Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-14

Again, II 10 urged thet sound policy persuades to
respect the habtude, aud the very eudices of PEG.
Pile. Admit IL; 10 not this appeal reierae the LsgisS
laive body rather than TO the convention Gentle raen
state are ., wedd.% to these Tribunals. N o. hsS
were where Is the danger Of their abolto Do not
The zeal aud perth, getty with which gentlemen refuse
TO trust public opinion, clearly show their dd-nce Of
that attachment Of the people TO these courts! So much
are the arguments andthe course OF gentlemen at
with each other believe II 10 true that in the lower
country. where gentlemen many slaves and have
ample eisure and where there is lees enterprise and
los. business, these tribunals well, and may be
we'll approved. Not 50 In the upper country generally
There the equal division Of property the necessity that
men are under to attend to their own affairs with many
other circumstances, make these courts perfect
incubus. Their delays in the county OF Loudoun
oppressive in the extreme; and their sxpences vastly
greater than those Of the Superior Courts-T have,
said Mr.. H., repeatedly and almost hsbitnay, advised
my clients who lived any where except In the imme-
diate neghbourhood Of the Court-horse, rather 10
abandon small disputed claims. than put them Ia .uit.
have often known the in such cases, without in
GLIDING extraordinary expenses or loss o: time,
coed The sui ec Of Claim; and witnesses TO attend,
the courts, at such oss OF time and money, that il
wsuld have been better for them, far better, to have
paid the claims themselves. Such cheap tri-
bunathe dearest, for the subjects OF litigation, in the
world
The gentleman from Orange has commend.i these
courts and has informed us that he 10 practitioner in
them OF quarter OF century standing And am i,
Mr.. Chairman, God help me. or disposition
chursh less grateful than that of the gsntlcman,
cannot unite in his praises The gentleman is in
dustrions by Jay he rode, and compelled to-
trim the midnight lamp, in order to acquire
tent knowledge Of the principles of his vocation
hope. like that ssiimabe gentleman. am not indolcnt
or idle. Bhold the result Of the action Of these
upon We hear illustrous gentleman, the coll
Iesge of the gentleman from :ange, and my honored~
colleague, termed venerable. fear, Mr. Chairman.
If grey hairs and faces coulI confer the title,
should have two venerable gentlemen from Orange
and Loudoun, for truly in those particulars fear
may horse with respected colleagues. Sir, caa
not thus deem ofthese tribunals The gentleman from
Orange seems TO think that these county courts add
mrabe machines Tor the diffusion Of political incrna-
ton. In my humble opinion, they better caIcu-
lated, much better for the diffusion Of intemperauce
amongst the people. A courthouse in tavern is a
poor political lecture And cannot but believe
this idea, which have heard advanced before, to be
your people, and they will become politicians fast
enough, wi bout giving the trou bile TO make courts
to render them The true interest Of individuals,
well a'of The community is o interrupt the people as lit
tie possible in their pursuits Of industry and their
domestic quiet and purity. Frequent assemblages. in
large numbers, with little business Iea to drunken
and vice. Such is the result Of my observation.
believe it is correct as to all classes Of men.
But, Sir. there Is another evil incident TO these
10 impdrt that ignorance to the benches IF the Supe-
rior Courts This is obvious to superficial observer:
and it ,i !. great public calamity Look a. the matter
! come advocate in such court What motive is
there to study. in order TO practise successfully in
them! Is not the capacity to ride far and FAST bear
the ncemences OF the weather, imp ,riant than
learning Is not assurance more valuable than mature
judgment IL it not the tendency Of such courts
appreciabIs treasure. Who will expect to find one
under such discipline from such a bar! What is
your situation what 20 prospects, Are you to End
all your Judges in Cities, or to h your benches
with lack learning Lawyers
To my a.toni.hnent, gentlemen exto these courts
peculiarly suited to the interests Of orphans IL is
there sir, the Justices are, in general worthy men;
and feel such men do, for the fa,heress Notwh-
standing this such is In ir ignorance Of the science of
y, and ouch their necessary devotion TO their
affairs that, in the region Of country where live, if
you suppose subject too small for the cOgnizance of
the Superior Court OF Chancerv the orphan is efec
tuay at the mercy OF a'roii and unprihciped hdu
eiary character is the bleeding lamb at that of the
wolf which is devouriGg hm,-Here Mr. III. stated
facts within his own knowledge as illustrative Of the
superiority Of the orphan system OF Maryland, and COM
m sned upon ficfs stated by MIR. Leigh.-Mr II. adj
duced other examples Of the utter incompstency of
these courts, derived from COUNTIES with whose BUSH
ness he acqu .inted but not his own These incl
dents Of udricrous character, AMI we're avowed
to be Offset anecdotes Of siular cast related by
Mr. Leigh which went to bring into disrepute tribu-
malls in Maryland and enn.yIvsna which Mr.. II.
tended, were much superior to our county courts.
Mr. RI declared that he n I'd magistrates, not in
The county efhis residence, in state OF ebety the
bench; that such specaces were disgrscefuI and
marked that, fhe had not been misinormed in of
the counties OF the owland, 80 much praised by the
gentleman a recent occurrence had taken place not
very credi,abe These facts painful in the allu-
sion to them, reflection upon them; but, when an in
erestng subject to be acted on. the truth should
he revealed We have been repeatedly told, said Mr.
H., that we great and happy people, and that
these cours contributed much to the production of
these fecitous IL dIHicuit 10 conceive how
such should lead to such consequences For
greatness will not debate il. Others may possibly be
garded as better judges Of it, At any rate
we'll to leave them 10 proclaim u. But we ex-
| ceedingly happy. Happiness, continued Mr. H., is
difficult matter OF investigation should, however,
suppose, take them aggregaeiy, the people have the
honor 10 represent in part somewhat happy
than those Of lower Virginia But, Mr. Chairman, did
you ever, in sckly country, ask pae-iaced, feeble
man or woman, If Il was unhealthy in the neighbour
hood OF his residence? Was not the answer ooh no.
hereabout. but in the Deighbourhood be-
low they very sicky nleed, and several have died
lately! Did yeu, in town in who'e streets tile grass
that grew up, was little disturbed, ask u commerce.
not declining! Was not the answer, mo truly, we,
were never doing better there IL not house in town
for renti"-Mr. Chairman. will not dispute our great
ness IL were invdious TO do so. And will leave
nv one TO Judge of his happiness, with sincere
desire that il NAV please God TO make us all happy
| What Cicero predicated OF immortality may he said
with equal truth, on this subject, ''f be dream IL Is
| . sweet one" However these points may be deter
mined may, without mourning the imputaton Of e.
mery assert that county courts have never rem
Idered u, either great or happy.
| The gentleman asked what meant TO spare IN our
sweep Of reform! Let him tell me what he means 10
OF the abuses under whose united pressure
we groanngl avn, myself, disposed 10 spare alt
that 10 right, and TO sweep all that's wrong.
LII not to he inferred Mr.. Chairman by the course
Of my argument that feel the smallest dissespect for
the gentlemen in the com mission OF the psace especial
Nv In the county of nv fssidence those who 20 inter-
pret nv remarks, will do wrong. speak against
In, tribunals Although suitable, half century since,
pronouncs Them at this days and IN the part OF the