Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-08-17
An old MANS Folly.

All OAQ man n Il QAAg
The radicals have been busy circulating a
tract protesting 20 come from an old man
aud a private citizen, giving certain Cd reasons
why the new Constitution should not be adopt
Cd" To is cheering to find that this document
which comes as we are informed with the en-
dorsemeni Of the highest republican authority,
State and Federal, aud may fairly tssupPosed
to contain an their objections to the New Con-
s,.tution, is made up Of reasons so destitute Of
force or foundation in fac, that no one need
be misl,ad by IT, Behold a specimen;
Comparative Expenses aud number Of Off
Gers
l. Under the present Constitution, the Leg
islaturo numbers 7s, under the new, so mem
bers.-iacrsase dsren. The answer to this is
that both Constitutions require a new appor-
toument after each IT, $. Census. The Cen
sus has just been taken, and the new appor-
tionment appears in tie new Constitution -
which would in any event appear in the Laws
Of the State
2. The New Constitution d.minishes the
number Of Circuit Judges by a, bat establishes
% County Courts. with "a Judges thereof
net increase 90. The 4 Judges omitted, re-
ceiyej a salary Of $500 per year. tie presi-
dent Of the County Court is TO receive 81 per
day While actually on the bench.
@. It establishes tvo Justices Of the peace
for each supervisor for fiscal and police pur-
poses. It does no such thing. IL aboI.sbes the
supervisor and uses the two justices already
elected In the township, for the fiscal court.
ExrENsEs.
]. It increases the salary Of the Supreme
Judge $3.50 each Well the previous expendi-
ture has been an loss, ana e by this light add
dit.on we can sc; a good Court, 6, is surely
economy 90 make the add zion.
.. Annual salary Of Circuit Judges now
$500; hereafter S2OO0-but there are to be
@ instead OF IS. aud the ne, saving viii be
S5l00-be.des mileage
COUNTY COURTS
The chief mistakes, However, are as TO the
expense Of this tribunal. We caa dispose Of
this whole question 10y saving tha, the salaries
now paid TO the Clerk Of The Boa-d Of Super
visors, and the seven township Clerks will
morethau pay the entire expenses Of the Coun-
ty Court. The additional items for clerks.
shoritis. Pott-urss aud Prosecuting Attorneys
which the writer figures up to nearly 500 600.
are made from the whole c.oth,-Gor every one
can see that these expenses are not additional,
but so much taken for ne present cost Of the
Crcui. Courts
The other arguments Of This old man are
equally weak aud ssuils and carry with them
their own relu,at.on 90 any intelligent mind
ICsurely should encourage US to work for the
success Of an instrument against which malice
and ingenuity can gather no objection that
stands the test Of a little careful sitting.
HoNE,TEtD-RApcaL CONSISTENCY.
The radical Convention in Virginia inserted
in the State Constitution a Homestead p-ovi-
sion that attempted to exempt s.. 1900 worth
ofproPerty from levy forpast as well as future
debts and rallied al, TIER forces to carry it.
but when a Homestead law Of S1OOO-refer-
ring only 20 future Liabilities and limited bv
every safeguard to the gifts Of creditors. +, ia-
serted in our constitution. tie whole radical
party raises an outcry against it and seeks to
defeat the New Constitution because oft.
TOWNSHIPS.
The radicals have set up great howl about
The abolition Of tie Township system in the
New Constitution. Well tie Township svs-
tenn may be very good oae for the compact
and populous New England States. butt a.
bout as wei adapted 90 the mountains of West
Virginia as o dandy, oa,f, TO a toilius uiae-.
and never would have been attempted In the
State had not tho men who framed the present
Constitution, gsllsi on by bopass.9ns Of war.
s0ugltts bot out everything that was Virgin .
ian from our Institutions. and 70 impor, AS
much irom ,he North as was possible. They
never remembered chat the meu who laid Che +
foundations Of Virginia ro't.y were the great +
est statesmen cha. America las vet produced .
AVID ,ba, their work has always been model .
flrotLers, not ouly amous ourselves but among
those from whom these constitution makers