The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-16
For the Old Dominion.
THE COUNTY COURT sYsTEM

'"nshea. that men, free men, should suffer them
selves to be imposed upon-should, with their
eyes vide open, acquiesce in the continuance Of
system. The operations Of which are wholly in
compatible with every republican principle. w,
i've IN land where the people are called soyer
e'shs-whsre there is no rghlful authority which
o"es mol emanae from them and yet, we tamelv
submit To an institution, grossly arstocra tic in is
origin and in all its tendencies | do NOT. of
course .smean by these remarks that we sbou,d
resist 1t IN the exercise Of its legitimate functions
that would be species of radiratisn,, which "a,
never nnd favor with good citizen. But [ do
mean TO say, that the people should never relax
!he', energies until they shall have removed this
incubus which weighs down all independence.
ies' let them 60 into conuen lion, and see if
me voice OF JUSTICE is still mute: let them not.
Tor single moment, abandon the warfare. mill
inc whole system is eradicated forever
we are always ready to cry out against the
anr's1ocracy OF England, and other countries of
Europe where power is entrusted to a priviIeg.d
class, and fatter ourselves ,ha, we are the orJv
happy people on earth who are free from such de-
grading trammes. What vain delusion Is not
our county court magstracy privileged class?
Invested with extraordinary power, which they
mold Tor life, and which they bequeath to their
chiaren and relations, they not an aristocraoy
In Its most odious sense2 Can England boast
any OF deeper dye2 Do We not see it running
49, '""'ioo iiotu generation 10 generation
ana are men more competent, have they a better
right, merely because they belong to a certain
JantiyF do we acknowledge the doctrine that
mere Is any one among US, "born to command 20
rave we. the people, any more control over them.
than the horse over his rider? Are we mot bitt.d
and bridlcd, compelled to receive upon our backs.
willing or unwilling it matters not, any one whom
a privileged class may sec proper to invest with
The boots and spurs? Have not the people vet
Of ho.r
beheid how charmingly it works. for the benefit
ignored Je,o Are they still gazing in stu
pehed wonder and perplexity at the magical pro
cess by which the jsdicial ladder is ascepded2
Are they anxious to witness still farther exbib
lions IN the mysterious science of lop.roilino2
'uus' we NOT dare to speak on this subject above
whisperf Are we afraid of being called yadi
sa"t ie' US sPurn 1t with such feelings as be-
longed to our revolutionary ancestors. when thu,
were stgmatized as rebels! "He is a freemeo
whom 'he truth makes free !" and has anv man
OF SET OF men, dressed in little brief autbori
W right to suppress it's utterance2 Let us
speak out boldly upon this great question. If
the people are true to themselves, and determined
10 uphold their independence and dignity of char
acter, they will never let il die. They will keen
IL awe not for the benefit of politicians; but for
their own sakes, they will nourish and cherish i,
TIL 1t atalns strength which shall tear down the
last pillar that supports this arstocratic fabric
use the word arisfocratic," because il rroat
accurately designates the true nature of an insti
tuition which is yet imposed upon democratic
community.
have already alluded to the system az uniting
over the heads OF the people an irrespon sibIs
Seg-elected body body invested with more
powers than any other known TO our instituton,
IN all SUITS at law and In chancery it's Jurisdiction
is almost without any limit Its bowers in crimi.
nal cases are exceedingly extensive. II is almo.,
Impossible to present an adequate idea of the snor-
nous influence which it exerts over life. liberty
ana estate But, Independently of its judicial
character, 1t sxefcls 5 the high legislative power
OF taxation. 1t annually leyies upon the people
Jul" such an amount of tar as it pIeases, and then
exPends that tax according to such Vows of the
Puoic in'eres' as may enter into the fancy of the
county court And here we NAV observe in fnlI
force among US, at this late day, the very princi-
pie IN opposition to which the patriots of the rs.
voiution look up arms against the mother country
aIiuoe 70 the principle of taxation ,oittoui rsp.
rssenfatton. They were taxed by Parliament.
and why did they resist? Simply because they
hae notning to do with the election Of those that
taxed them. In the same manner, we are faxed
by body Of men, in The election of ,ohon, the
people hare no Uoice. address the inouiry tn
the descendants Of those who fought and died for
the glorious principle, that taxation and yspr.-
senfos'on should eucr be combined, and ask if wa
are now Ioady to abandon that principle and
meekly submit to be taxed by body of men
wholly independent Of and irresponsible to us3
II they could fight for such principle, il is IN
be hoped that zoe have at least spunk enough to
vote for it.
But, further: their powers are ezecutiue like.
wiso will not enter into discussion of the
nice shades of difference between a ,nin;st,y;nI
and an erecUtive officer; even those who recoU.
ME such distinction will readily agree, that IA
to tho collection Of those taxes imposed by the
court, tho sheriff is to all in,ents and purposes an
executive officer. And who is the sherif7 ON.
Of their own number. They make law
RATING reUenue by the impoRtion of tar,,
(Which by tho way is the highest power Of leois'
lation,) question arises under that law and t5sv
decide IL; it is to be executed, and the sberiS
Gone OF themselves) executes it.
Now let me ask the question what iaad,,.
potisn2 II is where legislative, executive ,nd
judicial powers are VESTED in the same banda 40
that without any extravagant use of lanon,oo
this irresponsible body may be justly called des
potism.
Their patronage also is immense. Blu, no, 10
dwell upon the manner in which it is usually dis-