hog Owners.
The Patriots Taking their Recess Per Diem.
January 18, 1873
(Correspondence of the Intelligencer)
CHARLESTON, W. VA., January 13, 1873. - Charleston was cursed with too much law, or bad law makers, when the Legislature took its recess, and while some, and indeed many were found to complain that the Legislature had done too much, and knew too much law, it is now however thrown completely in the shade by the complete flood of large and small fry lawyers from all parts of the State, and if ever a small city had too much law it is this city at this present time.
The District Court is in session. The Court of Appeals organize here to-day. Have been here for a week waiting for "just a drop" more legislation, before they could get to work. The sessions of the court were finally peddled out, and Charleston, Wheeling and Charlestown get the court. There is some talk of holding a session somewhere in Ohio or Pennsylvania, the place is not decided on yet, but it will be where there is the best stock of apple-jack, that being one of the arguments in favor of distributing these honors. Judge Hoffman is quite ill, and has been for several days. There sis an immense patriotism developing itself here just now. It has been taken and regarded as a fixed fact that somebody would have to serve as the Clerk of the Court of Appeals; that very fact has caused about twenty-five gentlemen to "consent," (and of course they were over-persuaded), to be candidates. It is wonderful to see the sacrifices that some men will make to serve their friends, who so kindly insist on them to take positions; but then somebody will have to serve, and as well as fail somebody, and they will be numerous who will not get to serve. Then ingratitude, cold heart, bad faith, I had the promise, I will spot him the next time, &c, &c, will be the order of the day.
. . .
I am still
ICEBOUND
Correspondence of the Intelligencer.
CHARLESTON, January 12, 1873.
. . .
At noon, on the 10th inst., the Legislature convened, or rather reassembled, with a bare quorum present in each house. The first day was mainly taken up with the discussion of a bill to organize the Supreme Court of Appeals, &c. It was reported back in the House from the Judiciary Committee, recommending its passage with certain amendments, the most important of which are the following:
1. Providing for three sessions of the Court every year: One in Charleston, Kanawha county, commencing on the 2d Wednesday in January, (provided that the session of this year, shall commence on the 13th inst.), one in Charlestown, Jefferson county, commencing on the 1st Wednesday of July, and one in Wheeling, Ohio county, commencing on the 1st Wednesday of September.
2. Dividing the State into three Judicial Grand Divisions, as follows: The First, to consist of the counties composing the 1st, 2d, 5th and 6th judicial circuits; the Second, to consist of the counties composing the 3d and 4th judicial circuits; the Third, to consist of the counties composing the 7th, 8th and 9th judicial circuits.
The amendments were adopted, and the bill passed and sent to the Senate. The amendments of the House were there amended by making the term of the Charlesto[w]n Court commence on the 1st Wednesday in August, and of the Wheeling Court, on the 1st Wednesday in June. Yesterday, (Saturday,) the Senate amendments were agreed to by the House, and the bill sent to the Governor for his approval. I have no doubt that it will be approved, and the Court will organize under it, on Monday, the 13th inst.
It would seem from the above amendments, that the Wheelingites and Charlestownites, or rather Butcherites, had effected a compromise, by splitting the Wheeling term and giving part of it to the constituency of R. Hume Butcher, Esq., the gentlemen who says what "if God Almighty were to run against him for any office in the gift of the people of Jefferson county, he (Butcher) would beat him a thousand votes." Comment is entirely unnecessary.
. . .
ALPHA.