Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-29
V IN ID &c A T o r.
STANTON:
TO the Voters of the Convention
District, composed of the coun-
ties of Rockbridge, Augusta and
Highland

ties of Rockbridge, Augusta and
Highland:
Fezl61r- Citlsens Having announced myself
a candidate to represent you i'll the Convention:
which is to assemble in October next for the
purpose of reforming the Constitution of Virgin
la duty 10 you as we'll as justice to myself re-
quires that should make frank avowal of the
principles which will govern my action, should
be honorea by your Suffrage, with seat III
Convention
The limits " hieh have prescribed to myself
in this Address will preclude the possibility Of
discussing in detail the various principles Of
Constitutional Reform which | shal. herein a.
VOW. 1t shall be my aim to declare to you as
briefly as possible, the several reforms which in
my humble Judgment, should be incorporated in
the new Constitution.
/. As to basis of representation The whole
number of free white inhabitants is in my opin-
ion the only proper basis upon which to appor-
ton representation in the General Assembly. 1t
seems to me that the fear entertained by the OPP
ponents of the White basis; that property would
be subject to an undue measure Of taxation unless
protected by a property representation in the
Legislature, is altogether chimercial. Let there
be provision In the Constitution requiring all
taxes to be levied upon the ad Ualorem principle,
each citizen would then pay taxes In proportion
to the value Of his PROPERTY The adoption of
this principle of taxation would secure ample
and complete protection to the property holder,
and it is the only fair and equitable system Of
taxation. Upon the question OF the basi is of re-
presentation the people OF Western Virginia
should not yield Que inch of ground, Oh the con-
trary they should resist to the last extremity
every effort to deprive them OF it, as principle
which does not admit of compromise.
TT Tho ritrht of Snffra Shnu11 he vt Je1
to every free white male citizen of the age of
81 years and upwards, no. convicted Of any
crime, of sound mind and who shall have paid
all taxes assessed against him, who labors on
the highways, or Is subject 10 militia duty. |
would require as further qualification, resi-
dence in the State IL months All voters should
have but one vote, and that should be cast only
i'll the county of his residence.
iii. The present County Court system should
be abolished. Our county courts as at present
organized, are mainly defective in this, they are
charged with the execution of duties utterly
dissimiar and inconsistent one with the other.
They exercise common law and chancery iuris-
diction, they are courts OF Oyer g. Terminer and
general Jail delivery. a Court Probate, a court
of police, in short, they are happy illustration
of the old saying-EJaek of all trades and master
| of none' Although the gentlemen who sit up
on the county bench are most generally men Of
high intelligence and moral worth-yet such is
the nature of the many duties which they are
required to perform that it is scarcely matter OF
surprise, that the business of the County Courts
is always in arrear, and often when done, done
in hasty and negligent manner, to the great
injury of suitors therein.
As substitute for the County Court, and
would recommend the election of three Com
missioners, who should constitute a "County
Commissioners Court" This Court should
have charge of the general police and revenue OF
the county-and before them should be settled
and allowed all claims against the COUNTY. This
Court should also be charged with the selection
of Jurors grand and petit, for the Circuit Court
The mode OF selecting Juries should be this
let there be made out a complete roll of every
discreet, sober man in the county, between the
ages of FL and 60-the name OF each man to be
written upon a separate ballo., and the ballot
deposited in box, from this box should be
drawn at random Sc names-the first 20 to
constitute grand jury-the remaining SO to
constitute the petit julies for the term of the
Circuit Court The Jurors should be selected
andysummoned at least four weeks previous to
the first day of the term of the Circuit Court,
thus giving to those selected ample time TO ar
range their affairs, so as to attend upon the
Court, without Injury TO their business
The names Of The jurors drawn should be
placed in box and there to remain until the
whole of the ballots from the first box are drawn
out. BY pursuing this course, the burden of
serving upon juries, will tall equally upon
every citizen and the services of competent Jurors
would be always secured. The Jurors thus Sc
lected should receive fair compensation for
their services
All the details above set forth, would not of
course engraft in the Constitution. They are
proper subjects of Legislative action. | have
given them only for the purpose of showing the
practical operation of a couIt thus constituted
advocate this system not as an untried expert
ment-but as one sub ected to the test of actual
experience in many OF our sister States where it
has been found to work well, and is attended
with but little expense. ,
| ". AS further substitute for the County
Court, I would establish in each county, a Pro
bate Court to consist of a single Judge. Which
Court should be vested with power, and have
Jurisdiction over all things pertaining 10 the
office and duties of Executors, Administrators
and Guardians. The delay and expense usual,
attending the settlement Of the accounts of the
| Executors, Administrators and Guardians is a
subject of universal complaint. Under our pre-
sent system, the evils complained of is unavod
able. The only corrective will be found in the
organization of Probate Court By throwing
all of the business pertaining to Executors, Ad.
| mlnlSfratorS and Guardians INTO single court
charged with no other duty than that of seeing
that Executors, Administrators and Guardians
perform their duties faithfully and promptly. and
in conformity with law, we ensure the speedy
settlement of EXecutoral and Administrative
accounts, and Guardians will be kept up to the
strict line of theiI duty.
The Judge OF Probate will at all times ope.
rate as check upon the conduct of Executors Ad
minisrators and Guardians, he can bring them
to settlement as often as he may deem expe
dent for the interest of the estate, and, under
the supervision OF a vislant upright Judge there
will be no opportunity for plundering the es
good reason to believe is row too often done.
V. Justices of the Peace should be elected By
the people for term of years; (not exceeding
years,) and in all causes of action founded up
on contract for the payment Of money, their III
risdction should be extended to one HUNDRED