Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-22

Ens;aal, apply with equal fcrcc in Virginia
1t IL lruo tina; the people are sovereign here
but it often E@comcs as ne eces>ary for JUICES lC
anGul the Unconstitutional acts Of the Lcg:sla
tucc, representing Tic popular will, or to re
NiSt the cItHrr of an txci:ed people. As It
MAINTAIN m.nly .tanh a..Hnsr ti.r usufpation:
q! Ii tyr.rt.
YruI cJuialit:ec, tht:efors, recommend tha,
tr .cnurr ii al the iOlS@s DC enlarged t
= so3t h,.asi"r.
Gnder he Constitutions af l7T6 ard 1850
Jud .:cs Of lie Cuur, Of Appeaii and Circuil
I..arts "1':. eiec'e,! By JOINT vo;c ot the Genc
rll Assembly. 81 the present CONSTITUTION
u IS provlie.l ihat They shall be elected by lht
i,rtc: vote ur ihc p.rp.c in SECTIONS sud CIR
ca'ts arrang. Ly Ine l. 's,a'ure.
EXp.r!rtce n;- -lrvwa l:.:.l ir,!. tics" MD;
oi >%!sc.,as JidE:.; ;:!r liable 20 gtavr o. 2
.nni la t,snes h!sii political exclremsn
I :!.s Ic. ,.l.',i ,.iy,as'nie IA exclude par:y
Consideration, rv:i J'!iicIl. elections, whcthc!
nsd4 .: Tbs L"g Stature o. the people. Tviil
ru,n!n:tic", ii:er fore. recommend that b"'i
s.c-a 'uo,iei 0i appointment bc discarded, aDt
<nal, hereafter, al Judges SHALL DC nominate
5' tie e cl we, and appointed by anu wit
.ic Gdscr AID cuuscat of the Senate. Tni:
a,5d.. u: :. - j:i.:rgn. src1rcd 10 tne la;e Fcde
raj l,Jy.raia"i; ar able @iul ia!Ihiu i.I'l:c:ary
..,i ;t IN, recaGt: :~:e :vc,; tie san,:.In 81 IL
.iumc: - lar I.IstIiu.:o % the Cya.caci!.ty
Safes,
Jva.:C:::. CT TGE rr!.cE-NrDE ~ APPOINTMENT
A.p TENURE.
The duties q! justices OF the p"acc are Of L
mixed r%tar". iar;ak!ng i'll some gree, ho.!I
i & legislative aHd lau.ciai c.!ar"cirr Toy
Tc rs4ui:cd 10 imi1io cou%iy !2&@$ Erd L.
arpsmrfia:c c ,un.: reveaGe, as SOL is L. g"@
~. !:.e ,rca! n,!:t AID .'!t:. nSl-i justice. ]n
view vi ,ae>e !actG ,h.re H.Es u li:;"Ecc u
,pil.iun ii tic co,nnii;ic; IN TsgarI lc ;'' mode
Of apDoi:..i:u:.; and tie l-iiuic c.. Ullct.-
cI:l3 u.ru,D,rs preferred the s;a;csn which
.:s::.:led ua,::r ;ag CUnstitutioas Cf 1915 end
so. TIE: cHnfrated that tia. n IS I'll ilau
Jrrn approved by the EXPERIENCE :" three
quarters .: 4 Century, 'iurtE:, NJ! ':'i:a n'ne
:. gave t. lnr t.IGlEuna raitu al Up. .,ii, able
!,ciij."T.. aii iad.pc.drnt rnsg!s!""cy, hic;.
TeculcL the laws Irar!tSsly aid faithfully.
.ul n!s ~: q The county linauccs "::h Integrity
.Id cCunuta?.
i III .jor.;y ot til: ermu!i:tec, however, pre-
.:lr, i ;nc Sy.:cl1 # clectiug Jnsllcrs by the
.'a0plu ivr !. te"m o! gears; but all concGrreQ
i inu op.!;2u ti:ai tic present term IS tOH
snort, and tLst it sb:uld hc nz ztcadcd to Elk
yr.r$. Sunr:d p-orer limitations be Imposed
N III: lish: uf tu!!:sgc, i, l.; hoped taat the
i.c;!ge system ulay prove more satisfactory
q IL p.ac:.c.:! operations; EHdur this mode o;
: iGG';1n, ilIa.: :: :.aa L-.n Eut!er the present
Constitution.
AID ALDERMEN
i S.r~ ii ;hG pccu.iar character oi tho popu
,;,on q or cites a'd large towns, many Z!
