Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-08-16

the mantle without fearing it will ever trail in The dus,
Such we have and such let elect. Away with your po
M hacks who known friends 10 all and true to none
who would sell their souls for mess of poaoe and tbcr
cheat the Devil Of his dues. A VOTER
For the Enquirer.
No. y. THE COUNTY COURTS.
Ey the Constitution Of Frginl the judicial poweris "ves
ted IN Supreme Court OF Appeals, in such superior courts
ts The Legislature may from time time orain and esiab
h and the Judges heeeo in The County Courts and in Jus
| tees of the Peace"
In the Convention Of 1922 proposed to make TIN
Court OF Appeals the oaly consGriona court, and leave
III lhe other courts o be c:4aEcd and established by tn
Legislature This Proposition gave rise much discussion
NJ ilr-'aH ;.a5 5nIain'i lhal we must have count!
court Of some Sini iha, lis abolition would affect whole
Internal police. Il am not" he said, sin the habit OF be
sowing extIaragart enoges upon my countrymen wout
rase hear them pronounced by others but is truth ha
no State in The Union has hitherto enjoyed more compiled
internal quiet than Iiryiaia There is part america
where less Gslnic and less Of oeing between man an,
Ian, is 10 be found, than il tbs commonwealth and be
Se most :rnly that tbs state OF things is mainly bc
c!oed To the practical operation o county Tin
magistrates Mho compose those courts consist in general
M hcs ien in their respective counties They in
III ni peace makers, and a'ay ra,hcr Than excite til,
snail disputes and differences which will sometimes uris,
inong neslbors. 1t is certainly much owing thS ha
50 riuch harmony prevails amonst These
bc preserved five part with them be that
snail retain among Justices of the Peace the same
pecibity and weight of charac,cra be found
| think not
Mr. r. f. BarLour added his testimony as to the prac
cl elects nj tho county system. ~ have, he sli
Pracs,d III these con,i for quarter Of century and
can SAY with hc utmost truth, rha, my confidence in then
ils grown with my growth and strengthened with my
strength After twenty five years acquaintance with tin
county courts o Irgiaic is conscientious opinion that
there is not, and has becn tribunal under the sun
where mere substantial practical justice administered.
am Tor aSin. them constitutional loothold in the
monwe, above the control Of the legislature for myself
would part with any otar department the gov
"rnmcn look II county courts ria IN mar fraio
ShipwTccS may :adced be apPr -! row, without
this plank cl SAFETY. II the hail III what Is pro-
posed IN different parts of Virginia shall be effected
shall haze rtr, bu; much which that word badly de-
scrocswe shall not have preserved the eo,,niy
courts rs the remains oi mighty loss.
The gentleman from Richmond asks" continued Mr
lr same responsibility and weight oi character il these
shall BE- abolished answcr promptly in the negative
A1 long the Cony Courts continue exist only
mos. Intelligent and respectable citizens will 90 upon tho
bsrc, hui hnsc courts will bring upon them such varied
discussions o law points, will materially contribute
wards enabling them the better 10 discharge the duties
their stations and these discussions connected will
those courts mainly by the responsibility Of she Judges
tine extent Of their jurisdiction. The idea suggested
me fifteen years ago by cf he most distinguished mcr
ever had among s who declared it his be
lief, that the County Courts OF Virginia cyecdan impor
ant political influence upon her population The ronthl,
meeting o the neghbors and o professional caused tn
people 10 mln9ic and associate than they othcrws
w"n do and produced discussion Of topics of public in
ercst in regard 10 the administration o government and th
politics Of the commun,ty These meetings pcrpe.ually
curing in all the counties of the State constitute man,
points from which political information thus iliusc,
among the people, and their intereE; increased in public af
| fairs"
II upon the occasion of this discussion that Mr. Bay
~ relied two letters written by Mr. Jefferson in July
lSl6, one 10 Mr. kcrccva the other To John Taylor. Mr.
