Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-19
For TIE ENQUIRER.

In the latter, but often happens that the rights
of persons aud OF property are rendered insecure from
the influences of families and neighborhoods, bringing
together common feelings and purposes, and winch can
only be controversial in larger communities by the I'm
nariialtv proby aud good sense which may be found
| in more extended population.
| The efforts for counties, generally. have their
or rim in thirst fr ctce however small they may be,
which is gradually destroying that contented happiness
and love OF honorable independence Of character,
which formerly distinguished the people Of Virginia.
The destinations of such appointments, embodes host
Of partizans in favor OF every project, TO set oft new
county and the candidates for seats in the Legisa
tpre but too readily yield their cooperation, and,
thereby ACQUIRE formidable list of active supporters.
The people are msled by the vision of transactng
their business to their homes butt when too late,
they fad themselves subjected TO the burhens oferect-
ling public buildings, and dernying the annual charges
of a county organization, which had previously been
Fl divided with much larger population.
/ Bringing justice TO their doors is among the mos,
successful allusemeIs yet its duration is short-Cu
riosy, to try the workings OF their machinery,
and the encouragement of the young lawyers about
the courthouse, often leads poverty and ruin,
which would have been avoided, perhaps, il more time
and cooler reflections had interviewed, and OF which
distant courthouse might have secured them the
benefits.
However pleasing may be the anticipatons of bene
fits from courthouses, taverns, new stores,
and passions, the body of the people who pay
ALL not long in finding out that these are but
UaltS, WHICH many leu
vices, destructive OF their prosperity and happiness
To jud;cious legislator, this policy of multiplying
our counties must be Objectionable III another point OF
view, particularly in the present exhausted state oil
the Treasury aud depressed condition OF the people
Every county draws upon the public iisc tor adj
diiional sums Of money, without any increase OF The
conributions-ea Circuit Court annually draws Tor
the prosecuting attorney, sheriff, clerk, and Jaor,
$3.50. AT the commencement two sei;s OF record
books, Common law and chanceryD are to be pro.
vidcd, making average expenditure of Sl0O-then
comes the commissioner OF the revenue, annually,
$3.50; and The examination of his books with the va
other incidental charges the Treasury, canno;
be estimated at less than $500 per annum, giving the
aggregate expenses of county, for the first year,
at $500, and $3.50 per annum afterwards New coun.
ties gradually overlooking the judges, by the in.
creased travelling and business which they produce
and the relief Of those gentlemen will find active ad
vocates in the aspirants TO judicial appointments and
in the syGpatbies Of the people, comparing the in
equali;ies Of udicel labor. The first organization OF
courts and experience since that period shows that
SIX counties in the West and middle portions Of the
State is the average extent al which the judicial cir
cults be Observation-Disclosures, we may expect,
that every counties WILL or later, result
in an additional circuit bringing with each county
prospective charge the Treasury of $500, its
prorcr,ion of salary and mileage Of judge in od
dltion TO those enumerated OF The counties recently
created and those nov asked for, how many will
bring into the Treasury revenue equal to the charges
be paid and should their contributors exceed their
increased taxes place the amounts distracted, main
y 10 crafty the sinister purposes out Of which such
applications too frequently arise
Il is not however, the part OF good citizen TO point
out the evils against which he complains without sug
costing the remedies by which they may be avoided
and the means OF distinguishing cases, entitled to IA
vorabe considerations, from such ought not to re-
ceive legislative sanction With these views, the fol-
lowing suggestions respectfully submitted to the
consideration Of the members Of the General Assem-
hlv in add n he hpr
Some Of them are derived from the enactments Of
neghborng States, and the others supposed to be
called Tor, by the tendencies manfestng themselves in
various parts Of the Commonwealth
First.-Let copies of ali petitions for the creation Of
counties, or, changing The limits of those pre-
existing, be filed with the cler, of the county court of
each county, pettoned TO be divided the boundaries
thereof changed, at least sixty days before the meeting
Of the General Assembly, to which such petition is TO be
presented, clearly setting out the boundaries and lines
proposed for such new county, changes in the lines
Of other counties that, Oh the application Of the pc
ttioners, such clerk, with the commissioner, or com
nssioners of the revenue and surveyor of the county,
shall together according 10 their best knowledge and
judgment, aided by all documentary, and other cvi
dence, accessible TO them, make up abstract, show
ing the probable number Of of land proposed TO
be taken ros such county, and the amount of revenue
assessed thereon-the number of slaves, horses, and
other taxable personal property within the same limits
and the amount of taxes payable therepn-and the
number of ti,hable persons, within the bounds
sioner and suveyor-one copy thereof 10 he delivered
10 the petitioners and duplicate to be deposited in the
Office Of the cerk-giying reasonable compensation Tor
these services 10 petition for the division of county,
or to change the boundaries thereof, to be received
and acted upon by the General Assembly, unless &C
companied with certificate of the clerk OF the fling
of copy thereof before described and the abstract
and certificate of the clerk, commissioner Of the
and surveyor as 70 Inc area revenue anu ihaoes
8 above specified.
Second Whenever il shall appear expedient TO the
Legislature to declare the boundaries, and give name
10 county, the acting justices, residing within the
bounds therefor suitable number Of persons TO be
elected by the people-to form board of commission
ers with power TO levy money, TO erect all suitable and
necessary public buildings, to make contracts therefor
and superiatend their due execution. When a court.
house shall not be located IN previously existing
town, let it be the condition oil such LOCATION thatsthe
proprietor of the land shall convey twenty five acres
around the site Of the court house TO trustee; one
acre to be set apart for the public buildings, and the re-
sdue be laid off streets, alleys and ots-eVery
alternate loi 10 be sold for the use OF the county, and
the monies applied to The erection OF public buildings
and the other series of alternate iots, 10 remain lhe
property OF tina original proprietor.
Third-Whenever the PUBLIC buildings are compile
ted and notice thereof given to the Goyernor let HIM
the to be inspected oy one or more coH's
soners and it. on their report, he finds them fit and
appropriate as required by law, make It his duty TO IS
sue his proclamation, fixing day on which such new
county shall become crganZed, IN iu and ample man
ner but, until such organization, the operation Of all
laws. ard the Jurisdiction of the courts, ocers and all
others to remain and continue as # no law had Lesa
passed giving origin to such county, except that
The inbsbs Ms thereof be exempted from leyys and
other contributions for repairing, or erecting public
BUILDINGS in The old counties f.om which they are TO
be taken.
FourA-As il is a serious calamity 10 the people OF
any county, 10 have an ignorant and incompetent clerk
by which the proceedings OF his court are often eVer
sed-occasioning serious losses and exPenses-et this
evil be remedied by requiring all candidates for those
Offices presen, COMMUNICATIONS from The justices, ,hs
,horor,bly md on ce5,fyine them to be duly quail
ssd SUCH san d 10 become eligible 70 the Office
courts to make appointments, pro t'mp0re-and' at
the end of three months, TO seiect the Pernlanen'
clerk, from the candidates ouna quaii'ea On e"a''
tons, as before suggested.
These thoughts are respectfully submitted. without
entering INTO The details which will necessarily sug-