= a,l hoiG hp. hale rt lhpse kinds property
*hich have 10 bear the burthen Of taxation,
I,a large nunb.c orlny mere temporary so.
nurncrs, yprr coTnmittec .re 81 the opinion
hat tie puLi!c latcvcsti would DE promoted By
sith;:raSiEg the e:.:ion OF myy"s, recorders,
,:r:czrl's au, other ninstcr!al "liiccls from III,
reoplc nCd rcrrrl:.; II 10 the Cuuimoo Coun
lis, elected b: the p puar vote The council,
erwin. IT'S ex;S,ef CO tiom, and being depeE-
lent on the people will have every inducsmsn'
u consult their lrn. lnier.S's, and beng So.
ect TOD: :, general; u! Intelligent and r'"non-
iS!e inca All pGrntncnt Residents. wi. have
,eftsr opportunities ci mi, r!niHg themselves "l
"a 1uaiILcalGfs q: candidates. than the publ c
! l,rgc, a'd c:n, Therefore, nuke wiser seize
innS Vi III :ers U ncr { r.;d:ra,ions, which
Ill hereafter he ad.crtsd 10, lcnd additional
prce ~ lhS rtc rmmerdation.
.LrcrI3N AND TENURE OF ofrlcs oF sHEs'FSs,
SEaGsaS!3, CLERKS. CJMHrNTEhLTas AT-oR-
ScYs a:.D OTHER MINISTERIAL OFFICES.
In tile Judgment Ui your COMMITTEE it was 4
vide departure from the. true principle: nt re
re, cnta:I"o republican government, tn require
haG ,GirlS,rr'a; Ulcers. such o. SHcrc', clerks
tn.c,es FER The Commonwealth, Commission
IS of tie revenue, conslables, &c, should bc
!"c'cd t'y the direct v,;s Of the people
Tine multiple ton Of elections Is vf itself 4
rrleus evil TIE time lost in attending to-,
ie3'!urs, il matter ot no small importance
y the c!Gnrnur.Y But there are other evils |
.:ndmg The system, Of mucn more serious
.h@:uc;er Am no thlse are the tendency 10
!enp"a!!1c ent cprrup pt the voters; the Increase
/; :he rnmh.r and greed o. candidates Tor
aAl t!icsS; lie ;neusu atioa OF corrup'
sem "i cltcf;carcr;1p; the encouragement o!
- inton and ;Glcncas. snd disposition on
re part oi ullny to lave On the emo!umenti o.
Ii 4. i;,S.ead Q! bs the earnings Of patien,
4I,,slGr the sacrifice 81 independence O.
:iou.!it and manly ic.IIr'g;a pliant suhscr
!:muy 10 popular capT'c'; and the ii inS Of
,.s,:ons Of trust ani Responsibility. With un
,;thcu! and incompetent men. Puolc Offices,
.;S,tad Of being loc!:et: upon by voters as pub
e trusts, 10 be conferred on the mo-! worthy,
.c TOO Gltcii regarded as rewards Of gratulties
u be bestowed On POPULAR iavorltes, without
ef.rencc 10 their capacity 70 discharge the
:o,ieS. Ohi:ers thus elected, naturally feel
icrsc!vcs Grder obligations TO those who
uppnrted them. Anl not unfr'qIeariy, dis
:Ilac,c .irs;r dett oi gratitude, out Of the pub
u: i'.:$urv.
Ministerial officers operate directly on tn"
,H'r!c, and it IS expecting too much from hn-
Gan nature, 10 suppose that they will no; dis
,f;GiIGale ce.wcct ti,Gsc wiO favored and taOSc
y hn Opposed their e!ec.i,,n. j. will ant be dc
lrd ,hac since Ibis Class Of rW.trs have been
:. ade clrciive by ,h- ranpi', tnc laws bsge been
c*s rigily eniorcci, and the public Interests
vss faithfully guarded.
10 illustrate this proposition, your commit
ca need onl !; refer To the shameful delinquency
i sherF<, clerks ard othe- ta :trs, in regard
&c The public revenue. Uad.r the old system
,f selecting these 1ficers, defaicarlon was a.
natter Of 'a:e ocrurrcn2e, bnt under tho sSs-
tln Of popular elections, rs will be seen from
he records III the "it!cc u the lst AnQttcr,
here are but twtl7c conn:i'S in lie Common
wealth, in which shcri!tS have not been de-
ari,ers III this way, vass losses have accrued
o ;hc rerrniir and the people Of those c6un
les which hsve not been delinquent are re-
Iure,! to miriru:e 10 make good the 4 ii
:isccy cccasi5Het BY the ieiau: of othcrs
The incresse in The ..@uhnr Of de'an!t!rS
'i..E$, is almost in !ha sarc 7"tio, a"d de-
nends, with fqn'l emphasis, ;he application
+ i snlao'e corrective.
TIC rc..ve system has worked Gaie as un
1r urats!y. il rrS ,rd 10 Coniui yr wea:;h's at
:oenoys. Th;s ~! e requires, for the ctiicicn:
discharge o( its du!rs, talents and attanmcn:s
& a peculiar character. They can be under
Rood eod appreciated naly by those who are
familiar with the administration ofjus!ice. [:
Is 10 dlsparacencnt Of the Intelligence Ct the
people. therefore: 10 saT, that It is inexpedient
10 rvirr 10 them tie eec.ioE OF an atlorncy.--
They cahno. jud.r oi lis capacity to frame on
or Indictment, OF to iuih! other
tuties Involving Familiarity with lrgal techni-
rsI,ie'- i has often happened, therefore.