Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-17

mode
pointIient being adopted shall bring into the office
the best citizens of the different counties: and
should be unwilling to adopt any mode of appointment
which would not render Justices of the peace resuec
taoie when appointed, and which would not induce
the best qualified and most respectable citizens to ac
cept the office.
While admit that the present mode of appoint-
ing County Court Magistrates is objectionable in
theery; am unwilling TO join in the hue AMI
cry which some persons disposed to raise A.
gainst the<o,inty courts Although have no doubt
but that one hundred us well qualified for the of
nee as the Justices OF the teaee i'll commission
could be ioune' N Accomacs yet I do not believe
That better Justices will be oetained by different
mode OF appointment, 10 believe that the pnbLc
business viii DC better done than l. has heretofore
been done with leas expense To the peopIe or in
iisct with SO little esense But let not be under
stood that mean to express unqualified approba.
son " al the acts of the county court Magistrates
[coleetiveyor individually. Like any other human
tribunal they have azred iiuI intend Is, to eX-
press my confidence in the integrity and respectable
ty OF the Justices generally and my appreciation of
their general, faithful and puuctual performance Of
their duties.
But if no better Magistrates may be obtained BY a
auefent mode OF appointment, yet j as good .Aidsis
tsutes be obt aimed by appointments de in more,
republican manner it viii DC accomplishing an irnpor-
tant change and one which will meet with my cord
al corporation. If change should be made in the
mode OF appointing and compromising Justices of the
Peace, a change in the mode Of appointing Sheriffs
would no doubt follow, and in suGl case think
that the appointment might safely be made by the
people, and see no objection to the appointment Of
constables in the saine manner.
think that every court should appoint its own
Clerks, Attorney for the Commonwealth and Com
missioner IN Chanccry. The Courh seem to me to
be the best Judges OF the qualifications necessary for
these different Offices andth practice of almost eve
ry state In the Union corresponds with the idea 10
gave 10 The people the appointment Of every officer of
the Commonwealth, Military, Executive Judicial
and Legislative, and the officers of Courts too would
be TO require almost their whole time in attending
Elections and in previously discussing the pretensions
OF the candidates.
Some dare say may suppose that my opinions
nave been In some degree affected Ivy my appointment
as clerk, but they are greatly mistaken. If know
my own leact, would agree TO every change of the
constitution nov, that would have agreed TO before
was clerk, and to no other. Ii gratitude to bene-
factors were to influence my opinions to whom ought
to feel most udebted-to the people at larpe or to
the county court? Certainly to the people ut large.
l respect the gentlemen who now fill the Office of
Justices OF the Peace highly the same number
OF any other persons IN the county, but more In
Decd almost (or perhaps quite halfof the Justices of
tins county would he willing to the mode of ap-
pointing justices, changed fa less Objectionable
can he adopted, and dare say the greater part of
them Ii favour Of extending the fght of suffrage
| ! have thus given you fair and candid exposition
OF my views and opinions different SUBJECTS of i'm
.portance which probably would como before Con-
Venton to revise the Constitution Of the State. II
with this exposition of my opinions the Delegates
should think proper to nominate aidate TO
theT FELLOW citiacI.s sal Sl pIa,i the distnc-
ton conferred upon me, and VII render, if elected
the best services my limited abitis VIII enable me-
But If the Delegates should hezaJte another who's.
political opinions may be more tcordant with their
| own, whom they may thinf better qualified to
serve the public, will cleerfulk submit to their de-
csion, and shall console myself with the reflection
that they could not nominate oe more ardcntly dis
posed to subserVe the best interests of the state with
cut regard to his persona and particular inter
est.
In your letter you saw that tyou hope You will see
me at Bel! Haven the day OF th meeting of the Dele
gates. 1t appears TO that Is have no other bu-
there, it would be indecate AMI improper in me to 90
there on that day, since au informed that am
thought Of for nomination ~ a candidate. The
delegates have been appointed from the conf
dence reposed Ill their integrity and good sense
to select the persons whoru they shall consider
best qualified and most faithful to promote the
public interest. This the Delegates will no doubt
do III private conference amongst themselves, with
out being influenced by any person. If were to at
tend at Bell Haven, know Icould not influence the
Delegates if would, and Sduld not if I could
Some of the delegates have known me from nv
boyhood and others have known me from their boy
hood. My character man. is as well known 10
the Eastern Shore Delegates as the character OF any
man IN either county, and my qualifications, such as
they may be, are equally well known. All that the
Delegates, therefore, can wish to tnow are my poi
cal opinions on the subjects lkeyto come before the
Convention, and have thus giyei them fairly and
canddly, without changing them in one single in
stance, with view to procure APPROXIMATION, and
have no doubt the Deiegates wiI act as they may
think the public interest requires.
The proceeding ofthe Delegates viii excite great
deal of interest, and hope they will be able to
upon such nomination Of candidates as viii be ac-
ceptable to the people of Acconack and will secure
general vote of the county without which it is per-
tectly certain, that Accomack will have no delegate
in Convention.
Respectfully, your most obedient
THO. r, JOYNES.
Major OLIVER LOGAN.
From tie Rhode Island .qmsricdn