The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-07

imnart q .1Se1ai2 - -
=! onueiIul Strength to habits OF at" |
tpntion and of analytic thought by an eXer-
cise and example which the county man |
would nowhere else be led into, aud ne
where else have the like lively interest in.
There are few keener or truer judges OF
cause on trial, of the bearing of each bit OF
evidence as produced, of the applicability OF
fine law rs hid down in it, and Of what ought
TO be the result of it, than the countyman
ia homespun, whose look is riveted for hours
and whose eye CLEANS with the Intelligent
interest excited in him BY the intellectual
warfare, The bar we'll know that they have
no seyerer ordeal to pass through than that
of the brains of these county spectators,
each of whom will take their measure WITH
unfailing accuracy, and will 80 home ana
thoroughly discuss the questions raised ana
all the information gathered.
These men make the safest and best jurors
in the world.
Asa source of practical education and OF
mental disciplne-aye, and OF the quicken
ing of mutual ympathies-these county
courts were worth dozen free schools
precious as they may be in their special pro-
vince-as introductory to knowledge.
The "county court" has been the heritage
of Vireipians from their colonial days; 1t
has been one of the great landmarks OF the
St,te-the school of its most splendid tai
ent-one of its peculiar features-and it
should have been held sacred, the more so
at time when the hands Of strangers sought
to cultivate Old Virginia into new Virginia
| by running the ploughshare over her ancient
| institutions and narrowing the feelings ana
State pride of her sons by oblterating all that
has marked her individuality for nearly two
centuries.
The county court, though ancient, was not
efete. Crescent uires eundo-age na9 pus
added strength and dignity to IL ana na9
accumulated in its organization the gatnefeo
| wisdom and experience OF time. Inc PEG
nile 80 esteemed it when they made 1t their
| chosen resort for relief in preference 10 any
other. 3 sz.s ~, - ...a - oho,;s,
1.-The good old-court, whose age as Wen "
whose yigor gave to itas tribunal OF Juseice
the prestige and sacredness OF iong uula'
tion-bad given it the dignity anu .l ,as,t
Worthiness of permanence-so s,eauy wa nv
! ing in the kaleidoscope productions Oh tne
/ legislative mania for change.
i say it was unwise to dooasa ,this aheleb
!. asylum Of justice; for it was nothing snor
! of an abolition of it to so emasculate II Q.
: stripping off every vestige OF lurlsolctlo'
> which had for generations made IL cou!t
m;si nrius and of equity-by reducing it u
7 . mere court of probate and police-whos
] insjpnificance is made doubly consplcuou
9 nv ITS being attached to the once might
= = name OF" The County Court like plsm
= under the helmet of a giant. - :.
: ) This abolition was simply. volunteer legls
| lation. 1t was not demanded by any utter
: ance of the people-was directly IN tn
:, teeth of the testimony Of their actions an
choice-nay, it was against the openly-e2
J messed wishes of many counties, and Wne
: the act became law the news fell on. thot
% sands of hearts like the death-bell for oea
and departing friend cut off in the Vigor
% his usefulness. ia +,
:, becalIse the pittance of salary allowed
y their counties was insufficient to secuI
10 com netent talent in their Judges. Ihis is q
le colo nonu|ar reason I ever heard FOR II, an
the only respectable objection have eY'
y heard from any source to the county eoui
u True. "economy +" was the cry but as
question of economy in the pennies II IS
y doubtful efficacy, and the probability Is una
as all sources OF expenditure and loss connte
y nm. the aggregate of saving would DC iar
~ y, the side Of the old system.
- Rut whether It was SO or not, the Jus
- c;ary n the last Of oil subjects for parsImol
a. In the shape of experimental economy: IN
II iiohfs., or maps, or newspaper, or scnoo
!, = hooks: It belongs to that class OF sao)es
\, n which pfnch,ng and saving br1ng lgI
: rance ard ineiiciency, and thereby unlo
an Iinss In tbe vast interests committed 20 Q
as controlled by made quate agene1esi Rniie g,
IT, hirhest efficiency, secured by reasonanie u
81 rs{ify. repays the outlay 9 .thousand.Iole
r the irne and safe aIjndicatioa OF the vast,
Z sarasts and rights OF HE, liberty, trancnis
and property to be passed upon by Il:
"a can conceive of no benefit which
mr. .holi,ion OF the county court can pree'u