Caulfield

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Murray, Chief Justice, concurred.

An appeal was taken from the County Court to the District Court, and there it was dismissed, on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction.

This case involves the consideration, whether the legislature has the power to give appellate jurisdiction to the District Court. The first clause of the 6th section, article 6th of the Constitution, says: “ The District Courts shall have original jurisdiction in law and equity, in all cases where the amount in dispute exceeds two hundred dollars, exclusive of interest.”

The 4th section of the same article gives, with the same effect, appellate power to the Supreme Court; and the 9th section permits the legislature to give to the County Courts original or appellate power, or both, in special cases, and in cases arising in Justices’ Courts.

*390 It seems that, in this subdivision of power among the different arms of the judiciary, there was an attempt at great care and accuracy, in assigning to each a well-defined portion of judicial duty. In doing this, there must have been some specific object or leading motive, and no other appears so reasonable, as that it…