Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-09

PIE ioi the same; and above MI they decide III
snail DC MADE justice OF their own cour,
lney may oe member Of tae Legislature. Gru
eldi III Tue mi!i'ia, and justice Of The couu. al
d. me same 'ihe uey may pass law in the
| Legislature, come home and gel ON The hench :"
justice, and decide upon that law and ,ban %
der out the Militia as a General, 10 enforce snoL
! law. Such power, IN any class Of men. CAM.
fail TO establish IN any county an aris,ocrac.
and, If this court is continued long, will mae.
hereditary arstocracy complete. Men hay;,a
such powers il is natural and often true lbaI,s
| appoint many Of their own relations 10 6l,.E
Offices at their disposal. Justices OF the ns,c.
are sometimes nominated by the cour, for ns,,,.
purposes. II is often ditficnlt 10 form COM,
AMI you cannot compel Them 10 81, unless tbs,,,
choose. Justices make other justices wben ,hs!.
please, and they are in for life; and wheIher a.!
qualified or negligent Of their duty. YOU CAM,
remove Them for improper decisions, or for I'M
posing any county tax they choose 10 lew on II.
people. ~
A King cannot make King, nora Lord male
LorI-bul Justices make Justice o..he pears
for life. Such power does not exist in aoy
court, or members Of any court, in Enasnd
| or France this day, as cur justices now re>.
sess and exercise in Virginia and i. lie
county courts, and the justices OF the peace
who compose them, have net been Ivrannical
and oppressive, il has not been for The wan. o.
power, bu, owing 10 the grand corrective found il
| the controlling opinions OF a high minded, TEE
and virtuous people, aided BY portion Of the las
| tees who compose our courts, who were animated
| by that noble and generous spirit which animate,
our people Ia frown upon, and j. needs I've 10 pre-
vent, tyranny and oppression, come from VI at
quarter they may. Very many otthe justices hem.
selves are opposed 10 the county count, as a. pre
| sent organized, and advocate a change Hear
| what Mr.. Jefferson SAYS vi The coun'y court. m !
| letter TO friend: at is their sel-appoinmer,
| wish 10 correct, 10 find some means u b,eakine
| up a caba, when such one gels Possession n
| the bench when this takes place, il becomes be
nus, affecting ofiyrannies, because lis powers are
| So various, and exercis ed on everything mus, lin.
mediarcly around US. And how many n>auc.
have you and | known Of these mcnopolies o.
county administration. know a county in which
| particular family Ca numerous one) COT posses
sion OF the bench, and Tor whole genera ion n-
yer admitted man upon il who was no, OF hi,
| clan OF connection. know 4 couuty now OF l5oO
militia, Of which sixty are Federaliss; lis coug
are OF 30 members, 20 Of which are Feiegass
feyery third man Of the sect There arr arg
and populous districts in it, without justice 10.
cause without CederaIist Tor appoin,mtr'; h
militia are as disproportionably under ledefalcf.
GERS, and there is no authority on earth which
can break up this JUNO, short of a genera On.
venlion The remaining l4i0 free fighting All.
paving citizens, are governed By men nelue- y
their choice nor confidence, and without hope
# relief; they are certainly excluded from
tho blessings OF tree government, ior lie, AM T.
definitely Tor ausht the constitution has pFovr
ded"
These details must satisfy many members q
the evils which grow out OF the sell creation q.
county magistrates Tor lite. The correction y
this defect OF there was no olher) III our IRE.
sent Constitution, should OF Itself inilnerce this
House 10 vote Tor the call of a Convention, an
in The formation al new Constitution hope p
see the members Of the County Coun elected hy
the people Tor a term OF years. None need be
alarmed Tor the independence al The County
Court for you will find, that al head quarters here
in Richmond City, Magistrates are virtually
elected BY the people every ycar and ihey are
'ound to be as independent, AMI quite a pure :,
J if they were elected by Court Tor HE, ani /
have no doubt they are more responsible ID he
people desire also 10 relieve The County Cou'
OF The great trouble and perpexily ot eec'ins lhe
county officers. wish 10 see the people coihei
with The power oi eectins ior FERN 81 years
no, only Inc Justices OF the Peace, hut also the
sherills, clerks, commissioners 81 Inc revenue,
surveyor, and down, il Won please, TO constables.
and hope no gentleman here or elsewhere WI
feel unhappy at The idea OF giving The people NJ
trouble OF attending 80 many elections; lor
will be borne in mind il can all be Gone III fhe
day, Just as easy as voting Tor " electors ior Pc
sidpnt and Vice Presiden, oil The uniied STAIRS
II the great body OF the people are willing 70 IN
dertake the elections, | hope none Of those oil.
