Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-18
aTATA CONVENTION,
AFTERNOON SESSION


Accord ng to order, tho report ut the Committee o
the Whole upon the subject Of County Courts and Coun
ty Organizations, was taken up Tor consider alton.
The first amendment OF the Committee OF the Whole
was to strike from the LIST Section of the LIST article
which reads thus
"Sec. !. There shall be in each county of this Com
monwealth County Court, to consist of Justices o.
the Peace. The ursd ction OF these Courts shall ex
tend to all causes and matters of controversy whether
in law or equity, where the demand or subject in con-
toversy, exclusive OF interest," exceeds the sum of TWEEN
ty dollars, and appeals from judgments of the justices
and also all such criminal jurisdiction as may be hylaw
now IN force or hereafter to be enacted, devovine
upon Except, however, the jurisdiction conferred
upon lh3 board OF police by tins Constitution aud laws
passed IN pursuance thereof
All after the rst sentence and to insert in lieu there
Of the following:
"The jurisdiction of the said Courts shall be the same
az that of the existing County Courts until and except
tar itshaIl be taken away in this Constitutions OF
hereafter modified by the Legislature"
A division being demanded, the question was firs
taken upon agreeing with the Committee of the Whole
in striking out.
The Convention coDcurred in striking out The words
indicated.
The question then required upon inserting the amend
ment OF the Committee.
Mr. FERGUSON moved to substitute tor the amend.
inen the following:
"The jurisdiction of said courts shall be prescribed by
law" Disa greed to-
The Convention then eoncurred with the Committee
in inserting the words "adopted by the Committee
The Committee OF the Whole amended the I'd seq
ton, which reads thus
"The counties shall be divided into townships, as
nearly equal in territory and population as prac cabe-
but county shall contain less than four nor more than
fifteen toWnship-and there shall BE- elected in each
township, by the qualified voters thereof for the term
OF tour years. two justices of The peace resident there
n-tlrst by striking out the words "townshps' where
ever it occurred and by inserting the word discts"-
Concurredin in.
The nsxt amendment of the Committee of The whole
was III the same section to strkeout in that part which
1U hall ,ho
more han fifteen townships the words "four nor more
than fifteen townships, and TO insert in its stead the
words 1.-TWO districts"
A division being demanded the question was first ia.
ken upon concurrlng with the Committee in strk ing
ont the words Indicated. Agreed to.
motion made to strike out the word 1.-TWO" in
the amendment aud TO insert "four, which was disa-
greed to.
The Convention then concurred with the Committee
in inserting the words 1.-TWO districts"
The amendment OF the committee of the whole in
the latter part Of the section to strike 1.-TWO" and
insert TOUR SO as to make it read -four Justices Of the
peace resident therein" agreed to-
Ihe amendment Of the committee OF the whole was
concurred in.
The amendment otthe committee of the whole to in
sert IN the Sd section which reads thus 1.-The Justices
SO elected, shall from their number elect one of
their body, who shall be the presiding Justice of the
county court and such presiding justice with not less
than two nor more than four associate Justices and in
the absence OF the presiding justice, less than three
nor more than five associate Justices shall constitute
court-except in the appointment OF county officers
and shall be the duty of the Legislature to provide by
law tor the CLASSIFICATION othe associate Justices for the
performance OF their duty In court" after the words
except IN the appointment OF county officers the words
and tor assessing the comfy levy" was agreed to-
The next amendment OF the committee of the whole
strike the 18th section which reads: "There
shall be twelve terms of the county court in each year.
in only two of which shall appeals from the judgments
OF justices and other civil controversies be heard and
determined and insert in lieu of it the following
There shall be monthly terms of the county MORT held
in each county"
A division being demanded, the Convention con-
Cured with The committee in striking out.
Mr.. HUNTER moved 10 substitute the following for
the amendment OF the committee: "'The number OF
terms of said court shall be prescribed by law" Rejec-
ted.
The Convention then concurred in the amendment Of
the committee.
The Convention concurred with the committee in
amending the 9Th section, to cause it to read
follows, the amendment being in italics:
The presiding justice and associate justices sh ii re-
ceive per diem compensation for their services whilst
sitting in court TO be ascetained by law, and paid out
Of the county treasury; land shall not receiue any fee
or enolnment for other judicial seruiceS.l
The Convention concurred with the committee in
striking out the 9Th section which reads thus:
beiustices shall hear and determine all matters in
civil controversy, where the demand or subject in
troversy shall not exceed thirty oars-and shall ex
ercse jurisdiction in all pleas of the commonwealth
which are, may be hereafter conferred by law.
Where the subject in controversy ceeos ten dollars
appeals shall be allowed from the Judgment OF Justice
the county cour-and substituting for it the follow
ing
Justices of the peace shall have such power and urs
dicton within their respective counties, as the laws
may prescribe.
The Convention conquered with the COMMITTEES in
striking the second article which reads follows:
Sec l. The justices of the peace in any county, or
majority them, shall consulate board of police
for such county, which board shall sit at least twice in
every year, at the court house of the county-shall
have power and authority to assess the county levy,
and exercise such other police and municipal jurisdic-
ton as may be conferred upon it by law. The clerk of
the county shall be clerk Of this board,
The Convention concurred in amending the first
section OF the Sd article in the original report, but the
I'd article in the report Of the Committee OF the Whole,
so as TO make it read as follows:
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Sec l. There shall be elected from time to time, for
each county, by the qualified voters therein, clerk of
the county court sheriff, attorney for the Com
a surveyor, land so many commissioners
of the revenue as may be authorised by law,l to
tinue in Office respectively follows to wit the Clerk
for the of sixl years. the Sheriff tor the term OF
two years; the Attorney tor the term OF fou' years;
the surveyor for the term OF [sx years; and the COM
of two years.
The Convention concurfed in the second section as
follows
q There shall be elected from time to time, by the
luaed voters therein, constable for leach district
to continue in Office for the term OF two years-who
may act in the whole county.
"A officers appertainng the cities and other mu-
niclpa corporations shall be elected by the qualified
voters appointed by the instituted authorities OF
such cities or corporations may be by law prescrib
ed,' the Committee adopted the following substitute:
Q. The mayor, aldermen sergeant, and other officers
appertainng to the cities and other municipal corpo-
ratons provided hr in this constitution, for the coun
ties together WITH such others as may be authorized
by law to be elected, shall be elected by the qualified
voters.
The Convention non concurfed in the Committees
substitute, but adopted the original section;
The amendments of the Committee having been
considered ordered that the report be read sec
ond time.
Mr.. MARTIN of Marshall, moved TO strike out the
LIST section and insert the following in place OF 1t:
"There shall be in each county court OF Justices OF
The Peace with the same urisd con as that of the
sting county courts, but the Legislature may modify
such courts and the jurisdiction thereof, from time 10
lime as may be prescribed by law" Disagreed to-ayes
40. noes Sc.
The Convention then, on motion, adjourned.
THE CONVENTION.
We have noroom for the proceedings OF yesterday