The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-09

tue clerk to certify to the executive, that the
person commissioned. by them, has mol
4 In0IHe0j and II then becomes the duty Of
tne executive TO commission one other on
the INST OF three, first offered to their choice
| Ill ne Is the tavorite of the court. there
wall Ire no obstacle III rown in the way of his
qualifying 10 his commission A case of this
KIND occurred not many years ago, i'm a
county not very distant from Richmond: the
names or the parties, and all the circnm
stances attending this infamous transaction.
are well remembered and can be sufficient
~ proven, and it called for shall appear.
| Inc Office OF sheriff is in portant 10 vari-
GUS points OF view. As in criminal law the
| accessory follows the principal. so i'm this
case does the deputy follow his master: if
the high sherifis an improper character, it
Is quite likely that his deputies will be inn
pr per characters also--and the depu les
IN CORRECTING the taxes, may. make false re
| turns OF insolVents; they may receive Iii cir
taxes from those, whose names are given in
upon oatH. to the clerk of the county as in
solvents -.
But the selection of jurors, a duty which
extensively ,devolves upon the sheriff. rem
uers 1. an ofhce OF the utmost inport ance,
ana fof the faithful disch arge Of which he
| IS liable TO 40 responsibility, save that
winch he owes to his creator. 20 ;uries
oelons the ultimate decision in almost eve
! ~ Case which affects all that is dear 10
hah-nis lie, ais liberty, and his proper
"; and upon the importantly of their Sc
lechon. depends in very great degree,
the purity OF the administration of Justice !:
packed jury Is the mos, efficient ins,ru
'neht OF oppression. which tyranny has
ever invented; for their verdc;s impose
upon the credality OF mankind, by wearing
the senDance, without possessing the rea
iity or fair trial and L jus; decision -
- is the very excellence ot the institution
winch conceals The abomination Of its l.
buse.
as jurors are selected by the sheriffs, &
the sheriiis are recommended BY the maeis-
trates, and both these last commissions by
the Executive, by what caution and circum-
| spection should this Department of the Go
vefhment be guided, in the discharge Of this
most important trust which the constitute
on has reposed in it? Injustice and CD
! preston are not unfelt, because unno,iced
ana The tangs OF Official cruelty are not the
less sharp 1or having fastened upon a VIC
tiw who cannot complain.
| An. opening roads and building bridges the
magistrates have it in their power to prac
tice the greatest Partially and Injustice
n faVorlte may obtain leave 70 open a road
/ 10 suit ms own convenience, which NAV
be detrimental to all his neig hbors, as well
4 y
occasion tonse it. On the contrary, il NAV
DE beneficial to some particular individual
as we'll us an advantage TO the sountry a.
larges tohave road opened butt SHOULD
De the desire OF the court to Cypress .he
person thus seeking this accommodation, the
commissioners appointed to view The ground
VIII no doub, make report conormable
to what they know to be the wish If chose
VINO appointed them. The Same obscrva
tions apply 10 the building Of bridges. Il
Partially Is intended faVorilism on the one
hand, ana oppression on The other, will as
suredly he prac0ced The expenses of II
these profitable jobs, which s.ar he deal IN
with LAVISH hand upon tavorites, are
defrayed ~ a AK upon the people Of tbs
County; neither ievyed nor collected by
th.T Representatives, but imposed by ir
Responsible characters, and coiiec, ed in
the most odioas form IN which a tax can
DE gathered viz. by means OF poll
tax.
Gow aptly does fuckers remarks apply
here T" 80 formidable an accommodation
OF powers III any one set OF men. Cannot
fail. III process OF time. of establishing all
aristccracy i'll every coupty."**H For those
7oho hGOe h"gper 10 recommend or 10 at
lHoHt 20 cGiceS IN So many instances, 7UH
HGt very ing 6eJorScL/ui If their 0gvl f-
nudes, connections aud friends"
AS III the cases already mentioned, soiu G.
veryotner whe, tucy have the power of ap-
pointment, corrupt magistrates will no doubt
exercise IL for the purpose of serving their
irlehds--as IN the appointments OF inspec
tors OF tobacco, flour and hemp; WHICH how
ever trihing they may appear, fully nee,
the AMBITION OF the despiCabie adheril.. #
petty factions. And even the Offices OF CORE
m'sSIoners of the revenue, and oi ccnstall'c.
have theE needy eZp.ctan,s, which serve 10
| swell the list OF the followers of faction.
Their own clerks TOO, z much more impor
taDt aud profitable appointment, they mar
take out OF their own ignorant body to the
exclusion of "a Ineritorious man who ma,
nave served through long life in acquiring
knowledge OF the duties, and an easy ha
bit oil executing the inuiiiiarious labours of
that Office
What was said with respect tomarking out
new roads or changing Old ones aud tbe
building OF new bridges. and the repairing OF
those which have fallen into decay. will
equally apply to the erection Of ponr bous
es and the purchase of land on which to
Construct them. The system or favoritism
viii still prevail. And in The appointment
OF commissioners to asses daIfages in cases
OF writs OF cd gUod dumh4m. where mill
is sought to be built if ,. favorite is 10 be
served. no damages will be assessed--rr
an enemy is 10 be oppressed, they wilt be
so enormous as to amount to = virtual proni-
! bItion of erecting his mill.