Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-24
FOR THE vIReiNIAN.
THO Ncw Court.

The subject of the Mayoralty seems to
be the all-absorl,iag topic of the day in
our town; and it is gratifying TO see SO
much interest excited in the contemplated
plan Of having Mayors Court held in our
Corporation.
: MANY of our citizens doubt the proptic-
" Of holding such Court, and already (as
we understand paper is in circulation to
dccry it down. The main objection urged
by some is, that the burdenof taxation will
bcmuch increased and under whose weight
ave the tax-payersl already groan. Ii |
understand the subject rightly,my impress
zion is that many voters in this Corpora
lion have been misinforrned in regard to
the salary of 4the Mayor" 1t is generally
ahought that there will be direct tax
levied of $500 10 remunerate him for his
services. This is not So The salary is TO
come out Of the fines and penalties which
will accrue from infractions Of ordinances,
breaches OF the peace, &c. And in civil
cases out Of the ltigating parties. So far
{ ON this new Office being an onerous and
burdensome tax on ''the peace-loving por-
ton Of the community, it viii in a short
time be a source of revenue 10 our Treas
ury, and partially relieve ms from our heavy
81 taxation. But suppose | am mistaken in
this view, will not the advantages arising
from such Court, more than compensate
us for any additional taxation which we
may be subjected to; provided we elect an
efficient and industrious officer. No one
who is well acquainted with the Municipal
government Of our Corporation, can help
feeling amused, while at the same limc they
may be pricked with sorrow, TO see the
tardy hand of justice as it moves. | dis
claim all intention Of casting any reflection
upon the Aldermen ofour town, for be
heve they are just as good Aldermen as
you find anywhere. 1t is the system, and
not the men that we repudiate; they re-
ceivc no compensation for their services
and it is.not reasonable to suppose or ex,
pcct they are going to neglect their own
business to attend to other peoples matters
Some of them, like us, go upon the true and
biblical principle ''thatthe labourer is wor-
thy of his hire" How often does it occur
that that uuiaytunatc class of individuals,
who are ovcrtakenin their nocturnal walk
ings, by that Argus-eyed band, who keep
with sleeplcss vigilance the watches Of the
night, have to lay in the cage until late
hour in the day, before Magistrate can be
had to try their cases, thereby causing
much loss and Inconvenience to their mas
tiers, and even then, perhaps,to be released
ibecause no one feels it their duty to try
them1 and go unwhipt of justice. Such
has been the Inconvenience and vexatior
tion caused by the dilatory and uncertain
mode of our present system of Municipa
jurisprudence, that already some of those
efficient and useful officers of the law "tht
Night Watch" las we are inforrnedD speak
of resigning, unless a more certain and
speedicr mode of jurisprudence be estab
lished in our Corporation How often docs
81 occur in civil cases, that the present Mag
istracy refuse 10 act upon the plea of bus
mess or their friendly relations with either
one or both of the litigating parties. 1t APP
pears to me that when the community will
come to investigate this subject rightly, that
1T will strike every unprecedented mind that,
of all the officers of the law, u Mayor is
mostly wanted in our Corporation. 1t
viii add dignity and character to our town,
and be a prolific source of much good to
our citizens, in suppressing crime and pre-
venting breaches OF the peace, &c, in show
ing guilty and bad men that they will meet
with that condign punishment, which their
crimes and mlsdemcanors SO justly merit
Aside from this, there are many other rea-
sons why we should have a Mayor Should
it be our good Torture, as it has been. IL
times that are passed, to be visited by dis
tinguishcd strangers, we should have a re-
preventative to extend to HIM the hospital
tiles of our town. and an intelligent Office,
TO preside at public meetings, &c. In thi;
respect we are far behind the times. and
behind other places of lesser note and re.
spectabllity than our community,
We have been Informed that in Rich
mond, the Mayoralty after dafraying al
the expenses ofthc o!iices an actual sourc,
.ofrevcnuetot hatcity. And soft will be wild
aus if we elect one under the recent act o
Assembly. Already have extended thi,
communication to much greater length
than anticipated All | ask is full in
vcsngation Of the subject by the voters o
Lynchburg, before they come to the poll:
In April; let them read the Act of As
sembly and the Ordinance Of the Common
Council,and examined the precedents wnicl
other Cities and Corporations furnish, anc
our candid impression is, every voter t,
a man, will agree with the views hcreir
expressed by
MANY TAXPAYERS.