1822 - Edocs

193
would have been tantamount to a denial of justice, we
considered it necessary to Treveni crime by its speedy
punishment, to restrain the refractory, to protect the
w^ak from the. oppression oC the strong, and thus to ensure
virtue and humanity among our citizens, and to accomplish
the great end of society, the happiness of the
people—The salaries of the judges of the inferior courts amount
to.' wo thousand four hundred dollars, Sc as we are
in the first grade of Territorial Government, we have reason
to expect th at Congress will make an appropriation of
that sum— a«\cl also provide for the appointment of another
judge-to reside at the seat of government, which will
do away the necessity of a longer continuance of the inferior
courts.
There is another topic of considerable interest and
magnitude to this Territory, and the United States, upon
which your memorialists would respectfully express their
opinions, on the present occasion. In consequence of the
great extent of sea coast by which Florida is bounded,
and the consequent exposure to which she is subjected,
the speedy settlement of the country, will readily present
itself to your excellency, as an object of the most important
consideration. In order to give that strength and
security to Territories thus peculiarly situated, emigration
should be invited to them by every advisable means,
within the controul of the general government. To accomplish
this desirable purpose it may be considered of
the first moment, that the claims to land of every description
should be promptly ascertained and adjusted— Upon
this subject your memorialists would with all the respect
and confidence due to the constituted authorities of the
union, recommend that the powers of the commissioners
should be enlarged, relative to claims upon which they are
authorized to pronounce a final decision—Your memorialists
would also suggest the propriety of referring the
larger grants to the investigation and determination
of the judicial tribunals—Were the existence of this power
thus vested in our courts, and transferred from the na-
tional councils, it is confidently believed, that much expense
would be avoided, as well as more ample and speedy
justice, administered to all the parties concerned.
The members of the judiciary residing in the Territory,
and having obtained an acquaintance with the laws and
ordinances of the government, from which the claims emanated,they
must necessarily be much better qualified
to pronounae an opinion, than any tribunal different!)
constituted, from the decisions of the courts here, an appeal
might be given to the supreme court, and thus thr
validity of titles decided by the constitutional arbiter, the
judiciary which would eminently contribute to secure tire
rights of the United States, and the claimants