Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-25
Jefferson County Court.


dressed by Capt. w. Fl. KABLE.
On motion of Justice J. e. Smith, it:was.
Ordered. That the able and eloquent ad-
dress Of the President of the Court be pub.
lished i'll the papers of the County and fled
aud preserved amongst the Records of the
Court.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT oF-THE COURT.
FeNo,o Citizens and Gentleman ofthe Bar
and C"uaty Court wv tn no purpose of
making speech, to which neither our habit.
| nor inclination lead us. we desire To acknowl.
edge our appreciation of the honor which YOU
have conferred npoo us, aud of the responsi>
eillties OF the position to which you have
called us.
We have met together day, gentlemen,
to inaugurate a new system of government for
our county, to establish new court for the
administration of law and justice.
BY your voice, the system under which you
have, for some years past, lived, has been cast
off, as one not of your own CHOICE i'll adapted
to your wants, aud in its stead. there has
come, at your bidding, an old acquaintance,
venersted and esteemed by you in that past to
which the mind, in the experience of the
present, loves to revert, and which we shall
long regard as the golden past, the halcyon
days of our county and republic This old nc.
quaintauc gentlemen. the County Court sys-
tenn, it is our honor to Introduce to you to day.
Yet would not forget. fellow citizens. that
the honor and este n, which, in your minds,
attached to this Coult is due, in no small de-
| gree, to the character Of those who constitute
its members. History is full of warnings ,hat
the best systems of governments and judiciary
may become, in the hands of the corrupt and
INSCRIPTIONS. oppressive and CALLING to those
hoo 80. = r.
and boosted of the purity of the other.
The gentlemen who constituted this Court.
in days past, were whose attainments
whose acquaintance with the system, and
especially. whose integrity and purity of char
acter commanded your highest regard and es
TEEN.
Shall we, fellow citizens, whom you have
chosen to give again this system life and being
in your midst, be able to fill their places?
When [ remember him, who once occupied
this chair to which it has been MP honor to
be called. when l call to mind his legal attain,
ments, his learning, the dignity aud ability
! with which he presided, dare not no % even
to approximate them, yet there is lett to me,
fellow citizens. to initiate and to emulate his
virtues and purity Of character. aid if know
mine own heart, | can but wish, that, ere the
purity of this position which he so spotless
kept, shall, on my part, receive one spot or
stain, | too may be called to lie under the
sod where he, SO full of honors, rests from
| his lahors
Fellow citizens, you have called US to grave
Responsibilities and have imposed upon MS i'm
portant duties. We are men unsklled in the
intricacies or mysteries of the law and if we
should make mistakes, and dare not hope
that we will not. since those learned in the
law, and distinguished for their abilities urc
| often found to do the same, we beg your for
bearance. and hope that as our experience en-
larges. we may become more competent. and
| better fitted to discharge the duties which
devolre upon US.
And, 10 conclusion, fellow citizens we can
make but this promise. that entering upon our
duties with an earnest desire to do right and
with nothing but the good of. the people at
heart, we shall strive earnestly and faithfully
to Justify the confidence which you have i'm
| posed in US.
Gentlemen of the Bar: You are the recog-
n'zed channels through which much ot the
business of this court will be transacted. With
high appreciation of your attainr,enss and
ability, trust that the kindest and best re!a-
tons may ever exist between us. Looking to
you, of necessity. for much of our Information
that pertains to matters Of law, we feel sure
that you will always he ready to aid us bv
your knowledge and advice, that we may be
| the better enabled to arrive at correct conclu
! sons.
For your own benefit, gentlemen, for the
maintenance of order, aud for the PROMPT
| dispatch of the business of our body we shall
seek to discharge our duty, without fear or
favor. Taking it Cor granted that you seek
justice for your client in presenting his cause
before us, whatever, from any source, NAV
seem to retard or be designed to defeat the end
of justice, shall be promptly and firmly re-
strained
We admit. that by your zeal for your clients
or the sophistry of your argument, we may he
embarrassed and it may be diverted and mis-
lead, yet, against these difficulties it must be
our purpose to guard as.best we may
However, with the utmost confidence in
| your integrity and honor. when compelled to
turn TO you for counsel and advice in cunses
in which we are in doubt, we feel confident
that our Inquiries will always be met in the
spirit in which they are made. Aud in con-
cluslon, gentlemen. it shall be our purpose to
extend to you, at all times, the courtesy and
Difference which is your due and in return VIC
shall expect, and if need be, compel, that
courtesy and respectful demeanor which the
dignity of this Court our own self>respect,
and the honor OF our people, entitle US to de-
mand at your hands.
Gentlemen IF the County Court: To YOU
have been entrusted the public interest of the
people Of this county. The custoiians OF the
public funds. the conscrvatnrs of the peace.
having the care. through your clerk, of the
public records, you occnpy high positions of
trust. and many and Important duties Lave
| been confided to you.
We cannot fail to admit that demoralizins
Influences have been Iat work in our midst
since the war.
Too great disregard for law, and order, a
want of appreciation Of the sacredness of pub
lie and private trusts. a general lack of care.
| and, too aften Of fidelity in the nd ministra.