Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-14

motion of MIR. linn, was laid on the table and orinro
to b. printed W oi"ereu
was instructed to enquire into the expediencv of re-
t1ndng TO feacie Savage, late Sheriff of Elizabeth
CITY the sum OF for,y-'wo daars III
| The Speaker presented a communicative, e. Al, =
GOVERNOR Transmitting aertain resolutions of ,be ~
tueky Legislature relative to road from rio sandy
| laid on he table W.T. ''o"oy was
Many bills read first and second time,
Speech Of Nh ANDERSON IF Bo.etouyt on The
Tenure. Of the Cferkshtp
MIR. ANDERSON of Botetuurt said AS the s,,h;a,
uhuer consideration, MFR. Speaker, one in which his
constituents IN common with others felt deem nter
est, ans as ne was member of the majority of the
committee who had reported the resolution in vour
hand, he hoped he should be nduIe 4 With = few re-
"'rRs IN support OF IT. IN really ,be very able char
nan ana 10 ms trend firm Frederick. He could as
sur the House. that he had risen very reluctantly tn
oppose, with his humble abilities the amendment 1ro
ooseo 10 the resolution OF the Committee by its dis
I.hguished chairman, and supported by so many in
trlEent gent eman. Ii uratify inc TO hin bot re
himself and those who acted with him. were liable ~
ue o"arse OF children warning against t,eir father
lhey were acting on the defensive in defending the
report or the Committee, and therefore ius,;fa
Die. tuere Mr. Leigh said if the gentleman from Rot
eonrt alluded to him. he dsclamed all preensons tn
ne'ng considered the father of the Committee of
Courts OF Justice in any sense) Mr. A. resumed h.
could not say whether the II use would re caiyo H.
gentiemans disclosure; for himself he must he n.r
nnen 10 consider the term applicable to him in at
least one point of view " a.
MIR "A. continued. The object of the friends kotr =.
tue amendment and to the original resolution. is to
render the clerks strictly responsible and we are
10 enquire by which of these plans can we mos, .f
tuay attain that objec The plan of the cleric -
removable at the pleasure of the courts &c borIsS
theory' ana looks well on paper; but he believed II
Wouid rail- TAR short or the desired object in nroct;o
ITS practical result would be to elect tban, e. =;
behavior, (Which had been in fact to elect them co.
.te under the old government with this exception
| they would probably be removed for nsInobIa and
ne
out tor no other cause hence, incapac,v n.o1~ance
ana hundred other derections of duty. would &C.
cape unnotIced But we told bv gentlemen tbst
If you give the the power to rernnva te -
the intelligent and respectable character of o,r
tracy ensures not only sound discretion in the ex
erclse OF this power, but also the remoyoI If oil ;o
petent and unworthy clerks Mr. A said tbi. on;r;
is neither sustained bv the history of this Common
wealth. nor by the experience and observation of the
memoers OF this House. The cause sir can he traced
TO the organization and composition ne our co,,rs - =
TO the nature and character of our peonle II 10 ON
ora and rue maxim, that that which is every bodv's
business, is no bodys business, and he believed .bot
such is the just detestation in which all lnas Of -;
formers and voluntary prosecutors are held that r. the
he'n their Office at the will of the people re
.hoVa would rarely occur, except for some Aaoran,
act or corruption gross misconduct in oaic Is en-
remark DE true IN its application to the neonIe viii
.''uor more 'orce viii it apply the county
courts composed OF the nteIlirent md ;,Ia-o
Gent OF the community. Their Kindness and forLa .
ance VIII induce them to overlook numbereos f,It -
ther CLERKS which taken indiviIually are or rnn,r
q.
injurious and pernicious to the oubIic ~,
ther aversion to the invidiorls task of scrntin; M
ac1s OF me clerk will insure mpuny to all his miscon
duct except such as is of so fragrant g. coprun. i,
acter as will call down upon him the ind;,~rot;
Oh me whole community This is no idle or vSinnor,
tNSory: II Is drawn sir from past experience from
W., Illumination OF the character Of OUR people
y" III any tnan pretend to say that no cerI; vos o;I
y OF such gross misconduct In office as rht tn haze
removed MIN from it, by Indictment or otherwise
'e ola government yet, is there single in,
| stance OF clerk being removed? Can tbia he FRA
go 10 any oIher cause, than the one have ASSIGNED
! lE ana VIII! not the same cause under tho old onJ
new governments lead to tho same resultso II is
rue 'Hd' the amendment provides greater facilities
fof the removal of clerk from Office than the courts
possessed under the old government but will mt n
cause which prevented them from EXERCISING the linn
iIsd prevent them from exercising the ENLARGED pov
err 1t Will result as under the old government, that
the clerks will be literally elected drinr nood bobo
your, but practically during life
NJ -. continued; 1t the amendment will not make
tne CLERKS sutflcon'iy respqns ble LEI us ascertain il
the resolution Of the COMMITTEES will effect this on
Ject' 1t proposes 10 elect the clerks for tern, oi
! years removable at the pleasure of two thirds OF
the court, all the Magistrates Of tho county bavinn
/ Pren previously summoned. and Il rnaioritv of tbs
Wnoe present 1t this provision be adopted inst cad
Oh imposing upon the courts Massive dnfv tn ecru
hIe the conduc Of the clerks you impose upon them
POSITIVE and imperative duty to scrunize their con
h"ct Mt hXed periods. a. these periods the clerks
VIII ne called on to render an account of their stew
| .:P' V'Ii ""ole CohducJ VIII undergo public
scrutiny and come under the review of the courts
~ 'hey merit the confidence and ann, obsfon of ths
Pubic hey Will b" re-elerted but ifthev do mot !
the public interests should require the election q
SOM orc else they will be rejected Phus. whilst
te PUBIC interests will BE- protected against the I'M
lProVmencc negligence and inconlDef rncv Of clerks
sucn OF them as are competent and have been faith
in IN the discharge Of their duty will find safe nro.
lection IN the Intelligence, ntegrity and ndeDendenc
% the co@r's; nav in the nature and character
"u' DEoD!e Besides yOul1 kn Thorn bi1s
~ office good and efficient clerks by stimulafinr
them TO faithful and honest discharge of their dnty
I'D order TO insure Il 70 election
But sad NJ. the objection of the gentleman
ron Frederick lNr M to PERIODICAL elections i
not that The clerks will not he rendered sufficient,
responsible, bur that they will be too much so: anC
SUBJECTED to the whims and caprice Of whom. NJ
speaker not Of The people which is favorito term
whom "" have heard 50 NAV splendd onIooiee de
: Enrol within Lhnan IL. -.-.-