GERS now in power will trouble themselves by ~.
posing The wishes Of The people. Tie compe
iency Of the people cannot he questioned, e.
cause il they are qualified 10 elect members 70 The
Legislature and Congress, and 10 voIc tor ne
Presidential electors, they are certainly iualiilel
10 vote Tor their own county officers.
Mr.. Speaker, | have long desired to Sc Ne
Magistrates and county otncers elected BY lhe
people; then, sir, The meriorious ard enlerrri'rs
Young men, in all orr counties, who have caracl.
ty will stand Il fair chance Of being elected y MI
such Offices but as things nov are lie couh',
court appoint all officers and appoint themselves
IN the bargain; and, together, Ihey form cou'l
party, known and ell in most Of The counties, ana
none can obtain an office unless ihe2 20 with dat
parry, or are related 10 some 81 The lnsiices, or
have some strong friends on The bench, 10 brig
Them toward and press their claims. LEI he
elections tor officers take place Ill Virginia, ant
Young men, as well a Others oi rrer years, who
have genius, enterprise and talents, viii remain
Al home in their own counties, with a lar chaite
of advancement; whereas by the present Consii
iQllUn tneV nave no cHdIit, anu many young urn
of enterprise and high atlainments, finding 10
nope oil promotion in their native State, are ofctd
TO remove to the far West, where industry ana
merit find a sure reward and where enterprise
and genius are not tetere,i by the acton III set
created aristocTacy. Mr.. Speaker, the Lcgisl4.
ture now meets every year. see 10 necessity ihi
the Legislature TO NEE, more Than once ~ tuo
years which is the case in some OF he Olh.i
States, and answers well. In The mean TINE, ~
any great emergency, the Governor misht cal
the Legislature This change in The ConNlm.
lion would save 10 The lax PAYERS nearly onehun
dred thousand dollars biennially.
Mr.. Speaker Convention is incsahie Ih
fails This session, il will be owing 10 olesenslcn
among is friends upon the organization ihe
Convention has friends enough on Inn h'oi
carry il, if they will unite; but il they diTiie L.
tween the bill reported by he Commute, ah1 "
substitute OF The gentleman from Wyihc, to"
fears OF the result call upon the friends "a
Convention 10 hang together, and carry NE ,at'
silulc anxiously desire rs success, because
il is based on the true Republican prlnolps
which consulls the will Of the majority q '.e
qualified voters OF the Stale. The people aie
awake on tie Convention question, IN q par'
Of the Commonwealih-both East and "ss-
from Accomack 10 Brooke ircm Allcehany
Buckinsham-nol only individuals bui "ha'
counlies in Eastern Vir, mia are enilsiei " rs
good cause. am proud in haiIins a 'lend'
Amherst, Bedford, Campbell Madison Fnn'
William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fransin Buce'l''
ham, Accomack; and others which misnt naIIf
added The entire West, presen 4, once, too
consideration the fact that there is fecMt.
majority on this floor in favor OF a Convenuon
II We refuse 10 submit this question 10 he drtsoa
Of the people, The excitement which has oe2u-
will continue 10 increase; The ball IS ~ ".
ton and il will never rest until this question
decided the people will rise in The maJfsy
their power, and demand The call OF Gomez
lion.
Mr. Speaker, have endeavored 10 BRING
the consideration of this House what deem
be the most prominent defects IN The present Coi
siiu,ion of our STATE. have been imPe!iei
express my views, rom a sense OF duty aot
hope The period is ose al hand when The ''e.'
in our Constitution will find a remedy 10 e
neral Convention, which will break up 'fed'u
voting and conhne voters 10 their own canhF
amend the judiciary; reform The county cogls