Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-23

us..or;ation for slaves executed or trans
pied Ii has been Justly remarked, that
I've property is principally holden in the
sastern sections of the country, and be-
inn.s TO the wealthy. The revenue out Of
,shich. the price of a slave executed or
,,,nsported is paid, Is levied upon ali
slasses of people upon the poor anti the
rich from the north 10 the south from
,he Ohio to the Atlantic. / have been
told that the policy OF this law Is to pre-
,'ant the master from having an interest
~ The concealment OF the crime Of his
lave. in order TO prevent his conviction.
II this be lis POLICY, It's. impoficy Is this
II makes it the interest OF the master of a
worthless, or refractory slave, 10 seek his
conviction, in order 10 Obtain q liberal
o,;ce for that which he can neither use
nor sell 70 advantage. Whatever MAY
have been the poiicy of those who passed
= the uneuuiyocal immortality of that law
viii be seen and acknowledged from the
SLIGHTEST notice 0i its operation. Whena
refractory slave is suffered by his master
70 run at large, and he burns his neigh
bour's barn, the injured not only goes un-
radresscd, bat is taxed to make good TO
the master the value of the slave. Or,
what is worse, the slave may murder the
head of aiamly F.; and the widow and or
pban not only suffer this bereavement,
but are taxed by that law TO pay the mas
ter.-With an equa! representation, tins
odieus law nevercould have been passed
with an equal representation, the present
session would not terminate without its
repeal.
Passing from the inequality OF repre-
scntaton and lis necessary consequence,
uneuual legislation, the gentleman from
Wythe proceeds 60 point out detects III
the law regulating the suffrage of the
people the legislative, executive, and
judiciary departments. Even the insti-
tuition Of the county courts, does not cs-
cane his censure aud criticism. With
that gentleman nothing isright in any de
partment of the government. Otd things
must pass a,cay aud aUthings become new.
For myself, cannot acknowledge that
any evils have arisen, or are likely TO a.
rise from the exercise of the power of
appointment by the General Assembly,
or by the Counties, Perhaps, few citI-
zsns ofthis community have had more
opportunities 10 compare our institutions
I'm their practical! effects, with those of
some of The neghborng states, than have
fallen 10 my lct
Alta time when the torch of civil war
was almost lighted in aneighb0ring state,
lin consequence of the agi!aiiOns prodn-
ced by the election of a Chief Magistrate,
the Government here, was pursuing IFS
constant peaceful course, and all our Off
ces were filed without any considerable
hcart-bur.lings. This has often happen
ed
AS to the County Courts, il must be
acknowledged that these tribunals have
great judicial powers. They are the real
executive OF the State within their respcc-
tive counties. They nominate members
of their own body, appoint sherlfs. con
stables, coroners, and all militia officers
under the rank of Brigadier-G General
They quality executors, appoint and qua
lifv administrators, guardians and com
mittees. They Judge of the securities of
all these, and of the collectors ofthepublic
revenues ; and by any abuse of these ex-
ecutive and ministerial functions may
subject themselves TO the action of the
party injured. Their powers OF an exc
cutive nature and as directors of the coun-
ty police, are great indesd--But they are
exercised gratis. Hence. they are peace
makers-and look upon the state Of UNI
interrupted harmony, which under their
administration, has blessed tI,eirrespeetive
counties, during period OF one hundred
and fifty years, as sufficient of itself to
destroy all confidence i'll that untried
theory which would destroy them.
The greatest complaints against the
County Courts, arise out OF the delays
experienced in the administration of JUS
tice ;EpartcularIv on the equity side of
those courts. This evil will cure itself, If
gentlemen Of the bar desire it. Are their
dockets, in some counties, so crowded,
that they cannot try their causes? This
Is sufficient cause of removal. And
even without removal, the vilwouId soon
be at an end, If all fhe suits at law and
IN equity, OF which the superior courts of
law and equity have cognizance, were
brought in those courts.
There is no substantial ground of com
plant, therefore, against the county
courts, as judicial tribunals.
But if in the Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial Departments, defects do exist,
they are ofavery unimportant nature, and
are equally borne by all sections of
the State, and the redress of them is
mere matter of expediency.
But the committee being ofihe opinion
that the equalization ofthe representation
in both Houses Of the General Assembly,
was measure essentially necessary 10 the
peace and well being of the estate, thought
it bestto call the attention Of the House,
and of the country, TO that, and that
alone, save only, the prOprlety ofprovidIng
for future amendments.
The gentleman from Wythe having a.
greed with the Convention at Staunton,
and with the report Of the Committee, on
many points on some others, common