Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23

themselves under oblgadans to those Who supported
them and not unfreQuenty, discharge their debt OF
gratitude, out OF the public treasury.
Ministerial officers operate directly on ire peopie' anu
Il Ia expecting TOO much from human nature TO suppose
that they will no; discriminate between those VINO Ia
vOed and those who opposed their election IL VIII uo'
be dni that since this clks OF officers have been maze
Il i've by the people, the laws have been less rigioy
emo ced and the public Interests less faithfully gulratd'
To illustrate this proposition, your committee need on
" rsfer 10 the shameful Delinquency Of shers, clerks
and other oicers il regard 10 public revenue. IN
der tie old system Of selecting these officers, deiacl-
ron Was matter Of occurrence, out unoer the sys
ten OF popular elections as will be seen rom the rec
or IA IN The Office Of tho st AUDITOR there but twelve
o3undes in the Commonwealth, in which sherts have
NOT been desuers In this way, vast losses have ae-
cru to the -ue and tho people Of those countss
VII ca have been delinquent are required 10 make
good the h.icucy cccesoned by the deiasl. OF oner
The incress il the number Of detsultug clerks Is a.
mos in TIE raue ratio and demands, with equal emPhs
SIS, the application Of suitable CORRECTIVE. ,-..
rbs eltye system has worked quite as unfortunate
w. Ia regard 10 Commonwealth attorneys. Ihis once
o,irs for the efficient discharge of its duties, talents
.,t ~ iumep,s of peculiar Character They eal De
understood aud appreciated only by those VINO are iA'
Ia, MIR he administration oijusce II IS no dsparage-
ept OF The gecce Of the people, therefore, 10 say
,Lt e. il ucxpeieu to refer to them the election OF an
.,c-av Tbsy carn1t ildge Of his capacity 20 frame
an information OF ind ctuent to fulfil other duties in
yoyipr familiarity With legal Cchuicaues- II has often
b.card therefore that the people, forming mistaken
esaae Of the Cfce have elected men utterly incompe-
t-rt 10 discharge It's dad The consequence is, Grim
nal escape iust punishment unless the courts or private
paroles obtain ,he assistance OF competent lawyer TO
assist The Ul i'll repye e0tatye OF the Commonwealth
CONsrABLES.
The complaint Is g,u RAJ throughout the Common
wealth Tia, under the preset system, this ea OF chi
cars arc negligent and in hcent The parties who feel
most crest IN the election OF constabes are those on
whom they will be mos. Likely to De required TO exercise
tNr fuucOus Il Is their Interest to select tho@e nc
viii ho most euent and accordingly, in many counties
Il has been impossible TO procure the services oil Vgan
End prump. Zen in the offcs OF constable
rr committee ace Of the opinion that the election Of
q elf. ssrgeaus, clerks, attorneys for the Common
I,b "a a .bl.s surveyors and commissioners Of tbe
syT,u sAoui be Withdrawn from the peOI ls and cOu
FIN 10 ,he courts They should h1i their offices for
tenn Of wears bui De removable &C the pleasure OF the
erur; T,cy should be reelgble iom term to term, in
AZ it w. with the suge rotiOn that no cthcer en-
,,rs, .ra he COLI c.Cn or disbursement Of any pub
IA, money belonging 20 the Commonwealth OF his eoun
- sbU b. rst.igLls, unless ne shall produce satisac
tn y deuce th.t be bias bOres ly and faithfully aecoun
t,d Tor rhs same according 70 law.
T6 Ell Ct Of this provision will be TO stimuli ate officers
10 h promut sud ,iyisat discharge OF their duty, by
a. Na a. ,rsiuirg III IL Offices To secure 10 The prbic
yglant and or ctye agents IN every ministerial othee'
-i.sl t.e 0ur,h,ns Of tsxau,n by saving lare,
-I.-. ~ money which are nov annually lost TO The
Sl,'d ttcse amendments TO the Constitution receive
the fc,icu Of The Convention aud b. ratified by the
urorle YOUR committee cherish the Confident oPe TIA
mill, liberty ani p-ivl'e rights will be established on
safe alG permanent kundaton.