Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-01-16

over zoe LEGISLATURE 10 take care that unconstt-
ona lay shall be exercised If the Legislature should
pass such law This provision as essential 10 the
safety of the people any barrier they have erected
against tyranny or corruption. For this purpose il ia
taf the constitution that the udes shall hold
their Office during good behaviour and shall have fixed
salaries Can the Legislature them by one act legs--
late the whole OF The Judges Of the General Court az
well as the Judges in chsucey Of office nj oace Ii
they then the government OF Virginia is govern.
ment without any check balance, and the Heeisia.
ture is Ompipotent Who 10 Virginia believes that he,
has been living under such government as tbsa
Few ill undertake TO say. But it is not so The
independence OF the Judiciary matter for debate
or argument; it is plainly written in the cops,i,uoT
that he who runs may read. To pass the la;ynow be-
fore the Legislature, would be doing the same in min
cip!e which was done in Kentucky when the lerisia-
tnre there BY act Put out attempted to put out
OF existence their Court Of Appeals, and to restore it
again by another with a new set OF plant ud.
ges, which has used that state for some wears
AID caused great evil, which difficult 10 repair IL
VIII lie OF no avail 10 say that the Legislature of Vir-
yinia are actuaed b. better motives (which will AID.
m't)-,hat a. ey intend to re-eiect the same Judges
The principle, IS the lfthey have power TO do
this when they re>elect the irI,,es they have
power TO pass similar law when they do moi intepJ
TO re- elect them. The jiccedent will be set that tho
Leg stature destroy the judiciary when tley please
Should the ia ,es then dare to thwa.t the unconsri,
tufonai projects OF the Legislature. they will know
he,rdootn they can bn prt cut of Office under one iaw
10 day. and and acconn,nods ting set an
pointed under ano'hcr law Tomorrow. Second: as To
the expediency by the contemplated scheme, tla
average nearly eleven counties to a c,cnit Tho
common law business IN these courts now il may he
safely estimated, requires about a week in each
county at every term; that some reou; r,n, NOR,
than week and some less; in fact in some Of tic
counties II requires than weeks as il now
rs to TO the business each term. When the clnncerv
| hasnoss is added, ii nigh, be presumed that il will
tien TeqiHe Two weeks upon average Cor each
term They WHO know how vouminoas the pa
Pers in charcery cause usually are esch ONE
Sf which TIE ,dges well the counsel ui.t
hnt 4 Triad sr a..
trial, knows that il takes ranch more time TO dis
| p'se of such causes than 10 dispose of the sau,e
n,mter OF suils at common law. Travelling chan
OF ors who must be continually engaged capnet have
time tn peruse the papers, which may generally do
require more r~in reading 10 become sufficiently
qmainted with the contents. BIZ" all events, on saf.
estimate, it will require less ha thirty three weeks in
the year IN eacn cc" upon an average, to Ito the bs
ness in each: this would be allowing week and n hale
average, fer travelling county and doing the
business III 1t at each term I" this may be added three
weeks i'll the fall and three weeks the spring. travel
ling nd from the General Court apd doing the business
therein This would R'ake thirty niue weeks in
the year, which the Judges thus entireiy enaa-
sed; leaving them but twelve for attend-
ing their domestic es.ng a I'D nproyne
their law knowledge, TO keep make them competent
for the aud prompt discharge of the duties their
Office; for that Judge may be thus qualified he
relinQush the reading and study Of the law This system
then is inpraccable. But for mo,e expedition in the
despatch of business, rather divide the
Judges to shorten their tours the bill provides that
one Judge may hold one count, and another the
time hold another in the circuIr. This would
only retain much of the evil Of the single Judge sys
TEN. no lawyer then could practice in any bu, ONE
court in circuit; because while he attending one the
other in which he before the passage of that law praced
would be sitting also. II is admitted that Circr.
Court system needs amcneni wherefore resort to so
objectionable and dangerous mode? Why increase
the number of the General Court Judges, give two
10 circuit which would remedy all evils which now
exist? But the objection this is the additional expense
4 il would create. There in which the
saving o! money may he of consequence than tie
most cul.able extravaganza; and have doubt this
withhold of
necessary correct administration Of Justice a Sata
atuu has pa alle i'm the miser denying himself the
onh and rament sustain life. 1t cannot he
admitted, that the State of Virginia afford the
sam for this pnrposea purpose essential to
her existence. that the people of Virginia would NOS
cheeruliy give a. Bat if the Legislature would shorten
their sessions and much of the public mo-
has been consumed IA that way !o s,veIa sessions
past, the public funds would be far umbesed
leave much 'han scicncy of The revenue that
purpose without imposing burden upon people,
1t pcpued scheme in n to add
the salaries of all the Circuit judges That adj
iiion would far pay the salaries OF the additional
Judges of the General Count which would necessary ,
put tive circuit without disturbing lie present
Chancery Courts. True it would be necessary make
tho circuits smaller and OF make more %. then,
than is proposed by lie present BILL to enable the Judges
&c do The business. ia" the addsonal expsnce would be
item of importance, in conps object.
But may be said thai the Chaucery Courts unpopular.
From particular circumstances they may he so in some
part Of the State, bot the writer has ~ sa ing
ihat il is by general sentiment. has beer
proved by practice, well by theory common
!
Jadges; and any further attempt unite will only
give further proof that it be done any good phr-
pcse. These consider lions respectfully submitted by
ao has no interest whatever in any particular n,odi-
fcatiop Of those different from his fellow citizens in
general. 4 CITIZEN.
! Hen.i,Sr,c county
For THE RICHMOND WEIe
| Tiongh but few attempts have been made in Eic,
oad and lis glhoihooJ 10 nanufacture--ye il is
gratifying 10 the pride and cheering TO the hopes Of her
citizens, that such manufactures have been afiemr
ted and pcisevered in have rqualled if escelled
/ those of the whole Union The perfect cotton
! factory in the Union (IIaywood'z, in Poyvhaianl is
within rs miles OF Richmo.1 The yarns from this
factory command 70 per cent tan any other
yarns brought 10 this market. The Richmond manu-.
faccred Tobacco, and her Iron manufactures stand