Litchfield enquirer., 1851-03-20
For he Euquirsr. Who shall be Onr LmsficAs

M7' EDITOR :-Throngh the favor of our last Legislature, the Electors in the several Towns are to be permitted soon to choose their own Justices of the Peace.
 Their number however is to be greatly diminished. In this large town of Ltch- field, for instance, instead of Thirty six, which number the Legislature saw fit to give us last year, we are now and hereafter to have but Twenty-One. The people of this state have been accustomed to consider civil governments as an ordinance of God "The powers that be are ordained of God. |" The Bible also declares and we believe it that rulers are not terror to good works butto the eVil." But, here comes up a se- 1sous question. If, with the example and influence of these thirty~six local rulers all arrayed on the side of law and justice and good works" the laws have bee none too well observed justice none too well admInIstered and good works none too pre- Vaient among us - how will it be when the number of our rulers shall be cut down to twenty one?
 trem6le for the manners and morals of Litcilfield Hill, Northfeld, South Farms, Milton and Bantam, if regard for law and order Is to bo any scarcer than It has been in times past. .r
 Anu yet Itnsay be within our power. per haps, to prevent the dangers that seem to threaten us. But this Can hardly be done except by selecting and choosing men of the requisite qualifications so that, although their number be fewer, the greater may be their individual and concentrated e fficien cy.
 And, in this respect the Electors in a town have an advantage in the presume, able fact, that they know their men, and thelr fitness and unitness fur the office to be filled. This knowledge of individual character is what the Legislature as d b. dy, cannot be expected to possess. Hence It has sometimes happened that ignorant mon, nay more, immoral men. have been appointed by the Legislature, to be inc guardians of the laws which they them selves did not hesitate habituuly and open ly to break. II there should bs any such among the justices sf tho last years ap- p0lntnent, we need uut wonder if they Woto hoW io SeeA a fo o-dppo'htineht DJ me People. This wJuli be al kind of certificate in token of their past official r,erit. Bat if tue Penple ara true to themselves and true to their trust, we think the name of .justi ces' will not hereafter, Cfien be perverted, nor the honors of tas m4gislracy often be bestowed upon unworthy men. We have heard of Inc appellation, tlem'ock Justices, and it,may, in some cases, have been well applied. Bat in the Whig and Democratic groves and woods of the old town of Lltch- fald, we believe there is tinib,,r enougii good, straight aad sum, " tlout the ueod ot takInga sIngle crooked, sllaky or punky sick Is lnan unfit for the office by req son of the Lack uf kuowle se. or the a oi moral principle or by reason of liai,as oi life which tle laws ot tlle sta;e prohibit, no matter 10 What party he clalns to bet n5- he ought not To be made justice the peace by any party, for he is not prope man. So You wonIi say, MT. E Iitor, and SD would m uy others. They prefer men of their parry, obe sure; hut they wantits best men, and for no othe r than the best du they intend to vote. Ii these remarks strike you as at all to tl'e point, you wili please give them an insertion, and so oblise m,ny ot your friends, and among ,he rest,
 AN OLD ELEcroR.
 t,;tcijficLI March 7S 1R5l