The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-19

..WEDsnsDA FEBRUARY ~. 1879.
,1.,e: 1c,,anstitntiocnal .Amenduaentg.

-
we are afraid that all the time devoted ,
to the discussion OF the proposed consiitu-
tional amendments viii be time wasted.
we nre confident OF it IL those amendments
no. as were The last, submitted all together.
s,rhe people will not ratify them en- y osoc.
/ There Is supposed TO be in them san awful
1 sou,n,ipS towards the destruction OF y tfe
pnblic.schocI systern-a feature Which =! OF
itself would insure their deieat il tbey
should be Submitted as whole---asi or none
to be ratified.
Its TO be feared, too, that The old county
court system coulasnot be reinstated IN Jus
ancieat dignity and purity even II the PEG
;. rle were TO decide at the bailot-box upon us
j restoration. The old justices, when they
laid county levy, knew that they them.
selves had to pay a large portion Of las
/ much assoae fourth, rye have heard it stated.
/ They were, too, men Of leisure, often OF OF
! learning; and not . few OF them were re-
spectacle unlicensed lawyers. The once
was one Of dignity, but one OF cost TO
item. For one OF them who succeed
ed 10 the h,gh. sberifalty, there, were
perhaps FIVE who never received dol
lar FOR their judicial services. Ii she
presiding justice resided near the county
seat, bis house was the abode OF hospitah'y
which was almost unlimited. And not Tue
/. presiding justice only. There was hardly
man amongst them, live where ne mlsat
who did not in some manner dispense the
!, same kind OF hospitality. All this was
done, not to curry, favor with the voters;
for the justices were not elected by Inc peo-
ple: but because the very beet men 10
the community were put upon the BENCH
and almost all of them felt it to be
bounden duty to make the terms OF hospl-
: tality Mt their dwellings as liberal as those
amongst the higher classes in England. In
fact. il is enough TO make one sad TO recall
rhe condition OF Virginia In the days when
the old county-court system was at its best,
and then lock at her condition now. Can
the past be repeated in the future. Never.
No steps backward can be taken. we
must press forward, let the result be what
it may. Ii we decide TO return TO the oid
county-court system. we must make that
decision in full view OF our present sur
roundings. We must think whether we
have amongst us men WHO possess the ne
cessary qualifications.
However, we did not propose discussing
the merits OF the proposed amendments,
We do not think that the Legislature has
time to perfect them at this session. Less
than two weeks OF the session remains.
Caa the Senate possibly pass UPON inc
amendments in the few days OF it which
will remain after the House OF Delegates
shall have disposed OF them? We think
not. Besides, the. public has been warned
that there was cat in this meal-tub-
that the public-scaool system is in danger
and therefore, even if passed by Doth
houses, the amendments would go before the
voters under cloud OF suspicion. Above
oil, there is more important business before
tho two hnr1Ses The General Assembly
that shall settle the public-debt question
and pass the Richmond and Allegheny rail-
road bill will need no other claim to the
plaudlts OF the people Of Virginia. Let
these be disposed OF first OF all. E<a