Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-10-09
COMMUNICATED.
TWENTY REASONS WHY THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENTS SHOULD NOT BE
ADOpTED

w SOuTL IS not ptIltCt IL 10 OS'sSi N
the new one offered US.
I'd. Because that all the defects o.
the old county Court system can be rem
edied by simple legislation, without go
ing to the expense of Costitutlonai
Amendments.
50. Because the amendments, if rat!-
fed, will largely increase our taxes as a
whole, aud without any corresponding
advantage or gain to the people.
4th. Because Constitutional proyis-
ions 10 not enforce themselves bat re-
quire legislation 10 put them IN force, 1t
must follow that for the time between
the ratification Of said amendments ard
the enacting OF such laws as shall be ne
cessary TO carry them into effect, we Will
have 10 law ia the State touching the
matters contained in said amendments.
9Th. Because that Larger Judges
will cost the people much more than
Justices, and often not serve them any
better: and because the amendments re-
quire 90 increase of lawyef Judges OF
five more, at cost of not less than
$4,000 per annum each, including mi
leace, and will soon make it necessary
10 double that number.
9th. Because public servants should
hail from the people of all callings as
much as possible, while these so-called
Amendments provide that the highest
salared officers shall alone come from a
certain class or profession.
9TH. Because these men called Com
missioners. and declared a Count Court,
can be no more capable of sitting as
Judges in Court than the same three
men called Justices.
Sth. Because one Justices in the
country, unaided by the bar and unpro-
tected by the Sheriff, can be no more
competent to Try matters OF dollars ana
cents, than three Justices or two Justl-
ces and a President, sitting as a Court,
aided by the bar, and protected by tie
Sheriff.
9th. Because that while the right Of
trial by jury is the bulwark of our judi
cial system and Of the lives and liberty
of the citizen. when properly guarded
and protected by the Courts, yet when
allowed to he dragged from their fields
aud shops at moments warning, 10 act
before single Justices, without Sheriff
TO protect them, or the aid OF a bar or
Court to instruct them as TO the law OF
the case, will not only prove oppressive
10 the jury but dangerous TO the people.
10Th. Because these Amendments
are in favor and in the interest OF the
rich.as class, and against the poor
for small debts under $500 general
ly belong TO the poor, while the rlch
man owes larger sums than this, II ne
owes it al, and owes it to the rich,
while the poor man may owe his small
sum of $500 OF under 10 the rich man.
II the rich man is sued for his large sum,
he must he sued in a court ofrecord, and
is entitled to the claws delays, reach
ing months and years, OF if sued before
a Justice in the country, is able TO 0p-
peal aud give the required security.
But if the poor man is sued it will gen
orally be before single Justice in the
country, where he may be tried and
judgement rendered and execution Is
sued and levied in five or ten days-and
he has no escape unless he can find some
one who is willing TO undertake to pay
the debt for the poor man in case he
don't dose, in so many days;this but few
poor men will be able TO do, hence their
wives and children may be turned out
of house and home, all within few
DAYS. This is discrimination against
the poor as class.
18th. Because a very large portion
Of the cases so brought before Justices,
where the parties are able to give the
required security, will come up TO the
Courts by appeal, or otherwise, there to
be tried de nOUa, which will ouIy IN
crease the costs Of the sutton, and is an,
other rod in isrrorem over the poorman.
18th. Because such appeals will like
~ be given preference over all other
civil causes on the court docket, and is
not only another discrimination OF haste
against the poor man, but will clog the
Court docket to the great delay and
detriment of other causes on said docket.
18th. Because such increase OF jurIs-
diction in single justices and jury, will
create as many shovel plough Courts
as there are Justices, with the power to
sit for the trial of causes any.and every
dav in the week, month or year (Sun'
day excepted), and to drag farmers and
mechanics from their business in like
manner, without a moments warning,
will be sure. TO bring to it PARCEL OF
hungry ignorant pettifoggers, aud should
be called the pettiioggers heaven or the
peoples hell.
18th. Because if the Amendments
carry, four out of the seven districts OF
our county (Jefferson) will be wholly
unrepresented in laying or dsbursing
public levies and taxes, whereas, as 1t
now is, each ard all Of the districts are
fully and fairly represented.
18th. Becouse, as 1t now is, rings,
cliques and local questions or interests
cannot control the questions Of public
burdens or advantages, for at the fiscal
and levy terms, all the Justices are pres
eut to protect the interests of their con-
stituents, while at the otherterms Of our
County Court the Justices are constant
ly changing at each term, so that no 10
cal advantage could be accomplished if
tried; while under the Amendments the
same three men are always present for
a term Of six years, and the majority OF
the districts are always out in the cold;
that is wholly unrepreseIted by any OF
tie oyu ciiiyprG.