Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-06-04
The Convention.

sovereign capacity, TO elect members OF
: Convention 10 be assembled for the pur-
pose of remodeling the Constitution OF The
State. The necessity for such change
must be apparent TO every one who has
witnessed the operation of the laws as ad-
minist.red under the miserable COnstltu-
ton now in existence. Our readers may
perhaps think it pTesumP'lous IN u.s. thus
10 denounce as miserable, the handlworK
OF such men as Madison, Giles, Doddrluge'
Leigh, Johnson and others, whose lame
is co.extensive with the limits OF the coun-
try, and whose names illustrate the bright
est pages in the history of their native
State. 1t is true the body which framed
our present Constitution contained de-
gree Of talent unsurpassed by any body OF
men ever assembled in this country. Not
even the Senate of the United States in lis
palmies, days. distinguished as ii has ever
been for its great wisdom, could produce
greater concentration Of intellect.
There were gathered. men who had NIL
ed the high places under the government
of their State, and of the nation; and FILL
ed them TOO with distinction, and with
honor to themselves, and yet, the Constr
tuition of Virginia, with all its impertec-
tons, and with scarcely redeemlng clause
in its length and breadth, was the creation,
the offspring Of such minds.
Ii may be we'll to enumerate few OF
the changes which have recommended
themselves TO our minds as necessary and
as demanded by the wants of the people.
And first OF all, we may very properly
name the County Court system as the
greatest blot upon the history of Virginia
--as relic of monarchy, possessing as II
does the three powers Of government
which. when combined in the hands OF
one man, or one set of men, constitute III
lis very essence monarchical power, but
when separate, and lef! to operate in their
appropriate spheres, each is watch TO
GUARD, and check to restrain the other.
TO simplify-our County Courts are com
posed of gentlemen who possess leglsIa-
tive, judicial and executive powers. We
need not give an example of this tribune
power. Every reader knows It's exist
ence.
Another in.uperable objection TO
the system is the responsibility of the
magistrates. SelfaPpointed, seli-created'
thew are above and beyond the reach OF
the people, whose lives and property they
hold in the palms Of their hands; they
NAV tax them until their substance, hoard
ed up by their daily toll, and by the hon
estsweat oftheir brows,is greatly reduced
hut all remonstrance is in vain there Is
no redress. |, were useless 10 enlarge
upon this supject---the evils of our Coun'
" Cour, system. The people know them
for they have felt them, soreIy felt them,
1t may be proper in this connection to
allude to the jury system; and now,
doubtless, we have the hearty concurrence
Of every reader, when we proclaim this
an evil of great magnitude Our jnrles'
called together without regard to capacity
decide matters in dispute involving prop
erty TO large amounts, and which require
1.-The application Of sound discretion and
good judgement properly to determine
Besides being dangerous TO lItigants, the
iuries themselves experience great neon
r yenience in being summoned unexpected
", and without any previous notice to 81
upon cases which may de,ain them day
after day from their families and business
and often with considerable loss, not only
Of time, but Of money also. CertainI!
every good citizen owes a duty to tn
Commonwealth, which he should SHOW
no want o. aIacrity in discharging, but re
, ally this is asking too great sacrifice o
him.
We have spun OUT this article to to
! great length, and we must therefor
conclude it, intending to touch upon othe
matters connected with this subject here
y after.
i New Church:
. I've learn from the Examiner that III