Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-28

| DHs Pdssed.-i. RespcctnG IN act cilanpino thu
place OF holding separate election in the county, n,
HARRISON Incorporating the Norfolk Aqueduct
| Company.
The resolution OF the Cnmm tee of Court. NJ Ius
ticc ito whom resolution Tia. subject cd
by Mr. Knox, REFERRED DECLARING II exnedion, m
chang' In" tenure by which Clerks Of County Courts
hoia their Offices from life. a term of veara-.nd
GIVING the Courts power within that term tn remuvc
them generally. having been read
MIR C'rmpdeH Of Brooke, moved to cxpupge tho
latter clause of the resolution
Mr. Rnor opposed the motion III. vie,yed tho
power thus given the Courts. as the most valuable
feature OF the resolution. II was the genius of our
institutions thnt officers should no on all occn sions
anu uhoer all circumstances responsible to the APP
pointing power Was there to be- no responsibility
during the term for which the Clerks held, If Often
ces were committed within this time, how was the OF.
lender to be removed He fastened on the Court
ana the people until his term expired. The charac-
ter OF the County Courts a qua rant ee that the
power thus conided would not nc abused I, would
nc exercised with great caution and only in extreme
cases.
MIR. Campbell OF Brooke, expressed his concurrence
III the propriey OF changing the tenure from lif. to
term OF years. Mr. G.. indicated FIVE as a sui uble
perlod but he was utterly opposed the vestng the
County Courts with the power Of removal al their
arohrary WIZ; lie was opposed to 1t for the
that IL would keep the Counties in perpetual frinent
and agitation The change from life 10 n term OF
years was great change-but if to tn was added
inc arDitrary power of removing the Clerk plea
o"c an s'aoii'ty would DC overthrown. II would O.
pen the door to management and intrigue. Rival par
ties IN the County would keep il in constant fever
One would elec' their Clerk this term-,he OF er
AZ the neXt--and the Clerk would remain in Off
long enough to become acquain cd with ITS duties -
lie tho'ght to change the tenure of the Clerks ON
lilo to term of yearssnd hold them durinr this
period TO their present liabilities for nalconduc, IN
oftice-was reform enough
Mr. ChriStian OF Buckingham, supported the rcso-
luton OF the Committee The Court which apr ONT
ed ought he thought. to have the power to remove
IL had been decided that to remove under the
tenure of good behaviour, the mlsbehayour must he
oiiicial There were many reasons for removing
which were vet not lndIc;abe. The highest moral
offences might be committed with safety to The teGur.
OF oihce DE was IN favor of the resolution, but
with an amendment. He would require the Cout Is
70 state the reasons for which they deprived he Clerk
upon the record THIS would be Il security for the
Clerk, and notification to the world of the reasons
OF deprivation; and public opinion thus appealed TO-
would be sufficient guard agains, he abuses of the
power. If Clerk was not obnoxious, he would not
be removed The attempt TO remove hun would never
be made without sufficient reason. Mr.. c. moved to
amend as he had suggested
MT Brodndr SAID the debate incidentally
drawing IN the whole merits of the question: such
was ITS tendency, and the question deserved debera-
ton, d he House whall vas thin. he moved that the
resolution FOR the present, be laid the table-whcll
motion prevailed
A resolution OF the same Committee proposing to
abolish burning in the hand IN all cases-was unani
mousy agreed TO by the House.
Inc same Committee on a resolution of Mr.. Gar
iand OF Nelson, declared 1t eXpedent to have bonds
tor appeals and writs of supersedeas. executed The
Clerks Office of the County whence the appeal pro-
ceeds, instead of the Clerks Office of the Court ot
Appeals.
On motion of Mr.. Hart, the House adjourned.
MARRlED-In this city. on the 25th instant, bv