Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-23
FOR THE G AZETTE.
To the People Of A!erandrio County

| | come 10 SeCOnQ inquiry pTOposSh,the
TYill there not be additional burthens as
consequence of the recession, 10 which
The people must submit, and will they be
overbalanced by any privileges or rights
in the power of the state of Virginia to
| bestow on US.
AT this time the people of the country,
part of the Alexandria county, pay no O.
| Their taxes than such asare necessary to sup
| port the poor in their section of the coun-
| ty. and to repair roads. 1t is we'll known
! that the leyes are but small and are almost
next to paying no taxes. As TO that part
| Of the county which is formed of the town
the people pay only the taxes OF the
corporation all of which is land out Tor
their own immediate benefit, by lmprov'
ing their own property, and promoting
their own comfort, and tor the support OF
the poor. If we wish any law passed
which we may deem advantageous to our
town. by presenting petition to congress,
the subject is taken up by that body-re
ferred TO standing committee whose ex.
elusive duty it is to attend 70 the affairs of
the District of Columbia-betore this COM
! mittee any citizen who will take the trou-
bic of attending is permitted to appear
and express his opinions and views. In
| addition to this. any person who considers
himself interested in any law proposed to
| be passed concerning the District, may
have personal access to any member OF
Congress and state to him his views on the
same. By this means, the real wishes and
wants of the people are better known and
| more respectfully attended TO by Congress
than they would or could be by a legisla-
| ture almost two hundred miles from US
| e NAV and no doubt will be said that il
| we formed part of Virginia, we may have
one or two delegates in the legislature. -
| If they should happen to be gentlemen De
RI popular with the Legislature they would
perhaps be able in some measure to effect
our wishes. II on the contrary they should
not be more than ordinarily popular with
the legislature, theyl would be able
| 10 do very little more than to give their
votes in favour of what we wish adopt.
ed. By going back to Virginia we loose
| not only the opportunity OF attending IN
! person to what concerns us-but with II
that influence with the legislature which
personal acquaintance with the member;
very properly produces-lt the county OF
Alexandra is receded TO Virginia we run
the risk of being made part OF The coun
~ of Fairfax and of course subjected to
extreme inconvenience by having the seat
of Justice removc,' out of the TOWN.
| But suppose Virginia makes Alexandria a
separate county, what will be our situation
then as TO our Judicial system-By The
constitution of Virginia we must have a
county court, an evil We in the year eigh-
teen hundred sought most anxlously 70 get
rid of-The county court system in Flr-
siaia is one that all the intelligent men OF
| that state are solictus to put down, but
! cauno, without an alteration of the state
| constitution. The evil of having county
courts such as they exist in Vlrginia-is
so serious an one, that no pe-scn among US
| who has had any experience OF them would
wish the system established in Alexandra
! again
Blu, it will be said Alexandra will be
| made separate county by the General
| Assembly of Virginia. There is consider
able doubt of this; II is we'll known that
the members OF the Assembly from the
| west side OF the Blue Ridge have been
! uaiiormly opposed to increasing the coun-
tics IN the east side OF the Mountain
They consider that the eastern part OF the
state has already too muchlin IN lhe
legislature. They would, therefore be We
ry apt to oppose giving this side OF the
mountain another county, and consequent
w two more members in The house OF de-
Iegates. 1t Alexandra is made county
of il is alledged by some mat superior
court OF law will be established mere 10
h. held by gentleman OF legal know ledge
u adm;t that the superior courts OF law
in Virginia, which exist IN each county, IS
sone relief to the misery OF the county
conr,s It will be recollected that the Ju-
r;sdiction Of the superior courts is limited
90 MOO. For all sums under that, suits
mpst he brought in the county courts, in all
sums under D33 33 cents, the county
courts have conclusive jurisdiction. In
such cases there is no appeal, an appeal
can he taken to the superior court, in no
case under one hundred dollars, except by
writ of supercedess, and that only in
the discretion of the Judge OF the superior
court If party is dissatisfied with the
decision of the superior court, where the
claim amounts to DloO, he may appeal
to the cour: of appeals which holds IFS
session in Richmond.
As to the chancery suits. they must be
brought in the county court or the superior
court of chancery, that which would have
Jurisdiction over Alexandra would hold ITS
session in Fredericksburg IF any appeal
i. taken from the county chancely court,
il would be to the court in Fredericksburg.
The legislature Of Virginia would not ere,
.ta new court merely for Alexandra and
Fairfax.