Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-15
VIRGIyVLa LEGISL.aTURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
MONDAY, January 81

DEBATE ON THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM.
Remarks Of MIR GILMER, on the Resolutions on the
subject efhe Judiciary -deIivered in the House Of
Delegates, February LIST, 1881.
Mr.. SPEAKER: The friends of these resolutions are
scarcely liberty remain silent, since the repeated
demands which have been made for their reasons.
While they did not seek, they will not decline this
discussion. The gentleman from Hem leo teld u.s. he
had h ard argument in favor Of the proposed
sure, except that msjorty OF this III use, perhaps Of
this community, were prepared to adopt it, That gem
,leman will do me the justice to recoect. that
this not urged 10y me at leas) as an argumsat-i
stated fact which should eNcu.s the friends of
the from the necessity OF commencing IL, die
Gu sion 1 has been very correctly said thai have
all one common object, (our coun,rys good) however
widely differ, as 10 the means VI accomplishing
it. The genernin from III -nrico has rendered
vice this House and 10 the Comm ealtn, ia the
very able and which be ha pre- snted
on the su.jsct Of Gus Jndioiaty. He has pointed out
many OF the defects OF our system. and has traced
,hem their proper causes. But sir, he hss not pre-
&C ibed n remedy III sd he done this. he would have
Ared the ini Of his cougtry, The highest tribute
Of it's regard aud gratitude Sir, why need We be told
hat there are defects 10 our judicial sysem? Ii is
what we do keoH--it is what he people OF Virginia
have long felt and amented. IL Is no new que ton
VIII ch we are discussing II has ben discussed in The
press-t has been discussed in this Habit has been
discussed 10 IN, primary assemblies OF the people.
Yes cir a. the lis; and is ii surprising tia, ssnte
men come hero with psrte CT know edge OF 'he wishes
of tho e wh,m hey represent Can say, sir, vita
all our boa ted d-vo vi ginia. with al our
,,ion for this FIRST Of Republics, and her lbs buttons
that Justice as been denied or deferred tn no MANI
III we could YOUR c vrntion would not have been
called we should be debating this question.
That c. invention designed in great measure, to
remedy the defects OF our Judiciary; has done much
tow ards this great endbut, sir, it has not done ALL
Something remain' yet TO be done, ana our consttn-
ems expect that we shall do ~.
The gentleman from Henrico, with his accustomed
ABILITY, has employed all that argument or e'oqu-nce
could supply, in opposition 10 the proposed
Hi4 y.nins w tn prophetic forecast has dispeled the
mists which surround us. and opened TO our view a
glimpse Of the future. He has reminded US OF an aw
ul caamy which may possibly await this country, 10
the prog ress of events-and while listened TO the
pathOs OF his el quence felt as II the sword OF
Damocles were already suspended over our heads by
tbs singh. hair fancied that dark cloud which was
so depicted, had gathered, and ready
10 pour is of blood and misery this devoted
country. Sir, ii tbese evil lines shall come upon US,
and fear they may, there il man who desires
more anxiousy than do, that Virginia shall stand
Tectus in cuTid But SIR let me tell you, hs hearts
OF her sons will be true, and hsr arms eady in
the hour of trial wheh the resolu ms in your hand
are adopted or rejected. These painful fotebodings
should admonsh SIT household In order, and
or epare Tor the coming Storm by organizing govern
meet, which, 10 all its departments and relations shall
secure the aft clioos Of the people and bind us more
ind solubly one another by ehectuaily answering
IN great purposes for which government was esiab
! lished This Is the way to render virginia one and
iadyisbe eDder her object OF devotion to her
sons-of dread TO her enemies. Let u.s. then, orsanIz-
Juiiciary, which will g hold the word OF Proni e
to the ear, but bre * IL to the undermining"
The advocates of this measure, sir. are m innova-
torshey are treading the footsteps of their fathers
they seek only to carry out PRINCIPLES which have been
ssncioned by the history OF our GoveTnme1t LIST us
uause Tor a noment, while inquire what has been
the 70 rse If legislation in regard TO our judiciary
for. the Revolution the GeOetal Court, comp SO
Of ihs Executive branch OF The CooHal u Vfrn'
me, t. was the only sides the 'un'y Court
AMI x.rci.e ed Unlimited civil aud criminal md, TO
some cxtert, ecceSasucaO 'ri'diction In the year
| I777, while the Revolution was yet IN progress, a
Hixh Court OF Chauc nv essb sh -, comp OF
three Judges to hold its ssssuns at the seat OF TO
vernnen. lie Jurisdiction, priciice &c we're copied
/ from the model Of the glisb Cbancery. Like he
General Court, its jurisdiction EXTENDED throughout
the c ,Inm nweath In 1888, the cd Gsneral Court
vas di.tfbn,ed and Dt'fct Courts Of Law established
At In same time thu Ju'g es OF the High Court
Cbancery were reduced froD III 81 10 on. nus or
saniz.d The courl continued to exercise general ju
oy er the State until the wh oh
were experienced led, in 1902 to DISTRIBUTE OF thi'
couft Into three distrcts, aud these District Court.
were established at Williamsburg, hcnmono' Ahu
sunton In 1909. the mmon law district courts
were aga s.ributsd aud the present Circuit Courts
established Ia 1912, the auDon Cbancery di'trc'
viii had exercised jurisdiction over the whole coun
iry West OF the Blue Ridge, WAS sublivided lntO lour
fisiric g. and courts were established al SauD'on'
Wytbs Court House, Winchester, and Clark'bu'g. 10
1914 the Richmond aud Williamsburg di-irie's were
divided, and courts established a, r'eueessuus
aud Lynchburg In November, OF the came year,
Cbaocerv d. t1ct Court vac established at Lewlsburg,
and attached t. the Stsuuton district Ibus atIdngso,
these courts have continued until the present une A.
each uceessive chaUgs, this principle on ut",ou"on
has usht them bearer aud nearer 10 the people, ~
there Ne Dothng the proximity OF the court 70 the
suio, vshv 1 would ask has all Ibis been donel Tue
eofoplsed--whcn that measure 81 Jusuee wnioh wei