Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-06-24
IForthe Spirit Of Jefferson. j
The Law Library Appropriation.
M1LL~vAnH, j nne 10th, 1878

The Law Library Appropriation.
ilLL~Y AnB, June goth, 1873.
Mr. fdifor:-As some persons, for want of
information, may not understand the Isudnble
conduct of our recent County Court in Invest
ing 81, GOO at 6 per cent. in law books for the
use of tile Court of Appeals, hereafter to hold
an annual session ct Charlsstown, it NAV be
we'll for the benefit of such persons to state
briefly the facts of the case
In the first place, then, it must be admitted
that Library is absolutely necessary to en-
able the Court of Appeals TO render its de,
cisi'ns. These decisions arc not only printed.
but are bound in volumes, and become binding
upon tho Courts of this State, and more or
less persuasive authority with the Courts of
the other States of this Union. Upon these
decisions rest the legal regulations of the
judges not only with the lawyers and judges
of this day and generation, but with genera
lions of lawyers and Judges yet unborn
Common self-respect, then, and regard for
the snitors whose rights are to be adjudicated,
would naturally prompt these judges to de-
mand the books necessary to render opinions
upon which their regulations are to rest and
by which the rights of the citizen, now and
hereafter, are to be determined.
AT the last session of the Legislature, our
delegates and at least one of the Senators
from this District, saw an opportunity for
State recognition of our Eastern Pan Handle
by the location within its limits of a session
of the Court of Appeals Accordingly in the
Act organizing aud defining the jurisdiction
of that Court. provision was inserted fixing
session at Charestown, Jefferson county,
1t was instantly urged as an objection to
Charlestown. by members of the Legislature,
who desired the location of the Court within
the limits of their own counties, that there
was no library in Jefferson county, and this
objection was followed up by an offer on their
part to provide library if the Court should
be located within any of their counties. 1t
seems that our members of the Legislature
thinking Jefferson county could do what other
counties in the State could do, declared that
if the Court should be located at Charestown,
proper arrangements should be made for its
accommodation. Accordingly tho Act was
passed establishing assession of the Court of
Appeals at Charlestown. At this point, the
lawyers of Jefferson county first make their
appearance upon the scene of action. Think
ing it would never do in the world to have the
Court removed for want of accom- N dations,
they went to work and borrowed from, Mr..
Lawrence Washington the library of the late
Judge Bushrod Washington, which. however,
was so old that it contained exceedingly few
American Reports. For the preservation of
this library each lawyer bound himself to be
personally responsible. They then contrib
uted from their own private libraries every
book they could possibly spare. But still the
difficulty was not overcome, aud could not be
without the aid Of the county. Accordingly,
the county was asked to invest ST. 900 in law
books for the use of the Court, and the lawyers
bound themselves to pay into the county
Treasury 6 per cent. interest upon that amount
1t will be observed, Mr.. Editor, that these
books are to belong to the county; aud un-
like many other books, their value rather in
creases than diminishes with age. They can,
therefore, bs resold by tho county, whenever
it thinks proper, at about what they cost. If
by the location of the Court at CharIestown,
the county derives only $3.50 indirect benefit,
the 81, 900 will be yielding 10 per cent. in
terest; because sl60 is 1 per cent upon ST.
GOO; and that added to the 6 per cent. guar
antccd by the lawyers. of course, makes 10
the amount which will be brought into the
yers accompanying the Court, added to the
amount which will be kept within the county
by our suitors not being obliged to send their
cases to the Court located at distance, will
amount to at least 81, 900; so per cent upon
$4,000 Does the county lose anything By
the investment? In conclusion Mr. Editor,
it seems to me but simple justice to say that
we can not too highly appreciate the Presi-
dent of our County Court AS a man of i'm
tellect, he has always an opinion of his own;
as man of modesty, he is without that
wretched pride Of opinion which induces so
many men to hold on to hastily formed
opinion even after conviction Of its error and
lastly, but by no means least, he meets the re-
sponsibilitics of his office with calm courage:
relying upon Conscience to vindicate his CON
duet before himself, and upon Time to viudicate
it before the people. SALvISGToN.
Eg Gen. r. A. Stone, of Gen. Sherman's
army, who commanded the brigade that
guarded the city of Columbia, South Caro>
linn, upon its occupation by the Union army,
has'written letter to the Chicago Tribune,
in which he asserts that Columbia YVES not
fred by the Confederates, but by society of
Union officers, who had been released by the
army from the city prisons, and to which was
added number of soldiers and negroes. He
states that the fires of public buildings and
quartermasters stores, started by the Con-
federates the day BEFORE did not communicate
with any other part of the city, but that the
fires that burned the city were started on the
river at o'clock at night on the day that
the Union army occupied the city.
ES" The Valley Niryinian says that Mr..
Garrett has concluded to build the workshops
of the Valley Railroad Company at Harrison-
burg, rather than at Staunton, where such
heavy damages are assessed for privileges
1t also says that in consequence of the award
ment of damages (s9, 900 for one acre) at the
Asst property, BY the commission appointed BY