The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-02


W. ,on,pre to saw that 10 the whole his
<o.~ M legislation, either in the republics o.
oIa or those comp sing the great Americas
TIn;or, there can be found no parallel In tb'
nenurious unwisdom 10 the action OF The
General Assembly in reference 10 the judges
of the county courts. The founders OF th'
Repu,ic divided the powers o! government
into executive. legislative. and judicial, sup
posipg that usurpaton. excuses, and eXtrava
yances on the part OF the executive would
be promptly checked by the legislative
deoartment: that the foilies ard absurdities
into which popular bodies are sometimes LED
world be subject to The restricted vets OF the
Executive and that every Illegal act com.
United by the Executive, c0acted bS the LIE
cil.'u,e, or perpetratcd by the 'Gt'Z"ns OF
the State would Hnd speedy redress through
the calm wisdom of pure. fearless, and
searnea iudicisry: thus resting she success
of the whole system upon rue per-ona
nuri,y and wisdom Of the badges. Such
he,nn The theory Of our Republic. it would
seem that. tho FIRST care Of the Legislature.
with whom rests the election OF the
Judges, sboud be 20 elect the purest, mos
learned, and wiscst citizens OF the State
TO the bench. Flow far the General Assem-
bly has proceeded upon this theory is pain
fully apparent TO those who are al acquainted
with the capacity ard qualifications OF many
OF the judges OF our county courts. IL l.
true that history points TO many States
wherein there were most excellent Judges
who received no salary or emolument; but
the shallewest investigation will show
that in those countries only persons
of q certain cast or OF certain
amount of wealth were eligible
to any tfSce, or that there was such an accu'
mutation Of wealth there was no dIfhculty
In finding those who bad sufficient quallhca-
tons and wealth to discharge the dutfes oil
public office without charge, and to whom
the honor OF serving the State was an ample
recompeuse. But neither OF these three
conditions exist in Virginia. Our General
Assembly rightly pays its members sncn
per dt.m as to enable Them TO live IN such Il
manner rs becomes The peoples representa-
tiyes, and wisely provides suitable yetecono'
rnicaI salaries for other flitcIs of the state.
But what will be the surprise Of the historian
of future ages when be urrayes the fact that
Virginia in her earnest Z~al TO pay berdettS,
limited her economy to virtually putting the
office of county Judge. before whom are tried
the dearest rights Of The citZen-life, limb,
liberty, and repuialion-up to the lowest
bidder, In many of the counties the num-
Der Of days on which the county judge
thereof is IN session exceeds the number OF
DAYS that the circuit judge sits on the bench
In bis whole circuit.
In this cOunty the salary of the county
Judge is less than that OF any public officer in
the county except that Of the supervisors,
who receive per diem. His pay is less than
that of the keeper of the county buildings.
Without prying into the private affairs OF
any one, we venture the assertion that his
salary does not actually. pay his board and
hor.e.feed whilst absent from home in hold
ing bis court, and that be has only continued
to hold the position in Difference to the uni
yersal wish of the people Of the county. 1T
is the almost universal impression that nearly
all of the best county judges who have
continued in office have done so with
the expectation that The present General AS
sembly will act promptly and wisely in this
matter.
In this country at least ninc-tenths Of the
caSes taectng the rights Of persons and pro-
perty are tried before the county courts.
The Commonwealth has no right of appeal
In criminal cases, and it is essential TO The
yindicatiop Of he majesty of The law that the
judges presiding in these courts should have
such learning as to enable them readily Il
comprehend the spirit and reason Of the law
and that they should possess the patient dis
erection and administrative ability which Il
necessary for the proper discharge OF TIT
Onerous county business which the law in
poses upon them. In our own present con
dition TO cheaper justice in this respect is t
multiply crime Chesapeake Current.