Jefferson having said that repuhicanism be found
n"t in constitution but merely in the spirit Of pco
ne, Mr.. ftIs commented this in strong and forcib,
terms
"Wo oae told" said Mr.. Giles "tha, Mr.. Js9erson made
great discovery wit that this is republican govern
nent. Mr.. Jefferson certainly highly respectable
man, but, all know lie deal; very much in theories
Tie allows that the spirit OF the pcape Is republican in
ah degree yet the people hayc sustained this
mi whence ask is this republican spirit OF the people de
lived Isdy they have derived it from their government
md more especially that feature of which relates to TIN
county courts Going extensively into theories sometime
icpriyes Of Il knowledge of fac:s"
Sir believe that government is republican, thou.
does draw that line of separation between
apartments wchis held by TO ts essential tn repuh
,cansm Sir il impossible in prnct;cc To- do this and
look upon the doctrines which have been advanced by
that subject beautiful visions bl visions only
l"ers herer ye EaS eorer"mf TasFt "ic rs..ars;
cure and judicial departments rere kI perfectly and 90
o!tciy distinct Some have maintained tl,a ID. III govern
meat OF tie United States this end as bccn effected bu
here never greater m.ckc The federal governnen
complete mistaks perfect omniua aatherum. Tnf
Executive is ni out he has the control OF every law pro
.de he get vote than one irao both houses
nd what is Senate? II is ourdiIate branch o III,
legislative department in all bu, money bills; and ye in an
her aspect OF il the Senate IS essential part o the Exec
ryc department. Ii has check upon all The nominations
or the President ard its consent il essential the vadi,,
all troaesi while in yet another view OF IT, that same bo
dy is ud,n tribunal in the highest resort 1t has 10 De
eide the impeachment OF the greatest officers in The
Sa.es. did myself Judge in ;hnt body TO nss
then the utter separation Of the derrn departments l.
70 follow igEis tdtOus, 10 run ,ier visions, while We
have experience for guide whch is the best test OF wis
dom can this nroceci from anything but the love o
change! Determination take whatever PICK up
and If is does not answer to strike it down and substitute
something else!
'What be the effect OF such course but to produce
public agitation? 10 desre: G. quiet 1tici has been III
peculiar blessing Of Fsia! The State as we all believe
celebrity there is such thing known IN the M
ted States the Virginia character-Whence has Il beer
de.iyei From government; from the happy operation
oi those fundamental laws under which We have ed an'
prospered for 81 years Should continue for 81 year
under the state % shings we shall become ye
distinguished an now arc but once strike dowi
these buwarks le public and happiness and noii'n
will &c heard again OF the Firgia character Rel
uno1 l. that character with your government Ii vii
90: exist after that shall have .een pros;raed
Your fate inevabe the which urge 1t on are IRE
sisble. Once commence tbs elrnTard course, and you M
shall Lt torerer e.s"G There Is nothing IN this s1'gil.
character b.: regard morality, public and private Til
it ID !!t.. has won you the respect you un!py.
Such OF the arguments in 1879 tho questio
Of striking of the Constitution the words "He Count
Courts" Only - members of the Convention voted in I'll
Affirmative ;a. question Neg cond majority be tou
| 10 strike ous the word the before "County Courts"
hr RGndoph earnery opposed the omission of s ic0rG
Eie bid long considered the County Court system and h
ceho suffrage rs the two main pillars in the ancient ed
fcG of our State Constitution In .he course Of my life.
he said Il have repeatedly been called upon by various cn
ncnt men, TO explain 10 hsm the system OF government
this Commonwealth. and knew single nd.vslui
of the nunhef who struck with adirason al IN
structure OF our County Court system. have been asSe
whether il wcs tine effect of design OF one OF nose oIl
combinations of circumstances which enaoed us Ia
mers Snatch grace beyond the reach OF art Mhein'
it was design Chance thing is certain ,hat snc pa
has proved III practice TO be oi the very besi WHICH "
wit of man couId have devised for this commonwealth; PR
serving in the happics iass administration OF o'
affairs between The instability attendant upon popular es
TONS and the corruption or oppression o Executive Paf
mage
Il have no hesitation (alr RndoLph proceeded) 10 sa
thai on subject like his have not much Difference tor II
oninon Of Mr.. ederson. We all know ne was very con