Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-06-24
LIBRARY FOR THE COURT OF
APPEALS,

This question came up before the County
Court, on Tuesday last. Is will be seen by
reference to notice of proceedings in our To-
cal columns. 1t. was honestly opposed by
some members of the Court, aud as earnestly
advocated by others. The question was ar
eued, also, fully by Messrs. Travers, Lucas
end Wilson in favor of, and Edmund I. Lee
in opposition to the proposition to invest ST.
1000 in Iaw~books for the use of the Court of
Appeals, when sitting at Charlestown. Sens
ator Grantham likewise appeared before the
Court. and urged the adoption of tho resolu>
ton. He said that the location of the Court
of Appeals at Charlestown, and of a Normal
School at Shepherdstown, were the only two
concessions made to this county by the Leg
islature since the organization of the State
That he and his colleagues in the Legislature
were met with tho objection that there was
no suitable library for the use Of the Court in
this county, and they (our delegates) took
the responsibility of pledgiug the faith of the
county that library would be provided. a
bill was subsequently introduced to repeal the
law authorizing session of the Court here,
and advocated on the same grouud-the want
,ofa library. He (Mr. Grantham) felt as
sured that the bill would be repealed if the
Court should oncc convene here, and be re-
quired to sit aud decide causes without the
necessary books. The Court would be re-
moved to Martinsburg and our whole victory
in locating it here would be lost. IF the
tod itS Sa in no
islature, there would be an eud Of all conces>
sions to us. He appealed to the Court to
sustain the faith and dignity of the county,
which was now, for the frs. time, receiving
recognition in the councils of the State
Fir. Grantham's address had a most marked
effect upon the Court
1t was subsequently urged upon the Court
that the investmentin Reports was one which
would enhance in value instead of depreci-
-ating, each year, and could be reconverted
into money at any moment. The interest
upon it was secured by sufficient annual
charge for the use of the books, which the
Library Association guaranteed. Thus there
was no risk, aud could be no loss Meanwhile
the citizens of the county would reap the
benefit Of an annual expenditure of at least
50, 800 expended by the members, and off.
GERS of the Court, and the litigants attend>
ing its session. Our own ltigants, judging
from the docket from this county heretofore,
would save not less than similar amount,
(s2, 500), which has annually left our county
and gone to Charleston, or Wheeling in fees,
travelling expenses. printing, and other ex-
penses attending the trial of causes The
Legislature, it was urged, was bound to pro-
vide Library, and would most probably,
when the excitement was over, refund the
amount. Whether they did or not, our local
Legislature, it was urged, was bound under
the law, to provide courtroom, and "nec>
essary books" for all courts held here, and
the Court of Appeals could not DO held with
out library.
These strong views prevailed with the
Court, aud We may hope to have perma-
nency, therefore, in the session of the Court
&c