The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-05

Qlt0Cult uuue9 VI Ctuk6nhulp IN tu6 hu-
mlnlstratlon oil public affairs. It was oil
tpese townships that Jefferson said the
wit Of man had never devised more
efficient fundamentally for the promotion
OF the public welfare. And yet the new
constitution proposes to destroy them
and take from you the management oil
your own local concerns, and transfer
them 10 justices Of the peace elected from
the county at large, and drive you to the
court house to solicit others 10 do what
you could better do for yourselves. This
may accommodate hotel keepers and
others OF the county seats; but Il will be
at your expense, and often great incon,
venience. -
COUNTY COURTS.
But the most fatal and pernicious tea.
ture OF this new constitution 10 the re-
vlyal Of the old county court system
which sat for half a century like night.
mare on the energies and Interests Of the
people Of Virginia; REFRESHING all material
advancement and progress absorbing
their powers and rights; organizing and
chcrishing court house cliques, which
controlled for their own benefit, and fol
the use and benefit of their friends and
favorites, the official patronage Of the
county, and often In the shape Of fat Jobs
and contracts, the public money Of the
county; all without responsibility 10 any
tribunal but themselves; being in the
form OF their organization and the mode
of their procedure, both the taxing DOW.
er, the disbursing agents, and the auditors
Of their own expenditures; thus violating
the fundamental maxim Of all free and
safe goyelnment-that the legislative, ex.
ecutive, and judicial departments Of the
government should BIO kept distinct and
separate. These county courts are to
levy your taxes, appropriate your taxes,
and account to themselves Tor the man
ner in which they have performed these
important duties, What can you expect
from such an organization but malieas.
ance and corruption.
And then, as to their judicial functions
Was there ever anything so preposterous
as the creation Of such . body Tor Judicial
purposesI How can court so organized
administer justicee Not one member oil
this court Is to be lawyer. And yet
there Is no duty 80 difficult as the right
Interpretation Of the laws Of the land.
Few men, after q lie OF legal study and
practice, make good Judges. Yet, here
1t Is proposed to seize three men from the
farm, or the store, or.the, shop, who never
read law book, and hoist them on the
bench to try the titles of your farms,
your rights Of property, your character,
your dearest interests. Why, 1t would
not be more absurd to take your horse to
a barber shop to get him shod, or to EN-.
ploy a shoemaker to build your house, or
a lawyer to prescribe for you when you
were sick. II violates all human expert.
ence, and all common sense. And con.
slider what 1t will cost you to perpetrate
this folly.
l. There are to be flty.iour Of these
county courts, composed Of q president,
at four dollars pr diem, with two justices
TOR the trial Of causes), each receiving
three dollars PER diem. They are TO hold
four terms every year, averaging, proba.
bly,, six days at each term; thus involving
an annual expense to the State Of $l2, $50.
There are TO be at least Two levy courts,
composed of this president and all the
justices of each county. The number OF
justices in each county will probably av-
erage twelve, and their compensation Is
three dollars per diem. The number oil
days in year when these levy courts
will be in session will, doubtless, average
six; thus making an additional annual
item OF expense to the State Of $12 800.
2. These courts will require three more
grand juries every year than we now
have. Estimating the average number Of
grand Jurors in attendance at fifteen, we
have on this account another annual
expense Of $2,4S0.
8. There must also be petit juries for
three additional terms. Their cost, at
each term, would be at least $500; max.
ing an additional item of cost to each
county, on an average, Of 5000, and to
the whole State OF $50, 400.
A. Then, there are the allowances to
the Prosecuting Attorneys in these Courts
These will probably average $500 In each
county, aggregating another annual ex.
pense to the State Of $l0,S00 or more.
o. The Clerks of these Courts are to
perform the duties now executed by the
Clerks Of the Board Of Supervisors. Their
annual allowances for these, and their
other public services, cannot be estimated
at less than 5000 a year; making another
item Of cost, to the State, annually, Of
$l0S00.
0. Then there are annual allowances tc
sherifs, jailors, &C., for attending on these
Courts. These, doubtless, will amount Il
the annual sum Of, at least, 5000.
Now, strike the balance, and see what
the result will be.
UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION.
Court Of Appeals and Circuit Courts. $40, 4Oi
supervisors, averaging, say, seven in each
county. AttWo aoiiArs pr attn, sltnnE
oman average II days each yeir-totG
CLERKS Of Boards, at two hundred and my
dollArs per year. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1850
S5S,48
UNDER AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
Court Of Appeals and Circuit Courts. .. $97,eO
County Courts Tor trial Of causes. ....... 1895
same, for levy purposes. 1885
Additional grand Juries. 2.43l
Additional petit lufiea. 39,40t
Prosecuting Attorneys, .......... ...... 10 so
Allow lnces to clerks 1880
Sheriff., iallpFg 800