Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-02
's'sse EsEcEaaaa0sass SVgass,
DHENgUNECA'rloNS
FuR THE NII:G.
TIE CLERKS PETITION.

FuR THE WI.G
THE CLERKS PETITION.
his SUBJECT has cXctc;! much interest will
the people, aud great anxiety with those WHO
are more INN "daIey concerned in it's vi; .nntc
iatc--but owiag to the greatly important sub
!ectS which have engaged the attention OF the
Legislature since Its session, un,l the present
tl"'r. but Little time has been allowed lha; Bo-
dy, to pass IN review tins or any other muor
subject. The Legislature pending its session
has cecn actively and lahor!ousls employed in
dutIeS-n"t unnecessary aEd dangerous, as
some have been pleased to Sav--but in mat.
tiers OF great and vital Importance aud interest,"
TO the COMMUNICATIVE the DISCHARGE OF
which duties, the industry, labor, ability, and
zeal OF It's members, clearly shew each sentI-
mel has ever been DIT his post, and vic;!antlv
prompt IN the discharge OF the trust couiiaed
10 him by his people-which has gained impc-
fisnabie honor to that Body and to each ndi-
NGuai. And as n remuneration for such iidCli-
W, Ito whole Commonwealth will give her
most hearty thanks and 0pprob0tion; and must
"lth unaffected pleasure and delight, feel a
pridc and confidence In the strength uf her
oiispring-and an assurance that noIhinn is to
oe feared Tor her protection and safety, whilst
she can boast as her pilots and hclmsmcn, so
much youthful talents, fidelity and zeal.
Since the most absorbing matters lave pass
ed the consideration OF the House, and as the
humble, but very reasonable petition of the
poor Clerks, is yet unmovcd to any thing final
cannot the Legislature in the fIucss of its
power and wisdom, undertake 10 give their pc.
titoners u casual Investigation of VIVA, they So,
forth, and render TO them that relief which may
seem meet.
The present rate of fees arc greatly under
the charge for the performance of many ser
vices, which ordinary scrivencrs would che roe
Tor the same service, while none are n far g
quivalcnt for the cIvlces of u regularly ouali-
fed Clerk. Where then is the Compensation
for the great responsibility which rests upon
an individual who has charge of the records nj
the couTty-th hose duty it is, to be always in
place, TO hold his Office free and accessible ai
all times and To all persons, who may dcsir. tn
enter it-and to preserve from destruction and
Misuse all papers anu records entrusted to his
keeplng-aud in addition 10 this, the laws hv
which Clerks are trammellcd are more rio ii
than any others in our code. If the fees Of
office are not sufficient, or barely So to pa. for
the manual labor that is necessary to DISCHARGE
Its duties, can 1t be expected that any infividi
al who is qualified to discharge with facility
accuracy, and ability the duties of Clerk, and
who is OF the same time reputable man, Tor
no other can be entrusted with such Iesnonsi-
Sility,i Will continue to hold his Office, or will
accept of an office that is worthless? The very
circumstance of ones accepting an ctiice under
such Il state of things, would be an argument
of his want of qualification, What then will
be the consequence? Why, that many Offices
q.
neglected and abused, because of the want of
competent and responsible Clerks TO discbaroc
the GutIes. Hence the people must suffer vrrv
great damage and Inconvenience. The wri; or
of this feels no other interest in the matter
than every individual should feel, and ,ha, be-
longs IN common 10 every class of the commupi.
ty. lie dIsavows all interest Individually in of
flee, Office holders, or in any acpoirtmen,
to office; tho he claims to have some know
ledge Oi the duties OF clerk, and knows ~. II
the lah"rs and responsibility attached to that
department; ard only asks in justice to those
"ho are 'abourcrs IN Office, and In Justice TO the
people, (most Of whom are ignorant of th. had
oqucnces likely TO result from the existino
IawD an investigation Of The subject. Doubt
less If this subject could be taken into con-
sderation by the Legislature, but little
enquiry IN the matter would be ncccs-
sary, after an examination of The fab'e
fees, ard ascer,ainlng the laborious duties
of Clerk, to satisfy every hHcral mirs
that the law which passed at the last session
on the snbJec', was gotten through The House
hastily and without a proper unde rstandInp of
It's effect. 1t has been destruction to MANY, and
OF relief to none. Tho It was of good DESIGN. lis
tlTih was uncaed Tor, and lis existence is I'M
cherished. Virginia has ever had the privilege
OF boastlng That her officers were honest. and
capable, and initEinl-And shall it now be said
that tEat family OF our citizens have been driven
froin their post, because Of insuicicncv far sim
Iori; and that too occasioned by heated freak
OF the last Legislature, under the rctrcncbncui
fever TO reduce al! officers fees? That scheme
IN the general, was popular with the people
but destructive TO our official institutions, WIZ
not the Legislature check an evil which they
see so garlngiy pteJudlcal TO the interest of the
country is 1t net better TO rcpel disease al the
threshold, than to permit it to saddle itself upon
the patient for the sake of experiment? If So in
the feelings of jdsticc and in the spirit of rood
Poiicy, 90 engage one moment of your attention
10 this subject, and the evil can lie prevented-oll
society VIII be satisfied, and that respectable por
ton OF it, who have humbly asked your iniorfcr.
ence, will be relieved Of a bIlrtheu which not onIv
chdies them, but is also thrown ON their families
Cne more remark Grea; Inconvenience has arisen
and doubtless will be Continued, in the absence of
c"th0rity TO change the rcni,c If actioas nj I,,r
IN the County Cunts. No such nnihoriiy nov,
eHis's-.ii is needless to reason the neccssijv of
some measure on this suhject--it is for the wisdom
Ol Tic Legislature to consider such matters
MA'I'EnpnEV