Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-11-17
Erora he Richmond Enquirer.
To rHs CLEars OF CoUsrs Is yHsrMI

Il
Geutlemen;--Tbc Act of the last session
of the Legislature oi tie State. IN relation 10
Clerks fees, having reduced them so low as
n render them inadequate to MAINTAIN Jerks
Ia the way in which, as officers OF courts and
gentlemen, they ought TO live, (in truth ~
some counties tue clerks are left without sup
pors.) and believing the Legislature has ~
nuced the fees much below what IT contsn-
,lated---at. any rate much below what the
people themselye. wished--Qd they desired
reduction at all, which do not believer !
propose that the clerks Of The several sope
rior and inferior courts IN the State OF Virgi
mia. suggest TO The )sdgcs and Justices me
pronriety and necessity of their interfering ~
their behalf. and requesting he next Legs
J.t,se IN revis@ the law in relation to Clerks
fees, 10 simplify the fee bill and raIse the ices
40 as 10 give 10 the clerks just, iaiT anu "
beral allowance for their services. The
Judges and Justices have correct idea oi
the duties and responsibilities of the clerks.
The courts are aware hsw much the commit
nitv WOULD suffer from the ineapacity OF their
ofIicers-and sensible as they must be that
the effect OF the present Law viii le to I'LL OF
fees with incompetent clerks, they ~Iil not,
/ thing. hesitate 10 intercede IN their behalf
This is not subject IN which the clerks them
selves ONLY are interested. but II Is one ~
which the whole community have an imPor
tant interest The records nights aud ut'es
Of every individual in the State are Entrusted
To the Clerks of Courts They therefore
ought 10 be. and generally are, nien OF non
ssty. integrity o,d Indulgence, at least IN
tell,ecnt officers Permit the present fees To
remain. and you viii drive FROM Office those
best qualified TO perforrl the duties Of Clerks
Of Courts as then ought TO be. have at ieasi
sufficient talents and capacity for business to
support themselves by some other calling OF
profession: and il they cannot hive by then
offices las they cannot) they will resign and
pursue something else for their support lie
sides il has tendency to drive from the OF
fee all the young men of promise. such as
may hereafter become valuable and useful
officers-for the clerks cannot adard 70 pay
such wages as viii induce them TO remain
nor have they before them any prospect oi
ever beng rewarded for the trout le Of quail
fying themselves, even II they hereafter OBJ
TAIN offices. as the fees will not compensate
them know twill be objected that nearly
oil Of the old clerks were ANXIOUS to be re
appoiuted. This is true Many, or all o.
them, expected the next Legislature, seeing
the great injustice done the CLERKS, would re-
wise the law and tncvease their iees--anc
many oil them hdfihH ioHk 1teh ehs'sp" ~
business as clerks, were not prepared al once
to quit profession to Which they had beer
raised, and embark in something new, parti
cuIarly when they had strong hopes upon the
justice Of the Legislature, and when the,
discovered the people at large disapproved o
the law reducing their fees One suggestion
humbly beg leave to make to all clerks anc
their friends cautiously avoid all angry dis
cus.ion in the public papers uponthe subject
Our cause does not require any other sup
port than that of reason and justice. Make
no harsh illusions or severe retorss upon any
person who s,ay think proper to oppose US.
We cannot escape opposition: some have al
ready com aiited themselves against us: a
part Of whom are sctastea by personal hos
Tilt, to some Vt as. arising from d,ssppoint-
meat. and others again by a mistaken honest
conviction that they are rlght,--State our
grievances clearly, fairly, frankly, but ten
peratey -Do aot fear The people OF Nlr
ginia are just. nay, they are liberal, their
representatives will speak their voice.
A CLERK OF A COUNTY AND
Ci9CvIr SupERioR CoURr.