The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-08-22

knowledge no authority hut that OF the
people, who will submit to no dict;dion
but theirs, il is equally incumbent on the
people ofNirginia, 10 resist the attempt fthe
next legislature, which will undoubtedly be
made, to force Dir. Crawford down our
threats, and to vindicate their right to
choose tor themselves. DRUSUS,
o. The following communication is on
matter in which the public is concerned,
inasmueh as the pure administration Of the
laws is an object Of importance to every
man in the community. We therefore give
it place, processing to know nothing of
The circumstances, or Of tho persons impli-
Gated -
THE FEW AGAINST TIE MANY. f.
BuckINGHAM, August 10, 1928.
On Wednesday the 18th instant, a scene
took place in our corrt house, watch no
friend 10 TIE laws can wish to sec acted
over again. 1t was passion aud prejudice
arrayed triumphanty against truth and
reason. The matter Of dispute was the
appointment Of a second constable for the
ul1lfl ulsilltl I'll lit tbuui1 WI III IotIt
Il subject of importance, bat rendered 80
by the obvious reflection, that If the laws.
Of the land and the rig hts OF the citizen be
violated Ill one instance with impuDlty,
there's good reason 10 fear they will be
violated in may. Al the iastJunr court,
one constable WAS appolnicd to each district.
There were many competitors 80 many,
indeed, and SO animated, that the race for
the. constablcshlp was almost as amusing as
the presidential race So happily imagined
by the Tenncsscran humorist. But the
result was diilcrent--ihe prize in this
instance having been won by horse whose
d,minut:@e feeble form seemed to augur
thn he would he left far in the rear
Perhaps the victory MAS owing III good
measure 10 the skill Of his rider. Butt TO
lay aside the horse nIetaphor) the Eek. con
stable, Hix, appears to have been much
mortified At the Issue Of the contest, and
seems, To hase resolved since he could not
euter the fold through the gate, to leap over
the Nall. lie therefore moved the court
10 appoint another constable. This court,
! upon dellberation, decided there should be
bat one constable TO "a distiict-and almost
unanimously osefWled the motion. No
way dlsheartensd, 1e..eomcs TO August
term, and renewed aalon, Selling tue
auspleious m0ml There was ii bare
court, aud 6f that his warm
Supporters IN the great contest have Just
Kpol'en OF. They decided three against
one, that there should be another constable,
aud that liiX should be the man. The
motion vas ably opp0scd-it was demon
strated that they had no power TO appoint
! him, and that il would be unwisc to exer-
clse seeh power i they had it. This is the
law upon which they proceeded -" The
several county conris within this common
Wealth, shall from time 10 time, Whtn then
appoint coaStdbles, lay off tier respective
counties into ST many districts as they may
deem convenient, and assign one or more
i constahles 10 each,n What time is meant
by the words " when they appoint consta-
bles2" Undoubtedly they mean "benuially
III Tie month of Jhne,' when the magis-
ffates OF the county are convened for this
aud other purposes. This, then, is the
tms, and this the court, marked out by the
law But does the law quoted, give this
power to four lustices-to three in fact-at
different time fromthat specified in the
ac,--withontany kind necessity ailedged
or proved-and that, too, in opposition to
ithepublie ldi, expressly declared by a ma
Jorlty of the Justices OF the county? Shall
three justices undertake to say, there shall
BE- two constablcs, when the only tribunal
competent 10 the appointment Of such off
Gers, has declared there shall be hat one
VIII amy man say this is right ; But it APP
pears that Il precedent was given in an
adjoining county, within few wears past.
winch IT seems uor sagps are determined
relslously To observe. Pity it is, that in
Their rage ierprecedent and Xix, they had
not paused IA moment to reflect on that
little thing 80 rarely remembered il These
days oil moral light mean their oath of
Office. But III then haste and zeal, men
deceive themselves
And to my mind it is equally clear they
ought not To have appointed him if thew
had The right. K WAS not even osserted
much less proved, tlut one couM not do
the buslness-and without sufficient e,i-
uehee oi tills, II was was wrong to appoint
another. The jurisdiction of our Justices
was wisely aud beneyoltnt!y. created for
The purpose of bringing justice home to
every mans door. No one can he!p uer
ceirn6 its tendency to pfeveHt EXPENSE.
delay and trouble. But its benefits cannot
be attained unless the officer of the magis
tate IS man Of integrity and activity
How are such officers to be procured II
answer there Is but one way-mGke the Of
ice resPeetatts, by making 1t prQfiaMe.-
Aud here, with Difference, would ASA the
worthy patrons ofthe rcdoubted Hix Whose
bottom Is now beyond question, whatever
silly jokes may have been thrown out con
t,ernns his speed if this were likely to be
done by dividing tie profits between two,
winch are barely sufficient to attract thr
ngt'ee Of one man of character ? wouId
ask them further, if this is a proper time to
multiply Shayers and spcculatoYe Eon