Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-11-21

on tbe Eastern sectjou Of Frederick, will Be
still greater.
The next object Of our inquiry win b, 10
SEQ Who arc the persons legally authorized 10
tax W. fos County purposes, from what source
they derive their authority, the number and
location Of those psrsoas, Tho manner and
proportions in whieh they arc distributed
over tho Couety. and how this power has
been exercised Tor some pears past.
In tho early stacy OF our history, when
there were but few counties In Virginia, the
County Levics were imposed by the Lcgisla-
turc; but in process Of time, II was found
convenient 90 confidc this power TO the Coun-
|ty Magistrates. This power Tor Some time,
was couined 70 but few objects, and from
time 10 time was afterwards extended
There vas period, however, 10 our history,
when this power. having been abused BY the
Magistrates, IL was found proper by the Le-
gislature OF Virginia, about The year l67 G,
IN order 10 provide against this abuse, to au-
thorize the people TO elect Representatives in
tie several counties To act with the Magis-
tratcs In to exercise Of this power fSce
iicnnings Statutes 1t Large, v. 2, p.357.l This
law, however, die not not long continue in
force, aud perhaps il Is unfortunate that it
did not. This power was again confded TO
Magistrates alone, Who derive their authori-
~, mol from the people, but from the Exccu-
tive, upor the Recommendation Of their own
body after being once constituted. II might
have been expected, NJ the time or our Re
volution, when the cardinal maxims Of Re-
publcanism were better understood, and
when u was considered q heresy that taxes
should be imposed upon the people except
by their chosen representatives, that this
odioes feature OF giving Magistrates, consti-
tuted rs they are, the power OF taxation,
would have been obliterated from our statute
book, and that some other mode, either BY
establishing Board OF Police in each Coun-
~ to provide for County expenses, aud the
members thereof TO be elected by the people
Tor certain periods, or in some mode in
which the people should have the control.
would have been substituted. Unfortunstei
however, such Is our affection for ancient
usages, that Magistrates, who should be con-
lined to the exercise Of judicial powers, are
also sill permitted, as formerly under the
royal government to lcgislate for the people
Of their respective counties, by taxing them
fer county charges, although they are wholly
irresponsible TO them. This has been the
law aud the practice since the Revolution,
but we hoPc the time is not far distant. when
this relic OF our colonial system will dissp-
pear.
Having now seen who are the persons au-
thorized by law to tax Us for county purpo-
SEES, and that those persons are the Magistrates
OF each County, who derive their powers
not from the people who are to DO taxed, bui
from the Executive Of the State, We shall
next proceed to shew the number of those
Magistrates ia the whole county Of Frederick,
and how they are distributed rs to their
places Of residence. The whole number ap-
pears, from Col. Wares report, before re-
ferred TO, to be about fifty, OF whom nine re-
side in the town OF Winchester, in which the
county courthouse Is located, twelve within
the limits OF our proposed County, and the
residue, In number amounting TO twenty-nine,
are distributed over different parts Of this
large County, and many Of them very remote
from the seat Of justice. lf Magistrates could
be considered as our Representatives, and rs
having n sympathy for The feelings and inte-
rest of the neighborhood In which they reside,
and if they were more equally distributed
over the whole county according 20 the tax
able property, We might then expect greater
equality in the imposition Of our county iaxes
but Il we add the nine Magistrates 10 the town
OF Winchester (the Tithables in which pay
no County Levies) TO the twenty-nine resid-
ing in other parts Of the County, making ihir-
ty-eight in number, how powerlcss would our
twelve Magistrates be in any matter which
should bring their interests into collision with
onrsi
The town Of Winchester uppears 70 have
been established by law as early as tbs year
1852, and until the yesr 1885 was probably
small place, and VIC presume had no local in
terest materially different from that Of the
County generally: in consequence OF which
the affairs OF tho County, including those Of
the town, we're probably managed eeonomi-
cally and harmoniously, and with a view 20
the good Of the whole; but in the year 1885,
IL seems TO have been thought advisable 20
lay pretty heavy levy, Of nearly $1,000,
which, added to tho proceeds OF the old
courthouse and the lot upon which II stood,
was, as We understand, invested in the cree.
ton, upon q lot nov called the Public Square,
Of a new Court House OF stone, Of forty by
fifty feet, aud two stories high. Since that
time, Winchester has grown rapidly, and has
now become an important place and there
Is every reason 10 beiieve. when the Rail Road,
the Parkersburg Road, and other roads lead
ing to II, shall be hnished, which will proba-
bly, be done In few year., that II will be-
come great City and We hesitate not TO say
that Il has our ardent wishes for its prosperity.
Bot although VIC have many friends aud
connexions there, whom we value and esteem,
and believe the eitizsns thereof generally 70 be
~ virtuOus and respectable - they are in most
cities, weeannot willingly consent that the IN
ieresis of the country people, Of whom we
form q part, should be longer subject 20 The
control and government Of the Magistrates
who reside ~ " inches:cr; and the more es-
pecially - tie TItbabics IN that town DO not
~ tho County Taxes, although
they bear portion of the burthens of the
Peer House establishment. THIS tOWn covers
al present probably Que square mile, end has
residing Ia u nearly ~ many Magistrates as
We have resident within our proposed Coup-
" % two hundred square miles. Those nine
tfarfstrntes reaisla ,stthte airhf AZ H. fs.s,,t
House, and although fewer In nuInbeF thar
those living 10 tie country, mc1t 81 whom
reside ~ considerable dstsnee from /
Winchester; yet, from their pFosinity 70 The !
Seat % Justioe, where The Coaaty ieTies are
annually lsid, they asast necessarily have
commanding insnsnce, o. Al natter, n Which |
they may feel q deposition - skereee tbeif
power. alfhoueh fhs Magistrates aving 10
the country, II 81 sey great exeiiemebt hey
can BE- prevailed upon ~ attend The Cousi,
may. b. their nusabsFs, eoniroi hose ilsing