Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-05-19

On to- morrow week will the people Of Vir-
ginia be called upon for the first time to ex-
ercise their privileges and powers under tie
new constitution. The election OF officers Of
every grade and class should receive, as we
hope it willrcceiye, that calm and grave con.
sidcration which the rights Of the people and
the solemn responsibilities Of Office demand
1t Is no light or trivial matter to select off,
GERS for high and responsible trusts, into
whose hands arc TO be committed the rights
aud property Of our citizens, and the peace
and dignity Of the State,--no should We be
governed by mere caprice, within, or person
al prejudice, in such selection. Every int.
rest Which our citizens have. or can have, in
the preservation, and perpetuity of all that
is valuable to them, call upon them to elevate
such and such only, as will fully accomplish
the purposes Of the laws and answer every
Just expectation. The magistracy though
less profitable than other Offices, ought not
TO be carelessly reelected We fear that
sufficient attention has not been given to the
utmost Importance of electing the best,
wisest most prudent. and discreet men to
the benoh,--men of enlightened judgement,
unblemshcd moral characters, uprightness in
all their dealings, and ;nnexible virtue. The
County Court is a tribunal of vast powers
its duties are multfarious, and responsible,
and in the discharge of those duties it bears
not only upon property but the character, |
feelings and liberties of individuals.
1t is common, but erroneous notion
says the Stanton Spcctator-that any and /
every man is fit to be magistrate A mo-
ments reflection will convince every man, that
The qualifications requisite to the proper dis
charge OF magisterial duties are by no means
common. AS conseryator of social order
and public morals, tho magistrate should
himself be man of unsuspected moral charac-
ter unyielding firmness and strict impartial
ity. In bis judicial capacity, differences be-
tween man and man must be confded to bis
decision. To his arbitrament in cases of
litigation are to be entrusted your rights Of
property and person; and in criminal cases,
when the accused party is slave, and the is
sue life ard death, the County Court has
sole Jurisdiction. To the Justices are conf
dod the delicate trast of apportioning the
County levy, appropating monies from the
treasury, and the control of many other great
public interests. which require the soundest
Judgment and the most incorruptible integrity.
1t will be seen at once, from this brief emu
mcraton of the powers and prerogatives Of
the Justice, that SO far from being an Office of
minor Importance, suited to the capacity and
character of all men, comparatively few are
fitted for the discharge of its responsible du-
ties.
In view then of the important functions
connected with this Office, we trust that eve
W voter viii exercise his best Judgment, when
called upon to invest any one with the res
ponsiole and delicate duties Of Justice of
the Peace. To them are committed in
great measure the good order and security Of
the community in which they reside, which
render it desirable that the erminc of Office
should descend only upon men on whom the
Office will confer no additional honor, but who
will reflect an honor on the office. Let such
be selected without reference to party mo-
tives. aud the County Courts Of Virginia will
still remain creditable branch of the judici-
AIRY in the Old Dominion
WITHDRAWALS.