Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-01


ably The value of its own stock. 1t would be just TO
exact from the temporary distress of The company,
condition which would tend diminish that rate of pro.
MS, upon Tie pledge or expectation Of which all the
'locN OF individuals had been taken The nature of this
amendment was, TO pass pos, acto law seriously
inurng the property and interests of the Company
IL inns advance be not made, the Company must stop,
and II 1t should be made, with this condition annexed,
works should Stop
MI WATKINS defended the measure Of the general
Rail Road Bill and thought it 10 be unjust put
limits TO The cupdity of these companies. They asked
Tor an advance of money, which he (Mr. Wa,kinsl
| vas well disposed to givp-but if they demanded
equivalent, he thought right aud fair that the company
should be subjected TO the cnn.rou of the Legislature
under the Rail Road Law of March 1Ilh 1897. Nlr.
W. thought that to impcac the Justice of that law, was
10 call in question the justice of the House.
MIR. RuEEnrsoS explained. lie had moi called in
question the justice Of that law but adYertcd on to The
circumstances Of the particular case and the peculiar
injustice OF an eX post aco change in their charter.
The question disGgreeng 10 the amendment Of the
Senate, was then taken, and decided in the affirmative
uyes So, noes 54.
So the House disagreed with the amendment of the
Senate.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The bill limiting The time within which Justices OF lie
! Peace may qualify, being taken up,
MIR. HARRISON offered the following amendments
{: Tint the acceptance Of Office of oil
The Revenue shall vacalc the Office Of Justice OF the
| Peace"
spoke against the policy Of allowing Justices Of the
Peace to have the power Of appointing themselves 10 Of
hce The consequence OF this practice was much con.
fusion and disorder, and the effect was, that the Office
was kept III rotation among the Justices themselves
Another evil resulting from this practice of selfoppons.
ment was that incompetent persons were appointed us
CONFERENCE.-The two Offices being Incompatible with
each other aud involving necessary neglect Of the du
| ties Of one or The other.
Mr. CEUrcEFlELD opposed the amendment. IL this
separation were made, he persuaded il would not be
possible 10 obtain competent persons to act as Justices
He himself Justice of the Peace IN his coun.
", and whatever corruplons Mr. Harrison might know
Of in his county, he could not fairly make himself
judge, and assert That the same existed in all other
| counties
| Mr. ALEXANDER spoke briefly in opposition to the
amendment and called for the ayes and upon The
| question which were ordered.
Mr. MAY said the office of Justice Of The Pence
at best hankcss Office, and it difficult 10 find com
pelcnt persons who would accept OF the Office. This
! amendment amounted 10 acknowledgements dsqua.
calion, which had never, tall now been recognized or
admitted in this Commonwealth. Besides. the remedy
proposed would not effectively correct the alleged evil
Tor, II incompetent persons were now appointed from
among themselves, they would still! be able to appoint
other incompetent persons from among their friends and
connexions Mr. MIR. denied the existence OF corrup-
lion in his county.
Mr. HARnlsos said he had been fully aware Of what
hornets he should raise about his cars, when he
offered this amendment All he had said however was,
that The Offices filled not, he had said, by corrup.
! ton, but in rotation among thens Ives.
Mr.. GasY Hoped this amendment would not be car
RED At least twothirds of the appointments were IN
most cases, nat Of Justices Of the Peace, but OF other
persons in every respect fully qualified
MIR. RvEs spoke in favor Of The amendment II did
say, that Justices should not be elected and il
therefore disqualification: ii simply provided, that if
elected rs Commissioners Of the Revenue, then they
should, in that event. vacaie the Office Of Magistrate, aud
this appeared 10 him 10 be right aud just lie had heard
from good authority, that great Inconvenience resulted
from the Magistrates keeping the Office in rotation among
themselves il was msCieyous Practice, and he thought
ought 10 BE- put an end 10.
Mr.. IrSsTALL said he would vote against this amend
ncnt. He was not aware Of any counties where such
abuses as had been mentioned in existence. lie
wished i, to be distinctly pointed out which the
counties where these grievances existed.
Mr. SMITH Of X. said he would cote against the amend
mcnt. He had in kanawfa any oi the abuses
pointed out 10 his county, the Magistrates were gem
emen nd did not want the oiiicc-lhey did not want
10 be ruding up and down the country as revenue Oh
fccrs.
Mr. Boris said he should vote FOR The amendment
lie opposed 10 giving 10 any body OF men The power
of appointing themselves 10 my Office Offices what
Mr.. CORES said, tina, the charge Of ncompetcncy
Gid not apply 10 those who held the Office OF Commits
sioner of the Revenue in the county OF Rockingham
One of The Justices of the Peace held that uiice
and he would not hesitate to say that he among the
best officers IN the Commonwealth. The evil spoken o
did not therefore, apply 10 the county of Rockingham
Nr. HARRISON SAID lie was glad gentlemen
such grievances existed in their counties But II So
why object 10 the amendment, which could not Affect
them, il The grievance existed not:
Nj. SHEERAHD spoke against The amendment, and
denied that any such abuses complained Of else
where had been practsed in his county. The individual
who the commissioner OF the revenue IN Fredc
rick had filled the Office he believed for nearly 20 years
lie had been within few years past appointed Justice
Of the Peace, and had been continued in the Office OF
commissioner account Of the ep,oDable manner
in which he lad always discharged his duties, and not
because he of the Justices Of the county.
Mr.. CRuTcHFIELD pointed out some nc0nvehlenccs
which would result from turning out Justices on this
ground The commissioners only appointed for
year, at the eEd Of which time the services OF The
Magistrate would be lost TO the public
Mr. HAnRlsoN, 10 provide against this Inconvenience,
modified his amendment, by adding the word HERE
AFTER.
Mr. MAY expressed his intention OF offering amend.
menl TO coninc The proposed restrictions 10 those
ties in which it was alleged the evil existed.
Mr.. STUART said he should vote for this amendment
lie had lately received letter from intelligent gen
llcman lately member of the House. and belonging 10
the Bar who had informed him. that great evil resulted
from this Practice and that The Justices were in the ha
bit Of keeping this Office in rotation among themselves
Mr. S. had not known that this was the case until this
information reached him. The Stale suffers little
loss in consequence Of such arrangement in the col.
lection Of the taxes. He thought The law ought TO be
made of general character, operate throughout
the Stale without exception
Mr. MAY after several further remarks in opposition
the amendment, offered The following as an amend.
mcnt 10 The amendments
Sind be it further enacted, That the acceptance by
any Justice OF the Peace Of the appointment OF Commits
sioner of The Revenue in either OF The counties Of -,
shall vacac the commission of The Magistrate accepting
the said appointment in either of the said counties
Mr. Coorrs called for the ayes and noes Oh this
amendment.
Mr. HAyMoXD hoped this last amendment would not
be adopted he knew That Justices of the Peace were in
tie habit of keeping the office among themselves in ro
taon they made the bargain between themselves to
elect one another not expressly but ,aci,ly,
dcrsood thing He hoped the amendment OF MIR. HAIR.
RlsoN would be adopted.
MIR. DAVIS said be was sorry 10 hear from some gen.
llcmen that there much corruption in their