Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-18

Possession 10 be given OH the Is5 OF Otlo5er next
for terms apply TO
July 9th, 1901 W.T.
o IRE HONORABLE TAg LAGISLAgURE o.
f'RE CoM10N WEALTH or PkRCFNfA.
TIE Nemo,ialof sugdyy Me- Chants, Meet .nics and
0f5sr Ln@a6itn'. fa5e CiyG Ri-5n,oea,
SHBWETH:
THAT thrfs are many common law courts which
hold their sessions in the civ Of Richmond ;
these courts in the Course OF the year require i
great many ju,ies, and are thus described
The General Court OF the Commonwealth.
The DisIri6t Court of The Commo nvse alth.
The Circuit Court Of the United States.
The Distri3 Court of The United States.
The County Court Of Henrico.
The Hastings Court OF the Civ Of Richmond
Upon furtherexamina,ioni into theabove statement
twill appear, that there than one hundred;
days in the year wherein iuries may be wanted.
The c.icers OF the courts f--quen,ly summon more
than enough for three jurIes, and some5ir es tw o
OF the aforesaid courts sit upon the same tav
which, considering the population ofrhe clrv. falls
very heavy on some of the mhabi-an IN 20 much
that 1t frequently happens that retailers OF ner
chandize, and mechanics vino employ 2 number
OF journeynien, and who depend upon thcir daily
sales for their profits and subsistence, are OBLIGED
either to disobey the summons, to shuJ NJ their
stores and shops. or to commit the care Of thei.
business (and at the most public umes tool 10
boys or inexperienced agents.
When duty is laid upon articles of rncrchan-
die. or TAX is imposed upon the occupation G "a
merchant, every man before he proceeds can calcu
late upon the influence which these burdens will
nave upon his business bun If the same man is ire
quently called away 10 serve upon iuties, and is
compelled 81 her 10 shut up MS store or couhde in
inexperienced agents. he cannot form compu;a-
ton Of the injury or disadvantage.
Observations somewhat dissimilar, tho ecu-
Ponderant in their tendencies, concerning mocha
mes and others who subaist By labor, may also be
made. the poor man, no has no means 10 pro.
vide for his own wants or the subsistence OF his
Family, except by his own labor. must feel the
hardship in very high degree, when he is COM
pe'icd 70 lose his TIME in lettering about a court
house, vel! krowiugIhat it ought to be employ ed
in earning breai FOR his Children.
These important fa6ls, and their influence upon
society, and particularly ne inhabitants of this CT.
= aEe too wcN Known % require grea,er illustra
rion; and il would be in lecorous if your Memo
rla.ists should employ many arguments CT much
ertTe2ty tojaauCe the honorable house 10 listen
10 theif cor1r'riut
Your Men,nialists have been informed, thatin
some parts os the United S'a:es, il is the custom
- summon JuGes some days previous 10 the court
and when cause is abou. 70 be tried st of
each party strikes out equal Aumber un;il the
proper number remains. In this way, impartial
iurics are certainly Obtained
ltsesEis 10 be thc general opinion &C all who
CONVERGE dpon the subictt, chat reasonable com
Pensa,ion should be made, eGpal TO the daily piice
oflabor, "a those pe.sons who are compeNtd TO
serve on iuries.
Your Memorialists contemplate with great de-
light the inestinaOle privilege Of traby iury -
tuey consider il ofthe chartered .tn rights
OF which they are the interiors and which Is far
above price; nor do they intend TO utter en- ex.
preston which shall convey fhe smallest discon
tent IN that respeSf. The sole design Of your Me
Notwithstanding sto make plain representation
OF the particular grievances to which thsy are ex.
posed, on accom- of Their residing ct TIC seat of
governments, where iuries bainT so frequently
wanted they are compelled TO DISCHARGE more
than reasonable share CT social duties, and thew
cannot help observing, THAI whatsoever operates
as al undue restriction or oppression upon indus
tTyamd commerce, which are The great sources Of
national prosperity, must operate u, an injury up
OH the whole community
The 7eimportautand well MISUNDERSTANDING
connected WIKI the high confidence which is enter
tanned oil the wisdom, patriotism and clemen-y Of
the house, have induced your Memoraiists TO re-
present the particular hardships by which they
have been oppressed. aud 20 which they
are still exposed. in the req sonable and confident
nope, thar The justice of tic Legislature will af-
ford suitable relief, tina, your Memorialists may
enjoy, IN equal deg,ee with their fellow citizens,
the privileges and blessings Of a government, to
tine support of which ,hey largely contribute.
And your Memorialisis, with Ell due rcsrcG
AVID consideration, hunblypray sc wiz
Walter Potter