Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-11


said Off, Ii is perent finder box and unsafe and
improper depot for the records OF the County Orders
have been made 10y the proper authority that other
place be procured The ground for Court-housc and
Clerks Offices has been purchased, the site of the
present Courthouse, and delay be produo
by the appointment of Commissioners who in all proba
y will direct removal of the seat of Justice from
Wheeling. In my opinion, Sir there is nothing in the
argument that under the law ol1707 the Justices have
authority TO remove the Courthouse of the street
II, Mr.. Speaker, have satisfied this House that an
overwhelming majority of the citizens of my County
sire no change, and that If Commissioners appointed,
in the faithful discharge Of their duty they ought to,
and probably would not recommend change then this
resolution is useless, the amendment should be sustained
Mr. Parriot said, Sir, think l shall be able TO con-
vince this House, that the Committee of Propositions and
Grievances 10 conclusion i'm their report
now under consideration Its subject, Sir that has pro-
duced an unpleasant state Of excitement in the county
Ohio, Tor upwards OF thirty years had therefore ondly
hoped that all parties would have agreed to so reasonable
proposition, for the amcable adjustment of this long con-
troverted question: and that would have been finally
ted Yes Sir, settled for ever; but in that have been
mistaken, asmy worthy colleague deems il his duty move
to reverse the decision OF that committee Sir
eve 10 be my mperous duty attempt at least TO sus-
tain that decision And in doing shall TO
make few fair aud candid statements OF facts In I776
the county oil ONO together with two other counties
formed out Of parts OF West Augusta This provided
that the recholders of the county of Ohio should fix
site for the erection OF their public buildings and Vest Ii
berry was selected. In 1871, the south line of Pennsy
vana was permanently settled, and the line in 1885,
by the final establishment of the south and lines Of
the whole territory OF Yohogana (prcvious
y county of Virgina) fell within the limits of Pennsyl-
vana, except that part of Brooke county which now lies
north of Cross Creeks which by an act of the General As
semOy oil virginia, oil the year added 10 the
Ohio county In 1906 Brooke county was formed out of
part OF the county of Ohio, the division line between the
counties OF Brooke and Ohio passed the north of and
within short distance of West Liberty the seat of Justice
for Ohio county, on the 9Th of December, 1897, an
act OF the Legislature authorised the Justices OF the coun
y OF Ohio TO select central position for the Courts
oil Justice for that county The Justices selected the
of Wheeling, within miles of the northern boundary line
of the county, and between as and 100 miles, from that of
fhouo nd tho oil
items OF the southern part of the county, ome of them
living near 100 miles from the seat of Jusce) did COM
plain OF the injustice, and applied the Legislature
redress OF what they conceived be apubc grievance
Their application received from this House favorable
ception, but was defeated in the subordinate branch
On the 9th OF December, 1914, Tyler county was
formed out part of the southern territory of Ohio county,
yet leaving the disproporon OF distance to the Court
30 35 miles, the citizens TO the south of tbe
Courthouse still believed that they had Just cause of com
pant they again approached the Legislature, asking at
their hands that their claims might be heard by dsiner
esed and an impartial tribunal Their application again
shared the same atc they again defeated in the Sc
nate And Sir, when il il admitted OH all Sides that
the present Court House is insufficient accommodate the
business of the county, that it is in state of dlapadaon
unsafe repository of the records of the county, stand
ing in one OF the streets OF the town, and liable be
abaied as public nuisancc-they again approach
this House and ask that this long agitated question
may be settled by impartial Judges selected from parts
of the State not within the range of party feeinr
or party prejudice, hearing the claims all parties and
taking into consideration the advantages and disadvantages
of each, and deciding accordingly Taking this view Of
lated TO promote justice and harmony, 10 hope that it be
the pleasure of this House sustain the report of their
committee.
[Here Mr.. Fitzhugh replcd.1
Mr. Parriott said-Sir, again compelled TO ask the
indulgence of this House, while shall make few re-
marks in reply TO the argument addressed by my
league Tor the purpose OF extrcatng myself from i'm
putation as 1t regards my course here am charged
with being under piedgeycs Sir, under pledge not
to sgate this question heres that the people of the lower
end the county were to be silent the question of
removal of the Court Houseto be silent forever
receive as an equivalent the boon ofhaving repre-
by pledge hatthey should exhibit House
their grievances, or ask redress its hands, Sir do
wish this House, any part of this Commonwealth 10
believe Tor moment, that could be induced give and
violate pledge, under any circumstances whatsoever
/, therefore, do soemnly and unequiyocally dcny
being under any such pledge previous TO my being
candidate for the surages of the people Of Ohio Sever
al candidates for seat in this House had been brought
in the lower end OF the county; (ts question then
agitated0 and they were always defeated was several
times strongly solicited become candidate; and here
freely admit that assured my friends that it useless
to think OF succeedng unless the Court House question
was permitted 10 rest; and that knew the people
Wheeling were willing it should rest. Indeed Sir, the
whole county anxious postpone the consideration
of that question The county has been severely taxed
for police purposes in year high three dollars
each heable the Jail of the county in unsafe
and dilapiddted state; prisoners had made their cscape
became necessary TO purchase lot and new Jail
number of the bridges of the county wanted expensive
repairs, and at other places necessary-
BY this means the taxes became burthensomc TO the
citizens of the couny-yes, Sir, almost intoerabIc This
accounts Tor the Willingness OF the parties to postpone
tune, the consideration ofthc question The citizens OF
the lower part OF the county eservng themselves the
right OF renewing the attack, whenever the other part
should commence the onset Under these circumstances
at numerous and highly respectable meeting of the c-
zens oil the lower end CT the county, they passed resou
ton think, in these words that this meeting
authorize our candidate to il elected of the
end OF the county will not be the fist agate the Court
House question. Even by this resolution, if their candi-
date had not been elected they had right renew the
agitation OF this question: which have doubt would
have been the case And, Sir permit here saw and
say 1t without hesitation, that believe the adoption
OF that resolution by the meeting, the OF my
election; without it, there strong probability that
should have been deeated with it, after a three day'
campaign, which enabled the citizens from the lower end
oil the county TO attend the polls only elected by
small majority of twenty votes-far behind Sir ON The
! two first days OF the election.
But who have first agitated this qeson? not the people
OF the lower end OF the county they not been per
iecty silent Tor that subject NV colleague
mat it's mere question between the corporation and the
Justices oil the county, and not agated by the people
by majority OF them. Sir it is of perfect nd
terence Tor us toknow, whether the people majority
the people, corporate body the Justices of the Peace
agate this question: whether the object is move the
Courthouse out Of the street. TO other street. We
know that the question is agated, and apated too by tho
people OF the upper end of the county, feel not on
y my privilege but my duty act, and TO act on tina
side oil the question that dictate Justice de
mand.
i The county Court of Ohio, their last November term
appointed Commissioners with directions TO purchase lot
and contract Tor erecting the public building thereon
those Commissioners have in part, discharged that duty
they have made purchase of lot at 50 00O-wbethe
those proceedings Wereinended TO Oresa the proceeding
OF this House, shall not pretend TO say -And il
addition, there is now your table, application iron
the County Court, praying for the passage of a law an
hoIiHng that court TO raise an additional of $4,000