Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-02-11
COUNTY COURTS.

The following extract is taken from a cores
pondent of the Lynchburg Patriot, Wing paper:
There is another subject Of reform, however,
upon which there may be some differences OF O.
pipion. allude 10 the present County Court
system Of Virginia Although this topic will;
perhaps be more appropriately discussed when
The people are called upon to elect delegates to
the proposed convention, yet it is not out OF
place now, and shall be excused, know, tor
briefly atIverting to it. Have We contemph-
ted in all its bearings. the immense power Wleld'
ed aud exercised BY the County Courts OF tins
Commonwealth Have we sufficiently consi-
dered the total irresponsbility OF Justices OF the
Peace to the proessed source OF all power the
people? Magistrates are the creatures OF their
own appoiutment-a sslf rerpet'Hting body
They exercise judicial and legislative authority,
and tqr the people 10 whonl they owe no res
possibility. By the force Of the principle OF
their creation, may it not happen, (yea, is it not
the cause Of lond murmurs and complaints . that
one family and its friends have by the force oil
favorable influences and positions at first, gotten
the reius power and authority into their own
hands, Tin many of the counties, and especially
small ones ne1er 10 be resiened2 Who ever
heard of power being voluntarily given up! |
believe there are but one or two memorable eX-
amples in the annals of kings, but few an the
humble vet all potent office of Justices OF the
Peace, and no examples where families have
ever willingly given up their power and lnflu-
ence in any community. Power can never be
satiated-its motto always is, and has been,
give give! Power and responsibility beeet
pride and an inclination to exercise auteorlty
and hen these get hold Of the human mind the
result must be, aud is, wrongs and outrages up
on the rights of persons and Of property. Pow
er naturally becomes blind and indifferent, and
the most dear and important interests. yea, the
liberty of the subject himself, is sacrificed at It's
ullfullowed shrine with self-complacent ease.
s.rsrzze-zzzzsz.,.z.sz
~ We have not space this week to say
word to our friend 'Independence' of the fit-
teen shilling organ The last shot we fred seems
to have had effect, and he has retroactive
shall pursue him with "sharp stck"-we are
anxious TO know con what meat this Caesar doth
feed that he has grown so great" H1s soon
temptuous silence" will not prevent us from
speaking freely though we dare say if we had
40, thrown a block in the way of the asp'rant:
we should, by this time, have been killed by his
kindness.
To- We understand that a gentleman in this
town has stated that he knows the author OF
certain article which appeared in our paper a
few weeks ago. He says he saw the manuscript
while compositor was at work at it. Now, as
there were several communications in the paper
referred TO, we should Ike to know how ne
could tell which communication the compositor
was engaged on unless he read a portion OF 1t,
and that, to say the least, was very bad manners
He didn't guess right, after ALL Ha ha
A SINGULAR CASE TO BE DECIDED IN THE Su-
pREME CoURT-About three years since, Il rch
old man, by the name of Houehtou, OF queer
composition, died in the town of Bolton, III this
State. leaving the town $12, 900 to be applied to
educational purposes, with the proviso that nine
families manned in the willy should not partake
OF any Of the advantages arising from the invest
ment of said money, neither they,. nor their
heirs, for one hundred years; otherwise The mo
new should revert back to his lawful heirs. The
town, anxious to secure the amount thus meanly
bequeathed, complied with the old mans terms
and received the sum through the town treasurer
For two years the mrney laid at interest. At
the expiration of that time the principal and III
terest was added to one thousand dollars more,
which had been raised by an equal taxation,
levied upon the citizens OF the place, and an aca-
denny building was erected and furnished IN
beautiful style
The school commenced, and the children OF
the nine families mentioned were sent, but adj
mission was refused them, notwithstanding their
parents had paid their proportionate part towards
raising the S 600 extra, to which we have re-
(erred. Here storm arose. The town author
Tics not knowing how to settle the matter bet
ter, made an effort to compromise with the three
heirs. and obtain their consent to let them keep
The money and allow the children of the nlne
families to enjoy the privileges OF the srhool.I
One ofihem consented, but the other two de-
cinet, probably in the hope that the $1,000.
would revert back to them. The children OF
The nine families have not yet been admitted:
and their parents contend that they have as
much RIGHT in the school as the children OF any
other tax payers. So The case standsat present,
and will remain until decided by full bench OF
The Supreme Court, as soon as the matter can be
properly brought before such tribunal,--Bosto"
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