The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-04
The County Courts.

The present Legislature, If It respects tne
Wishes Of the people, will restore the county
courts to their proper condition according
TO the Constitution. We mean what We
cav and We know what we say 10 oe true.
we at the same time, mean to DC altogether
respec,fnl to the Legislature. Ihat ooos
,on,a have little regard for our esteem or
;na;earcnce Il we permitted our respect for
!. 70 s,;de our honest opinions OF what we
co,s;ser 70 be It's duty. We have consti-
tneni,s right. a. least, to tell our representa-
lives not only what We think they ought to
do. but to cen>ure them for what We con-
slider their neglect.
The county courts are the judicial "home
governments" Of the people. For ther
ft,i,;ency they should be intelligent and
competent. and for their purity and respec'a-
bility they should be we'll compensated. The
Constitution in It's ter as we'll as It's spirit
requires this in declaring that the judges
SHALL be "earncd in the law"
Our general community is divided into
local communities, whose extent is marked
by county liLes. This is to promote the
efficiency and convenience Of government,
and especially of its local administration IN
The first processes OF justice and order. Dis
order must be promptly checked and neigh
borhood wrongs promptly rcdrcSScd Tor the
safety and peace Of the community. 10 pro-
portion as this is done efficiently and pro-
perly will be the quiet and happiness Of The
community. And it only can be so done by
q tribunal distinguished for lis Intelligence,
energy, ard independence.
What would Richmond do without
riSilant and prompt eXertion OF the power
70 arrest disorder and punish trcspass and
crimc7 The counties are sparSc!y settled,
and are not in such imminent necessity, but
their wants Of police and Of justice resem-
bic tho.e OF the city, and their protection
should be near, accessible, and energetic.
The local tribunal should be reliable for It's
intelligence and its integrity. The people
should have the liberty Of submitting their
cases TO it under certain conditions, and
should by no means be required to travel far
and incur both expense and delay IN attend
Jag suits when their ncighoorhood court
w ,uld have satisfied them.
We believe it to be one Of the u.ost i'm
por,au: points in the liberty Of the citizen
that he should, besides having efficient pro-
L :tion at home, be free 10 settle his variance
with his fellow-citizen at bis nearest court.
il is serious breach Of his liberty to compel
lin 10 long journeys and oncrous expenses
il search Of justice.
The county courts are the peoples courts,
aud essential to the liberty and protection Of
the citizen.
But what are they. shora Of authority and
si:orn of compensation They lose dignity.
they lose force, they lose respect, and the
people suffer for the want Of the efficient |
* administration OF justice and preservation of |
order. The courts thus brought into con-
tempt become curse to society, and there
is no refuge for the distressed and wronged.
Should that be in civilized community:
Will the Legislature Of Virginia place the
people in this desperate condition? Do they
want 10 inaueurate Judge LYNCH? If they
do, lc. them bury the county courts into tue
III that public necessity |