Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-29
Ion THE lyn1a.

4
To CLERKS cf Courts in Virginia.
GENTLEMEN: The act of the las: session OF the
Legislature Of this State, in relation to clerks fees
having reduced them so low as to render them in
adequate to maintain clerks in the way in which
as officers OF courts and gentleInen they ought to
live; lin truth, some countless the clerks are left
without support;) and BELIEVING tho Legislature has
reduced the tees much below what it contemplated,
at anyrate, much below what the people themselves
wished, Gf1they desired reduction at all, which
do not beleve,lI propose that the clerks of the
seyerel superior and county courts in the State OF
Virginia suggest TO the judges and justices the pro-
prlety and necessity of their interfering in their
behalf, and requesting the next Legislature 10 re-.
wise the law in relation to clerks fees simplify
the iee=b and raise the fees, as TO give TO the
clerks just, fair, and liberal allowance fortIeir
services. Inc Judges and justices have a correct
lea OF the dutI1sGn responsibilities OF the clerks.
line courts are aware. how much the community
would suifer from the inc0pacty OF these officers
ana sensible, as they must be, that the effect of the
present law will be TO fill Offices with incompetent
clerks, they VII not, think, hesitate to interccle
in their behalf. This is not q subject in which the
clerks themselves, only, interested, but is one
IN which the whole community. have an important
interest. he record rights and titles of every in
Gydual in the State are iptrusted TO tho clerks of
courts. They, therefore, ought To be- and general
ly are men OF honesty, integrity md Intelligence,
ut least intelligent officers. Permit the present fees
to reInaD and you will drive from Office those best
| qualified to perform the duties; for men who Gre
perform l!lc uuCGSf oil clCTkS courts,
they owghGto be, have at least sufficient talents
and capacity, for business, to support themselves by
/ some other culling professions; and if they
not live by their Offices Gas they cannct,) they viii
resign and pursue something else for their support.
Besldes ut has tendency to drive from she Offices
/ aRayoung men of promise, such as may hereafter
become valuable and useful oicers-for the clerks
| cannot afford TO pay such wages will induce
! them to romaiH-nor have they bcfero them any
prospCcteof heinT rewarded for tho trouble Of
| If oh.
tain officers the foes VIII not compensate them.
know it viii b0 objected that nearly all of the old
/ clerks wore anxious to bc Te-aPpointed THIS =
! tTue Many OF all of them expected the next LIe-
/ gislature seeirg the injustice done the cesks,
would revise tho Jaw and increase their fees; and
many OF thcm having been long engaged in bust
ness9s Clerks, not prepared, tonce TO qitit u
/ profession TO which they had been raised, and en-
bark in something now; particularly whom they had
strong hopes upon tho justice Of Che Legislature,
and whcn they discovered the people, at large, dis
/ approved Of the law reducing their fees. One sug-
/ gesion ! lsuInh}y beg leave 20 mako to ali clerks
and their fTiends--cautiously avoid all angry die
/ eussion, IN tho pGb,ic papers, upon the subject
Oar cause does not require any other support than
| Chat Of reason and justice Make no huFsh uIlu-
SONS or severe rotoris upon any person who may
i think proper 20 oppose rs. We cannot expect e
I escape opposition. Some have already committed
themselves ganst u.s. part OF syhoh1are actupte
By PERSONAL hostility TO some Of rs from daappoint
Ineot-and others again. by misial1en honest con.
vciion that they are fight. state our grievances
clearly, fairly, frankly; Int tenPcratey. 10 no'
tearthe people Of Yirginin are JUST nay, they are
ibcGaithoir Representatives viii speak their voice
4 Clerk cfq Coaatg s. Circais superior oo0sf
/ o. Editors cf Newspapers in yirgria, friendly
II 20 Clerks, VIII coater favUur them, b. gyInl
tho foregoing one inscFtion.
4 CoMNuwleATEp.
i At-a large pseting oG DO People Of lumber
land comfy, convened OF Tao Condition on tht
4 22d Of August 1881, 0het being coar day 70 tek'