Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-12-14
/, NUMBER 10.

with which they have commenced. am confident
thai 81 10000 is the beast sum that viii suffice 10
meet the pubt engagements up TO The end OF The year
1901 And TO prevent an enlargement OF this sum,
You viii have 70 pass an ac similar The one passed
on the 18th OF March ls40, entitled ian directing
Inc suspension OF surveys and subscriptions oil the
part OF the Stae;" which earnestly recommend
In my iormer annual COMMUNICATIONS presented
TO The General Assembly The importance OF dgesting
system OF internal Improvements which should be
confined 70 TWO great rairoads.he Indispensable me-
lcessy Of dcierrlng all secondary works until those
should De compleied-tLe certainty wheo that period
ARRIVED oil realizing income sufficient rapidly to
complete every work in which private capital would
lengags-and appealed % The pride. patriotism and
wisdom Oh your predecessors for he adoption or this
lpoltcys but appealed IN vain. County roads, sec
uonai schemes, improvements that properly belonged
10 the past or the future found favor with The general
assembly, thereby absorbing 10 great extent The re-
sources OF the stale, without contributing essenaIIy
70 her improvement, or advancing in but slight de-
gree, u a, all to the completion Of The great works in
dIspensabe TO the attainment Of that high destiny To
which she = properly entitled
| herewith communicate the resignation Of Judge
Edwin - Duncan, and inform you that have ap-
pointed George H. Lee, Esq, OF HARRISON an accom-
pllshed lawyer, 10 fill the vacancy thus created. re-
gtei 10 have 70 inform you of the death ofai anabe
upright and learned lawyer, JuIge James r. Ghol-
SON have appointed that well known and expert
enced lawyer, john w. Nash, Esq. Of Powhaian, 10
succeed HIM.
/ respectfully invite ysur attention 10 The county
courts and The justices thereof II Is not be dsguis-
I'd, that this important tribunal has suffered Of late
years 10 the public esmalion and that its reform il
essential TO its u,liy This reform Is entirely prac-
cable. and the right 10 make arJ within the scope
| Of your constitutional powers.
The right which the members OF this possess
| q appointing Their successors. was unknown 10 oui
English ancestry, and il raceable early cooni-
81 legislation liis power liable 70 great abuse. and
y frequently exered 70 establish Or continue family
anu party influence, 70 the prejudice Of the best inter-
ess u the people Although this power is created BY
the eonst tuton and cannot therefore Ne aniulled.
yet may undoubtedly, be 90 regulated BY law as 10
prevent much ofthe abuse which il is now liable.
but our laws have also increased the Objectionable
powers Of this court BY the revised ACT OF Sanitary
II, 1919, II Is made the duty of the county court
nominate 10 The Governor three ofther own body, one
Of whom 70 BIZ commissioned so execute the Office Of
sheriff IN such county," BY the act Of March 6,
1879 u IS made the duty OF the county courts 10 APP
point commissioners 0 the revenue and the practice
IS, IN some sections Of the State 10 confer this APP
po'niment IN annualsuecession upon members OF their
own body. An act was passed on The 24th Of Febru
airy, lo4l to arrest this mischieyous Practice but 1t
Is practically defeated BY the appointment OF some
member OIL the family OF the Justice; who by rotation
would have received it but for tie provisions Of this
law. This court exercises each Of these offices,
in some respects official supervision; and may he
called upon 20 ac against both judicially Can be
justice against officers with whom The members Of the
court must necessarily. and may be 10 short time
change places Z. The most upright men. unconsci-
ously . themselves, may be affected IN their opinions
~ tue unseen sympahies which viii assuredIy arise
from such relations. BY passed April 2, 1881, it
~ provided that this court shall appoint commission
ers o election Tor their coun,y practically, this is an
important political power. and is exerted almost inya
riably Tor the advancement OF party ends. and tends
necessarily 10 impair their character for Justice aud
ri a uf he De0
T Pile.
In this brief review Of some of the powers Of this
important court, you cannot fail TO that other
similar tribunal has ever been entrusted with such
mass OF delicate and important powers well cacu-
lated 10 impair IFS just value Of justice and
therefore hope tina. you will concur with in the
necessity us reformation.
In aid OF this design, respectfully suggest the pas
sage Of law, providing that the several counties OF
the stale shall be divided DISTRICTS each containing
from one 10 Two thousand inhabitanis that justice
Of the peace be appointed Cor each DISTRICT who shall
reside therein; that the justice Of such dis,rleI shall
mold therefor, al some central point monthly court
three justices shall be competent TO form the coun.
" court that the justices shall BE- required to hold
the county court IN prescribed rotation that al fu-
ture nominations by the shall be TO I'll vacancies
as they occur; that the justices shall BE- incapable Of
holding the shrievalty that they shall each receive
one hundred and fifty dollars for their services per
year, payable out OF the county levy; that they shal
farm out The shrieyay, the proceeds Of whith shall
pdit VI Tue county revenue mat e3cn JUS
tice 10 his district which shall be an election precnei
shall be er ocio sole commissioner Of election there
IN and that the county court shall appoint coDsia-
BILE for each district, who shall within such boubds ca
Cco perform the present election duties Of the sheriff
aud the duties also OF the commissioner Of the reve~
nue.. BY this system the justice and his constable
the officers conducting all elections would necessari-
" know every person within their district and conse-
quenily could protect the ballot box against fraud !:
particularly It ZACH were required TO vote in the
district IN which he possessed the right Of suffrage
by it, no subject OF taxation could escape the eve of
the commissioner, and would be increased
and, lastly, by the county court would be stripped
! Of those powers which affect It's impariaii.y and
shake IL IN the public confidence.
ask attention 10 the report OF tie atliutaut genera,
herewith communicated. Our present militia sve..tn
requires thorough reform. As is Il wastes ne lime
Of the people, leads to dissipation aad /, 4 anon
the treasury, without one reieeming advantage f'he
enrolment, requisite to Obtain our propofan of H.
appropriation by the federal government q, arm;nU
tue militia does not make il NECESSARY Ia /, ssn -
made more thorough and complete by 4 different ~ i
tenn. In overy point Of view. recommend M s,h.
lJect to your careful consideration
herewith communicate The designations az (,.n
Evan >. Pindall OF the 10Th brigade Sd division. and
OF Gen Thomas H. Bots. 81 brigade, I'd division q
the Virginia militia.
KENTUCKY : NE 9ArNEx1 STATE.
The Frankfort Commonwealth states tla The ofl;c,
Il