The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-11-15
ron THf sIRGisiAN.
To Alien Taylor, HIM. " R'pes, and Cat
ghiH .ifcnnis, Esgrs.

section Of the country, generally, and my
s,lf mdi, idually .Aa,e in your talents aud
independence, and IN the weight That these
qualities vii acquire for you ~ TIE ap.
preaching session of the Legislature, lndu-
ces me Ia dedicate To your special notice,
the following observations, on a subject, de
serving, think, large share ol Legislative
attention.
The administration Of public justice, nc
cordhg 10 our popular maxims, 10 BE- rllec-
tual, must not only be- speedy, bui cheap.
unreasonable delay, is IN many instances,
equivalent 10 denial of justice, the same
effect Is as certainly produced by over
whclming suitors With excessive cOsfs-1he
one defeats the Just claims ol suiiOr wfep
he has already incurred the expense and
trouble necessary to his success, the other
deters numbers from seeking Judicial redress
s.. aud induces them Ia set down with INJURIES,
which, as they are committed with impunl-
! ~, are sure 10 be repeated.
Having pre- pised these observations,
which am sure will be allowed 10 be alb
stfaetedly Just, will proceed Ia ihe main
object ofthis address, which is 10 call your
attention as members of the General As
F n'tliblAs " NV VI 'A' - ~ ~
our courts oi justice, an instance which ]
have selected Ia prove. that the admnlsfra-
ton of justice. in this State, Is unasodably
and pnlustly expensive.
! ! shall enter into up detailed examination
of the various items composing these sala-
res, ~ that is unnecessary 10 my purpose.
II is sufficient for the object Have in view,
to state that according 10 the lairest est
mate, which public opinion has been ena-
blcd 10 form, the value Of the clerks Office
OF the court of thancery for the Lynchburg
! district OF thai of Campbell, Bedford aud
Amherst, IN all of which tho clerk for thr
county court Is also clerk Of ihc superior
court, is not less than 81, 300 n year each
| These are the counties nearest Ia Lynch
bug, and have not pretended Ia extend
my enquiries on this bead furthcr-The e.
vi is ol such n nature, That its existence 10
ont county, ought certainly 10 ensure Legs
latlsc Interference, az fit were Cosxicnslsc
with the State.--ln times of national aud
individual prosperity, when but few people
owed money, aud the business of courts Of
justice was comparatively small, II was a
matter of indifference to the p1iblIc, whe
thef the income Of officers of Justice was
reasonable Or rxcossiye-Psrhap AT such a
time, the praBrnt scale Of fees, might be-
deemed 10 BE- within reasonable bouhdS.--
Ii was AT such lllnr- and for the purpose
ofkecpiag pace with the advance of pras-
periy in the country, that the Legislature
enlarged the fees of clerks and Others
What was then but reasonable, has he
come by the. revolution of events, ex.
Il Al
which induced the Legislature Vt that time
10 attempt 10 .quazc The situation of this
class oil It's officers by increasing hcir means
| of living, ought noW toreduccthem To then
original ar former means of rnolnment.-
What WAS then Legislative generosity, ar
justice aid which received the sanction of
public opinion, has become by the yicissi;ade
of affairs, profusion and isincompatiblc with
There duccd finances Of the country, with the
rlgld economy The government and indlNl-
duals are alike attempting TO practice,
| aud with hose principles of ind, dual O.
quality, Whichif they are speculative mere
! ~, our republic exists ouly Theoretically
know that an equalization of wealth by
The influence Of llws is visionary, and that
. aiteaptit would be- an cncroachmcnt on
ilA llbN vi Aiif AiilEtli, NldN a lbldlbl VI
those imdampntal principles which ave
! have acknowledged IL our BIZ of Rights
dnd Constitutions, a. forming the basis OF
the nghts of man. But excessive wealth.
injurious IS II Is IN a republic, must he left
| 10 be acquired h} the efforts Of individual
/ Industry. The legislature have an acknow-
lodged aud indubiiable right to couiroul the
salaries Gifts officers, except in cases where
It Is itself confronted by the superior autho-
| rlty of the Constitution. To proportion
THEM to the nature and difficulty OF the SER
wees Tor which they are intended MS an C.
| quNalent, and 10 the existing rates OF labor
~ the country, whilst il is their constitute
ohal right, IL equally duty they owe their
constituents. There is no sort of Justice in
taxing Tie people Unfortunately, that one or
Nv" men n every county may be enabled
To grow rich aud this, whilst il Is gricy-
tnre 10 b pubic, is desi fuc,iOn to that
"qualit} which ought TO suhsist among Cit
zens % the same commonwealth. For the
last three or four Years, TINS State, in com
mon with the rest oftir huiun, mas be en-
sreanhS under pecm.arF difficulties, as
heavy aud oppressive. as tsty were sud-
den and unforeseen. Every class Of socie-
" has experienced thtir pressure, and eve-
! article of export or consumption, felt
II INJURIOUS iatlpelce, iiegehents have
saddealy found tn Misty sinsol,ed in ruin
ei rrS9rcablt dIiicnlties. Mechanics have
zee thrown out of employment, and the
r.aefs have been cOa,r5t 20 make both
ends meet An unprecedented number OF
t Gums hive been compelled % seek par
hd Ielel, ~ The oath OF insolvency-anil
necessity bias driven an unusual tide of en-
ataais.s9 the west. Iiisat such time as
LIS, WIN nc umulatcd misfortune has
''lhrd lge s.' IN mourning. and hume
rs 'am''es accustomed To ailthe comforts
"'-d elrsanoles which wealth could bcstow,
are forced t" live on the precarious fruits