The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-24
evening State 9uarnal.
CApIToL NOTES.

ZION OF tn0r0ugn Cleaning vi Tie psase-
house. The building is we'll stricken in
years, and not susceptible of much i'm
provement in that line, and is also lily
adapted to the use to which it is put; new
ertheless, the elbow grease of Captain
Kellum's capable adjuncts, conjoined with
soap, water and sand is capable and does
make it much more presentablc than it
would otherwise be. The accumulated
dust of nearly century has been attacked
in some instances successfully tobacco
expectorated by the friends of old Gov
ernor Spotiswode and his friends of happy
memory, and venerable spiders ante-dating
the war of 1872, and with attenu@ several
inches long, have all been disturbed in
their pristine integrity by Kellam's satel.
ties.
The Legislature having provided Mar
chester with charter as city, the next
other concomitant of her advanced stage of
civilization will be city judge, whose cleo
ton by concurrent vote Of both houses Of
the General Assembly has been set for
tomorrow. 1t is highly important that
the person selected to ill this office should
have had judicial training to fit him for
the proper and efficient discharge of its
important functions, in which case thu pre-
sumption would be strong that he possessed
also the other initial but no less necessary
qualification of being 'learned in the law"
The judge in this case will, in the nature OF
things, be called on to exercise good
deal of authority, and to arbitra tie on the
destiny OF both men and property, and it
is essential that he should know how to
do SO and be willing to do so without par
tisan bias, and with an eye single to the
public good. Under the circumstances it
is not possible to elect good Republican
to the office, and therefore the Legislature
will have to select from the material pre-
sented before it, exercising, as it is hoped it
will, wise discretion. We hear of but
two aspirants for the Office, and can with
certainty from personal knowledge speak
of the qualifications of but one of
them. William j. Clopton, ESQ.,,
present county. judge, is the gentleman
alluded to. He is experienced, though
young, and would no doubt be acceptable
to all the people. Like his father, the late
Judge John B. Clopton, he possesses a
personal magnetism that has acquired him
many friends. He possesses also mental
qualifications of superior order, and his
partisan bias has never been so chronic as
to disturb the serenity Of his temper or in
fuence his judgment His elevation to
the judicial ermine would no doubt be ac-
eeptable to all parties. The tide of con-
current favoring testimony is all on his
side.
The Demosthenes of Spottsy lvania, in
his excellent exordium recently upon the
bill sin relation to the weighmaster Of live
stock, and fixing the days for the sale in
Richmond" spoke ofmembers from South
west Virginia as "the bovine aristocracy,'
and urged the passage of the bill upon the
ground of the public necessity, because
the impossibility now of deciding at thu
hotels whether the beef served at them wal
steak or sole leather.
Eustace Conway, ESQ.,, is not candidate
for the judgeship of Stafford County Court
The election comes off Thursday.
Hereafter only circuit and corporation
courts can convene grand juries, and pre-
sentiments for misdemeanor found by sucl
may be certified to the county courts 70
trial, or the commemorative attorney il
the latter may proceed to trial for misde
meanor on filing an information in the usua
way without the Intervention of grane
jury.
The interest bill was signed by the Gov
ernor to-day. 1t goes into effect June
The bill was fixed up under the persona
supervision Of the great Richmond enroller
Loyingstein, who is Bill himself, and ha
charge of all such in the House of whicl
he is an ornament.
The amendments to the charter of tn
city of Richmond were engrossed to-day
They provide for two branches of the cit
council. a quasi vote by the mayor, an
limits the city debt at Is per cent of tn
value of the real estate of the city.
Many new houses were put on the Cap
tol Square to-day for the use Of the Englis
sparrows.
The Governor appointed two notaries tt
day f. 7. Osborne, Esq, Allisonia pos
Office, Patrick county, and j. B. Jet
Fredericksburg.
Volumes of the Richmond Examine
embracing the period Of the war, ha
been purchased for the library. This wo1
will increase in value as time rolls on.
A caucus OF the Conservative membe
of the General Assembly will be held
8 O'Clock this evening to nominate judg
for Manchester, Winchester and t
counties of Stafford and King George.
During the debate in the Senate tod
on the bill to exempt the property of
husband or wife from the ante-nuptial del
of the other, eulogistic dissertations We
delivered upon the ladies by Messrs. Blar
Pridemore, Patterson, and others.
There are about liz judges 10 the sta
10 circuit Judges. 80 county Judges, 9 c.