Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-02-17

dlOuS character, anu 5uli1cicutiy loSatSu,Z
1t is quite important that prompt de-
esion. should be arrived at, as to which
course. shall be pursued, in order that
contracts may be made for the profitable
employment of the very large number Of
now idle and expensive. prisoners.
I'll STATE GUARD.
., 1t is proper in this connection to speak
Of the State Guard. The necessity for
some organization like the former State
Guard, or State Police, is toe a appear
ent to require comment or argument from
me. Men must be employed co guard
the Penitentiary, and to care for and
protect the pablic property. In my
opinion, military organization is prefer
able to any other It is quite probable
that the State Guard might be reorganized
under the present laws. but I have pre-
ferred to defer all action il. that behalf
until the opinion of the General Assem-
bly, could be had
l respectfully recommend that this sub
ject be considered aud acted upon at the
the earliest practicable moment.
CITY, TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
Among the important subjects demand
ing your immediate attention, one of the
first will be that of providing for filling
the various city, townand county officers,
until regular elections can be held. The
Constitution provides for holding regular
elections in cities and towns On the 4th
Thursday in May, and in counties on the
first Tuesday alter the first Monday in
November Before any elections. gen
eral or special, can be properly held, it
will be necessary for you to enact gen
eral Registration law, and provide the
mode aud manner in which elections shall
be held Our present statutes are in
consistent with she provisions of the Con-
stitution upon this important subject
The 23d section Of the fifth article of the
Constitution undoubtedly clothes the Gen
eral Assembly with ample powers to fill all
these offices in such manner as it shall
see best, until regular elections can be
held. l doubt the propriety of ordering
special elections. in these cases at this
time. Aside from the time which will
necessarily be consumed in perfecting the
requist legislation for that purpose, the
great expense which such elections would,
entail upon the Commonwealth, ought, if
possible, to be avoid. La the meantime
it is of paramount Importance that many
of these offices should be promptly filed.
1t appears 10 me, therefore, advisable that
the Legislature, at very early day, enact
a Law authorisipg the filing of these Offices
can be regularly elected and qualified, as
provided tor by the Constitution.
THE JUDICIARY.
Five judges of the Supreme Court o.
Appeals, sixteen judges of the Circuit, and
over one hundred county and city judges
are to be elected by you, V no will hold
Offices respectively in the order named for
twelve, eight and ttr oe years from the lat
Of january next This is grave, respon
sible duty, and surrounded by serious
difficulties and endorsements. A learned
and incorruptible judiciary has ever been
the boast and PRIDE. of our people. What
ever other changes our necessities may
compel, | trust that the high standard of
qualification for Judicial position, which
has heretofore obtained in our State, may
never be changed, altered, or amended.
Honesty aud capability have been, and
should continue to De, the sovereign tests
of fitness. The judicial ermine should
ever be far removed from the arena OF
politics Ii there is anything more to be
stunned than political preacher, it is a
political Judge. Ii may be that you will
be unable to Gil all these judicial positions
by nen who are not disqualified from
holding office by the Constitution of the
United States
Without intending any disrespect 10 the
fundamental law of the land, or the con-
stitutionsl authorities,it appears to me that
you not only ought to have the right to
the widest range of selection for these ex-
allied positions, but that you ought to ex-
ercise that right. 1t is solemn duty
which you owe to yourselves and to your
constituents, to the country and posterity
to elect our ablest, purest and best men
and if, in the fulnllment of that duty,
your choice should fall upon any who are
disqualified by the Sd clause of the 14th
Article of the Constitution of the United
States, I would recommend the passage,
by your honorable bodies. of a resolution
respectfully requesting Congress to remove
such di>qualifcations. | am satisfied that
resolution would receive the prompt aua
favorable consideration and action of Con-
gress.
The salaries Of all the judges are to be
fixed by you, and while | ain an earnest
advocate of economy in all departments of
the government, am not in favor of
meagre and insufficient salaries for public
officials, especially for the judges of the
Circuit Courts and Court of Appeals.--
They should be sufficient to command the
most eminent ability. The lawyer who
accepts one of these judicial positions, by
that act bapishes himself from the practice
and emoluments OF his profession. Unless
man of fortune, he is dependent solely
upon his salary for his support, and that
salary ought to be sufficient to furnish
him comfortable living, in keeping with
the high position he holds. | am aware
that the judicial system provided for by
TIE Constitution will, of necessity, be an
expensive one, but with the many reforms
which may, aud ought to be instituted, it
may be rendered oss burthonsome than
our former system. @ es
The expenses incident to the admins
tration of the criminal laws have, within
the past few years, increased enormously.
mainly due to the large Increase in the
number of petty offences, such as larceny
and assault and battery q thorough
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