Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-04-14

IL legitimate fruits Ol a system WHICH
- n body Of men the power Of per
sso,ootng themselves, regardless of the
NH of the people.--The citizens Of any
county in this Commonwealth, could as
o,sily remove the Governor Of Georgia, OF
Tho King OF England from his Office, as to
remove single magistrate from his bench
He is not of their creation and cOnse-
ouently not responsible to thom.
To say that men are too honorable and
biob minded thus TO act, is to say, that
government IS useless. For ifgovernment
and law do not proceed upon the PresumP'
ton that men are corrupt. what need Is
there for government or lawl The law IS
not made for q righteous man; and if the
object of government be not toprevent az
grpss,on, oppression g. injustice 1t has no
object al all. No system Of government
could be desired in any country, probes
sing republican doctrines, more incomPa.-
ible with republican principles, and mon
necessarily teadIg to injustice and Of
preston, than the present county cou'i
government of Virginia.
To paw the magistrates for their serv-
ces Is deemed o5jecuonablei ifso, It Is
more Objectionable 20 pay them ~ o way
which does necessarily tend TO tho accu-
mq ton of litigation and distress.
Nav not one, two, or three magistrates
loreseel1g the time approaching when they
are TO descend from the bench and to be-
come lie ministers Of justice, provide for
themselves a rich harvest when the Sher-
fFl,v comes into their hands? Aad have
not Instances of this sort repeatedly occur
redo How has tho docket at one time ac-
cumUlated, and at other times diminished
on lhe approach of certain terms! Is not
Tins 10 be explained by the cuP.diy and
merriless ayariCe Of some new incumbent
How much more coasonant TO the speedy
and regular despatch Of business would n
be 10 pay the magistrates direct for their
services. and to render them, as they ought
10 be during their maglstracy, Ineligible
10 q scat in either House Of tho Legsla-
ture.
Again. with what regard to The reason
and nature Of things, with what regard to
. he best interests of any community, can
persons be appointed from the ordinary
avocations of life, judges Of lac, without
any previous study or training! Arc we
i1 think thltthe mere investment ota per
con with the office ola magistrate without
having read. perhaps, a single volume oil
law. can qualify him, as ifby inspiration,
TO become a Judge of lawl And when we
think that the magistrates are made Judges
0r law and evidence on questions of fact
and law, involving the life Of some, and
tbe property, liberty Hnd reputation Of 9TH
ors, and, perhaps, M one month after re-
ceiving q commission TO sit as Judges up
on some of the most complicated causes,
involving the dearest interests Of the COM
munitv, in what jeopardy does this system
place our properly, our liberty, and repSta-
ton I'M socioty}-Upon what principle IN
human nature, and upon what principle ID
jurisprudence is It that a lawyer mustbe
examined and licensed before he appears
at the bar. and that no regard IS TO be pad
to the qualifications of a magistrate betoe
he mounts the bench.
I do not think It necessary TO call your
attention, fellow citizens, TO the complains
which yen are every day making about the
delays orjustice, and the haPhazzard chan.
cos YOU have 70 obtain any redress o.
grievances. inmany instances, IN our cour-
~ courts. I need not remind you OF your
own experience, I need not repeat TO- you
the complaints yourselves have so Often
made Il IS only necessary TO inform yol
that 10 voting for the Amended Cousutu-
lion YOU perpctulte this system aud mr.
pose It on yourselves and your postoriiy.-
If YOU vote for Il, complain no more thft
every lawyer has his own court, hIs own
private magistrate, that your antagonist has
often ms own Jury, aud that your chances
for Justice are as one TO ten. Complain
not against the operation of system which
YOU put upon yourselves.
Your brethren 90 the East may not feel
these lnrouveuieuces from the system, but
you have Ielt them. and Will feel them a.
gain. No government, county or state
government can be healthy and salutory
WHICH Is not ameuable 10 the peop.e-whlch
does notrecelye It's power from the people
and resign It INTO their hands al proper pc.
RODS But your masters think that the
fewer elections AID the more seldom YOU
exercise the right of suffrage the better tor
you, aud the better for them. Nothing IS
so much feared as frequent elections, and
an elective magi~trUcy Is becoming very
unpopular in Virginia. A House Of Com
/ mons Is merely tolerable; but TO have a gov
|ernor, or magistrates elected directly BY
I The people is held 20 be downright .J7c0bi7