Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-04-21
FOE THE SPECTATOR.
TO THE VOTERS OF AUGUSTA,

You will shortly be called upon, for the fret
time to elect those who are TO serve you as Conn
ty Officers under the new Constitution. Candi
dates are before you for most Of the Offices II has
been doubted by some, whether there is honesty
and intelligence enough amongst the people to dis
charge The duties devolving upon you at the ap-
preaching election and it is probable this doubt
will not be removed, unless some OF these same
individuals are elected to office. You have adopt
ed the new Constitution, and the Legislature is
now engaged in framing our laws 10 suit the pro-
visions of that instrument and upon you devOlves
the duty of selecting the proper persons to put the
new system of government into successful opera
ton. Much depends upon The kind of men you
select whether the new form ofgovernment will be
popular or not. If the minds Of the people should
become excited and carried off upon some party
issue, those may be elected, who possess not the
necessary qualifications to discharge the duties
of the office to which they aspire. 1t would be
well that the public mind should be guarded a.
gainst becoming excited by any issue that may be
brought to bear in the canvass. Those who are
elected, should be honest, capable and willing
faithfully and promptly to discharge the duties of
the office 10 which they are elected.
A question has arisen in the minds Of some,
whether those who have been in office and dis
charged the duties faithfully should be removed
without other cause. II has been thought best that
the highest office in the gift of the people, no mat
Ter how faithfully its incumbent may have dlscharg-
ed its duties, shall become vacant at The end Of
eight years. The wisdom Of this policy will be
doubted by but few. Ifthe highest Office, why
not those of minor Importance The objections
that will apply in one case will in the other. IL
it is alleged that he who has held one Of the Coun-
ty offices for eight or twenty years, has become
acquainted with all the minutie Of the business
and is therefore better prepared to do it than
new officer, the same argument will apply in the
case of the President, unless it be argued that the
duties Of our County Offices are more complicated
than those of The office just referred TO.
To my mind that form of government is best,
which provides for the election Of its officers for
limited lime, and at certain fixed periods requires
that The officer shall go out of office and becume
one of the people. This thing of a mans hulding
office for life, and at his death the office to descend
down in the family 10 The lates: generation, is re-
pugnant to the feelings Of a republican.
But TO come 10 particulars the several county Of
icers, besides other qualifications. should possess
the following The Clerk should be affabe and
accommodating the Commissioner of the Reve-
nue. should be acquainted with book keeping.
good accountant and Judge of the various kinds
OF property tne Oheih sioulo NC PioWPt, wI'h-
out being oppressive and overbearing; the Law
yer should be firm and impartial the Attorney for
the Commonwealth one should have as lii.
tie TO do with as possible.
Once more and we are done for the present =
The views and feelings Of all these officers should
harmonic with the form of government under
which they act. No one should be elected mere
ly because he favored certain system. But if those
of equal or approximaiing to equal capacities can
be found favorable to the new system, they should
be elected over those Of different views. These
are the sentiments Of FARMEH.