Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-02
Col. EDWARD CoLsroS.

i Dear Sri have received your letter. re-
questing TO know my opinion on the subject
now agltating our State, whether tits, noto .ex-
pedient to call Convention toal,er our Consil-
tutisn.
1 Ihave been so long Withdrawn from the nc
tive politics of the County, that my opinions is,
perhaps,of small Importance; but yeti can not
decline expressing ii, when thus called on.
Let me observe in the first place. that this is
a question affecting entirely our domestic rea-
tons as citizens of Virginia, and ought not
therefore to be at all mixed up, with what are
called party politics. Cunning men. Of each
party, may, according to their view of Their
own interests, in the particular situations in
which they may be placed, endeavor 10 pro
duce contrary impression on the people, but
presume II is scarcely likely to produce more
Democrats or fewer Wings, determine this
question as we may. shall consider lt,there.
fore, lst As it affects the interests oe Virgin
ia at large; IDLY. As il affects that particular
district of country in which our individual in
terests are placed, and 3dly. As it affects the
interests Of Berkeley County in particular
A Convention is revolutionary movement
! BY it. all the political rights OF every citizen,
| from the highest TO the lowest, are submitted 10
the discretion of that body nor has any man,
any assurance either that the principles be
holds most dear in the Constitution will be re.
tanned, or the evil, he most desires to correct,
Will be removed. Before | can be induced
therefore TO leopard what deem valuable IN
the present Constitution, Unjust at least be con
WINGED, that there are practical evils likely TO
be redressed, OF sufficient magnitude, to war
rant ,he hazard of losing what is good. Are
| there such practical ills We must carefully
stitution, and those resulting from Legislation.
For instance, have heard some assign as
reason for advocating Convention, that our
Jury and Road systems are defective. las if they
could be corrected by a new Constitution.
If the people do not send, TO the Legislature,
men who can and will correct those evils BY
legislation, there is no prospect OF having them
better under new, than under the preseE!
Constitution. Ii is as liberal on these and ma.
ny other subjects of complaint, and allows to
the Legislature as ample room for reform, as
any which could possibly be framed.
! The most serious subject o. complaint with
many persons, is the County Court system.--
That il needs serious notifications, believe
but those which should think desirable, ean
| all be effected by the ordinary legislation
That our system Of magistracy should be rad
cally changed, would not, am sure, be accep
table 10 the great body of intelligent men u
| Virginia. The introduction of any of the sys
tens prevailing in either of the neighborins
States, would in my opinion be an evil oil i
self, far surprising any benefit likely to resui
| from the Convention. Our magistrates eharge
no fees yet can any man complain, that ls
has not been able to obtain their services 10
form some idea of the cost Of the Maryland OF
Pennsylvania systems, let us only remembG,
that in every little village in either State there
are one or two families, entirely and most
comfortably supported by the Office OF mag
is,rate II is Sought for by partizans, IS lle
reward of party zeal, and is always made sub.
servient to party purposes. The expense O
this system, to the State Of Maryland, does not
probably fall short of 100000 per annum.-
This falls almost exclusively on the poorer
classes Of people, whose Ettle transactions ial
within the magistrates jurisdiction, and render
small suits upon an average three times as eI'
pensive as in Virginia.
Here. although the appointments are no,a
ways good, yet generally they are the best ne
community affords, and surely no man cans
so prejudiced, if he compares the body Of @
magistracy in Virginia, with those OF The sSA
States adjoining, not TO perceive that iheyM
a different class of men. With us the mags
tracy always embraces the most respeeIaDs
and intelligent men in our community
though there may be unworthy indiylduas
there. YOU could not prevail on one oil 70"
class TO accept it There ] have ireqOeng
heard the most serious complaints against sAe
decisions Of their magistrates, and not uhls
quently impu,atons upon their lnlegh9 y
where are the decisions of the magistrates i'Uis
respected than in Virginia. Even Wheh w
unfortunate party thlnhs hilISen WINS
YOU never hear an imputaton on inc ,, hop'9Ef A
whatever may be thought ofthe intelligence &
the decision. Here the magistrates are peace
makers because every dispute IN the neighp~'
hood only adds 10 his trouble, without Yielding
,nv nrofit They therefore counsel Their neigF
boTs 10 peace, point out the proper COURSE
nnrsue in any difficulty, and are uniVelsall
The disinterested advisers, to whom the peoFN
look with confidence IN any difficulty, saFas
,bem much litigation and expense. IheMe'el b
little suit brings It's profits to The magisus.
upon these depend his daily bread. W.
which system is most likely 10 produce pea
harmony. and good will amongst the peoR@
which most likely 10 save their money IL
late GEORGE WOLFF once told me, tha' IA
| had been on visit to his brother, WhO =
been twenty years magistrate IN Shall't I
burg, and that on inspecting his BOOKS ns
ther told him, his average legal lees, aPR M
ing upon his docket, had been 5 supper ann
for that time Now who paid this Tue
thy or the poor.2 l,as
Our County Court also discharges me- 49,.
ofthe Oprhan's and Levy Courts IN tnose = hs
with an immense saving of expense, ~ % 10.
people, and these things account ior II, 'd;ng ID
that even before the necessity OF pfoVlslD,sa avs
the interest on their heavy State deol, ~ ,oes
IN Maryland, were on an average ~, 'Iiaeq pr,sef
as high as in Virginia. ] regard ms
vation Of our present system Of , masSa
therefore, however it may neea ll,ou ~ n Dc
as tAe best and cheapest that know % =
{ Union. .;,,,,;on nus
4 But we are told that the Constitutes Y, Nh Is
be altered. because political power Z s,; we rue
ribuied BY ii according to any l P0s ,beorcd
il shall moi pretend to discuss me 1 ny disrb
question Of how this power ought % u u wAe
uted; but Of this am certain, ina. n;ag. Nj
adhsres per,inaciously 10 any one . u pslsa
: he led INTO crievous errors; and thatas ,gar
ment is practical as well as theoreu'~