Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-02-09
81+ 5Se6jScoture.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

BY MIR. Gibson, that the Committee on
! Schools and Colleges enquire into the ex.
pe'liency Of passing an act to incorporate
the JonesVilie Lyceum, in the county OF
Lee.
by Mr. Hancock, instructine the Com
mittee on Roads and Internal Naviqa.
ton to enquire into the expediency of ex-
tending and amending the charter of the
Glover Hill Railroad Company"
BY Mr.. Williams, instructine the Com
m'ttee of-Conrts of Justice to enquire in
to the expediency of SO amending the
laws for the collection of the county and
poor rates as to assimilate them to the
laws now in force for the collection of the
revenue; also. to require the Sheritf:s s.
other officers to return their list of dein-
quents annually at the first quarterly
term Of their respective county or corpo
ration Courts-requiring also the Clerks
OF SAID Court TO copy SAID lists. and place
them in the hands of said officers in the
succeeding year for collection.
The order Of the day was read, being
the bill to Increase the jurisdiction of
justices CT the Peace to $50.
Mr.. Miller Of Loudoun defended the
bill. Under the present system, in col
lectng debt of $40, the costs amount
to eighty per cent. On a debt of $50.
the costs amount to S6 per cent. The
system proposed by this bill, will save
nearly all their costs. We ought to re-
move the oppression under which the
poor debtors now labor under the present
system-and this bill provides the true re-
medy.
Mr.. Powell Of Fairfax offered an a.
mendment to the bill. ~.
Mr. Cowan hoped that no amendment
would pass. lie thought that if we once
begin to amend, we endanger the fate Of
the bill, which he had at heart as admi
rably calculated to benefit the people of
this Commonwealth.
Mr.. Smith of Harrison maintained,
that this bill would not bring relief to
poor debtors. Under the present system,
the debtor has respite of twelve months,
which. i! this bill is passed, he will be
called on to pay in ten days. MIR. s. ar
gued. that the costs before Justice, Tap
peais. &C., would amount to more than
they do now before the Court. It's Civ
ing too much power to the Magistrates.
Moreover, it will certainly increase liti-
gation. a.
] Mr.. Smith Of Harrison, moved its IN
definite postponement.
Mr.. COwan was not surprised to meet
this opposition. This is the 'people's
BILL" and not the "lawyer's b,lI.'' He
cite' the State of Tennessee, whose JUS
tees gave judgments on bonds of $50,
and there was no great litigation there.
The people of Tennessee are perfectly
satisfied with the workings of this law.
MIR. c. maintained. that this bill would
take away all the unnecessary costs paid
to lawyers, sherlffs, sc. Pass this bill.
and almost as much will be saved of
costs out of the poor mans pocket. as
will equal the revenue Of the State This
bill will relieve the people more than any
Stay law. The poor debtors will! have
as mnch time as they have now.
Mr.. Williams Proceeded to show that
the bill was materially defective in its
proy!slons-and as the patron Of the bill
| (Mr. Cowan) was opposed to all amend
ments, there can be 20 difficulty in vot-
ing at once. Among other defects, the
tjudgments'do not bind rea! estate-again,
there is nc record provided. Nj. w.
'maintained that the costs were much less
/ than stated by the gentleman from Lou
doun. If you wish to make any change
IN this matter, reduce the fees. There is
no extension Of time for poor debtor, for
whom this bill is proposed, unless he
gives a forthcoming bond. which is to be
taken by a justice. who is not responsible
like a sheriff, for the taking of good bonds.
Fhe bond 10 be given by the constable
| is too sniail1n the bill. The bill will in
crease litigation.
Mr.. Moore Of G & W. knew that he
wouldhav to contend with all the talent
and wisdom of the House. and that plen-
ty of holes would be picked 10 it. All
lie could say was, that if these wise mem
knew every thing, he knew something
These learned gentlemen, who have been
pinched in some way, have picked flaws
in THIS bill. which NAV be roughly drawn
up, though the intentions OF us '..Clod
hoppers' were very good in drawing il up.
He went for this bill, because other
States have adopted similar system,
which is found to work WELL AS it now
is. the poor sheep stand poor chance
with these lions and wolves, lawyers,
clerks and sheriffs. Under this bill, a !
man can go before Magistrate and con
TESS judgment and avoid heavy costs.
This bill is better than a stay law, and
is perfectly constitutional. No man
here, who wishes to deal out justice to
his nei ghbors, can find fault with this bill. |
MIR. Banks was neither lawyer nor
Doctor, but Justice of the Peace. lie
should vote for the indefinite postpone