Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-18

fronuse, placed in the. hands of the
county courts, Leaves the governor. bu,
little more TO do, than to issue COM
missions, upon their recomm IN ations.
In this point of view, then, these
courts, are allimportant TO the peace
and good order of society,"
Mark the difference between the or.
der and harmony Of our country, and
thar OF Pennsylvania, as. for example,
in the election of gooesnor there
all tumult--here-aU crder-& to what
is this owing but 10 the executive ba-
tronage there, being exclusiveiy in
that officer :-and here, brincibally, in
the county courts for they either ap.
point or recommend, to all the offices
IN the government except to the
higher Offices in the militia, judicia-
~, and executive departments b,
which wise distribution of executive
patronage, over this wide and extern
s,ve country, IT'S evils are no where
felt, while It's benefits every where are
seen. sV
Again; as courts of law and eqni-
ty, they are not less important to the
justice, order, and convenience of the
people, than, as courts of police !; and,
tho they may sometimes err, it is
equally true, that other courts do so
too but, 1t the cases, that began in
the county courts, and were finally
carried to the court of appeals, form
a correct standard, by which 10 Judge
of the rectitude of the decisions of the
county courts; then, l apprehend, it
will be found, that they have erred less,
than those, who undertook to correct
their decisions, on their way to the
court of appeals.
The reason of this is obvious. The
county courts are generally composed
OF the IN ost respectable and intelligent
citizens in their county. They are
not, it is true, Lawyers but as hon.
est, independent men, they endeavour
TO unders tand, the case before them
and to do justice; and this nine times
in ten, comes correctly at the law OF
the case: for la1u and justice, should
! be, but synonymous terms !: So tina,
the magistrate, who, understands the
justice of the case, and decides it &C.
cordingly, viii generally come at the
lao of the case : but the Judge who
does not understand the Iazv and
yet, attempts to steer by it, for the
Justice of the case, will, nine times II
ten, miss both: and so must srant
corrected oftener than county court
And now permit me to add that, i
this was the case, when the superio
courts of law had, two judges, il
them. is it likely, the scale viii b.
formed in their favoAr, now, they hav
but oae-S
4 The county courts hold a session
every month III the year, at four c
: which, they may try all matters a
law, and equity; and all.this iron
the spirit Of, pofri0tish,, and the ex
pectation of',he magistrates, that -eac
may, IN the course of his life, be tn
sheriff of his county, and as such, b
J entitled to the fees of office, as som
, remunera tion for his seryicss.
Besides-look t. the advantages O
, society In those monthly meetings Q
l the people :--where they communt
} cate with each other about their Ia
bour and improvements of the la,
month IA most important Schoolir
! deed, FOR men OF all descriptions.
In fact, this is the OILY system a
mong US, that has been matured b
n time :-ail the rest result from til
: revolution and we should give I
r them a fair experiment.
: l feel confident that a zoiSe Leeish
t tor, who looks to the best int ST.,
: his country, and is not under the il
o huence OF any persona consideration
e will not be disposed to such innovation
: as shall IN any manner be calculate
$ to put down SO important part of on
u public institutions as the county court
IT For take fromia magistrate the in
i portauce attached 70 him Of heir
i both judge at law and in equity,
/, his county; and he declines, at oac
(; all the minor duties of his station
i and leaves Society as it were unpr
r tected.
: This, fear, would be mos, rap
y stride towards the destruction Of Il
n best constitution in the world-T2