The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-04-03

b a mid and temperate use of hts authority IA
| by stern exercise OF bis power
Who would believe il necessary that the venei.
able chief Justice nfthe L. States should smuih-
er thai frankness Of manner whieh throws
charm around hts character and exhibits true
dignity IN simplicity q thathe sGopld wear in It's
place tine deceiifih and ohsrquoits smiles of
demae cg,r, in order to hold the confidence Of
the public Such Judge would have nothing
10 fear, even though he had to appear before The
tribunal Of public opinion IN each yeur. The
public services OF such men would not be ost by
making the Judges eligible every five or seven
wears, or by giving the legislature the pow
er Of removing them without having re-
rourSe TO bill of Impeachment hut some
individuals who hold The rrins Of justice 10
this STATE, but who neither possess nor
strive 10 acquire a proper knowledge OF H.
pr'nsIples. who got int office by accident, aud
remain there against the amo,t unanimous wish.
e. OF the public such Judges as these we should
and ought TO he able 10 get rid Of Wiihnut rely-
ing upon remedy which has hitherto proved
no remedy Al al
The County Court system might. with samr
alteration. be rendered Il highly valuable nstitu-
ton, but n present, il exhibits many strange d.
tects. As courts Of police aud probate o. w. hey
might be usetul--but 70 constitute men, WIN are
elecedol times without regard T. their under.
standing e whowere never intruded ~ pducnuou
for her .-ficrs tribunal Tor tht Interpretation
Of laws winch require the most untlring appliea-
tion . became aquainted witt nnd the most as
tute minds To encompass aud explain tnsabnfit
the derisian of suits involvin the most recon
dte and intricate principles of law 90 men,
whose ideas, IA most instsnceS, have never tang
Ell beyond the subject ofthrir own farms IS Ia.
deed "A bu que IN courts Of iusiice. Honest
a. may be the intentions of these mag s'IafeS II
Is contrary 10 the natrre OF things TINT they can
be qualified for all the duties ofiheif present Of
fees illegal controversies are T. BE- decided
by PLAIN man sense of right 4 wrong, LEI the
county courts retain their prrScur lurstIct on, 4
under the same rule, let us max their decisiunS
final But If some oithe fixed aud abstruse doc
trines of inm are sill e. be- referred aud ndhe.-
rd 10 as precedcnis for the guidance Of courts.
let our courts be composed of men acquainted
with legal principles, aud whose decisions will
not he a cross and pile business. There has II.
ways seemed % me contradiction IN cntrusting
the decision Of aw-ponits TO men whose only
guide /, common srnSc, aud then own ideas of
justice, aud YET IN giving supervising power
over these decisions - tribunals of iurisis, who
vii not always for. axe technical ncetieS aud II.
olatc we'll established prccedruts, he county
court system among Other evils is calculated to
produce delay Of Justice. for Whenever the
court is appealed IA. To settle The lar OF the case
At bar there is such little confidence In their de-
Cgipn that, IN ulpe eases out of ten II Is rppea-
cd from Ia n higher tribunal. II Is contrnded,
however, That fever Of the judlmen Of the
county courts haVe been reversed by the Court
Of Appeals than those OF the Superior Courts,
aud consequently that the County courts ARE
composed of ADLER Judges than the Superior
Court. This, however, Is a mos falldCions AZ.
eutoeut, for even snppo7lng this 10 be the fact
with those decisions which are carried before
the High Court Of Appeals II IS ~ means IS.
tablishe, the fact that all majority Of those
causes which are submitted to the dec SION
beth the county and superior courts are adj.
judged more correctly by the former than
the latter tribunal 4 iatgcr number of
the Judgments Of the county ronr q, waicn
are tatrn up 70 the Superior cour : and
there reversed, are never carried any farther
and thry are not, the fair inference, is thai
the Superior courts decldes cor, ely In nus r..
vPtSlos their ugmeuts. BuI u there we've no ptaei
OH actone tofhe county ,onri.. should see =
sufficient IN the entire abscnce of thHt ieni-
" AMI sell respect, which onght 50 particularly
10 be observed hy those who are sitting TO de
eide on the most important rights OF ndVidu-
ais.
ineed not sav much on TINT feature Of our
Constitution whloh has very witty aud aplly
T.
10 waggon-~that Is, The Erecuiire Council
There Is sea cey an individual IN the cornnun,-
~ who will not admit tn 1 eight Thousand dol
lars are annually thrown aW Won fcers Of gov
ernmept whose duties might be very properly
given 10 the treasurer the dtor, the register
and the attorney general Whenever the Cover
nor mig HI require thu aid and advice OLA coun-
ell.
The mode Of eecirng sheilfis aud clerks must
be admitted 10 be op,n TO much corruption.
There are no two offices under the government,
IN which thu whole body ofthe pc pie Is more
directly Interested than m that, aud yet III
power of choosing them is limited 10 few midi
viduals whose selection in the one ca.e is mnde
nom among Themselves, and who IN the other
are enabled 10y family combination, to hus.
raie the wishes Of The public, aud 10 vet an IL.
dVldua wholly uuqua flied f1r the oilire.
Let me. IN the last place, fellow calzcns, cRll
You attention 10 The inequality Qf representation
IN this State. This is an evil which IS alo avs
strongly tell. It's entirely al war with that great
principle Of "taxaiion add representation for
which the American Revolution was common
ced, and IN practice is becomine ruinous 10 the
most fertile pa-t of our State. That section OF
Virginia which has by nature, navigabc streams
and fine Dads for the transporta ION OF its pro-
dnce, Is divided into numerous small counties.
tdL" VI NhItI mas ds ulduN q ltSdtfs ~ tlle Hipe
popUlous county W the State, and who can and
do efectnaly oppose every proposition for IN.
terna Improvement, by which the rleh prod fets
OF the Western counties might have an access to
market.
Can IT be possible that the upper country Will
submit longer to these evils, when an upporfn-
nifty is offered to them of enjoying thcir just
rights! VIII they refuse 10 90 forward man by
man TO the polls and vote for a measure which,
they are appealed to- by their desrss interests
and warned by the ruin which is suspended o.
yer their heads TO support VIII they accept
the offer OF THEN Jus; privileges now whcu they
can b. calmly and firmly secured will they
in the language of DIR. Johnson, wait Till the a
bnse becomes enormous, aud, for nature u rlso
up, and claiming her original rights, oyertmn a
corrupt political system CARTWRIGHT.
SPLENDID SCHEME.