Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-02-26
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 2e. 1875.
THE CIRCUIT AND COUNTY
COURTS AGAIN.

A correspondent Of the Richmond "Dis-
patch noticing a statement in this paper
about the Circuit Courts, attracts our at
tention to the subject again. The cores
pondent thinks that "if the Circuit Court
terms were reduced to two; year, the
circuits so rearranged as to equalize the
labof and to give to the Judges compen-
sation that will keep them and their fami-
lies from want, the thing would be made
to work The correspondent at least can
claim the merit OF stating in brief terms
his side of the matter. If there can be
more circuits for more ambitious aspir-
ants, less terms for the convenience OF the
court, and the inconvenience of the peo-
pie, and compensation, "vulgarly called
salary, large enough to make things com.
Portable, his colabofers may yet be happy.
We wish to call especial attention to the
fact that in all the discussions which have
attended this subject the convenience and
the feelings Of the people i'll the matter
have been almost wholly disregarded.
When the County Courts were first cut
down, q show Of consideration for the
peoples side was made in the pretence
that the move WAS for their benefit in the
way OF economy, but we believe all will
concede that this is now thoroughly ex-
ploded, leaving us all Of the apprehended
evils and none of the promised BENEFITS.
1t has left us with but three courts, at
which causes can be tried, except in trifing
matters. against six under the former sys-
tenn at which business Of all kinds could
be disposed of, and twelve at which crimi-
nal causes could be disposed of. This
throws great obstacles in the way of the
transaction OF the important business of
the people, and in felony cases entails
heavy expense upon the State for the sup
port Of prisoners during long confinement
In the hundred jails Of this Commonwealth
there are confined prisoners daily eating
up all the promised saving by the cutting
down of the County Courts. and who have
long since consumed in the cost Of their
keeping twice the sum attempted to be
saved. Then if there is no economy in the
matter, we suppose the people who own
the State may haye some choice in the
manner Of executing its laws. They choose
the County Courts. They are more con-
venient to them. They are handy every
month for the settlement of all those mat
tiers which from time immemorial the
people have been accustomed to bring be-
fore them. They come oftener and go
sooner, and a man doesn't have to hang
around them so much.
There is one point that We should not
forget The reduction of the offices Of
County Clerk cannot fail to end by
filling them with incompetent persons.
These Offices ais the repositories of titles
and records Of the county, and it is of the
utmost Importance that they should be
under the supervision OF competent per-
sons. The present salaries will not keep
such men in them. Augusta county has
seen this danger, and her Supervisors have
petitioned the legislature for power to sup
plement the salary Of our clerk, so as to
retain him. 1t will be SO all over the State
the people will have to pay the difference
in the end, thus giving another example
of legislative economy.
we CAL the atceneloh Oh tne people 10
the fact that the changes made have not
been made IN their interest, and were effect
o ID nnder q Mo-. If economv and efficisncy
~ ai ,Sa 49,, 49, totsu, o~r,odoa Tot tham
that mas peeh 'o.ails eApi'dea he. ''e.''
make this recollection nam point iii
selecting their next representatives in the
,o~;.1.,+.r.
Since writing the above, we have seen
the following iii the Essex county ''ln
dex.'' which is very appropriate to the