The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-10-05

ry proposed invasion of the methods when
they have approved and under which they
derive profit, is an assault upon the conser-
vative restraints of government, ard ln-
tended for some lew, mercenary, par
tizan purpose. 1t matters not that the
sweat and toll of the people are drawn up"
ON to enrich the Golfers of d select few,
any suggestion that looks to an mvestiga-
ton of the business and right OF such
things, calls for an avalanche OF abuse and
defamation, as though the peoples rights
and interests should be made subordinate
to the arrangements of the rings to Con-
centrate power and profit in their own
hands, at the expense of the masses. Such
is not the object of government under our
popular system. The greatest good to the
greatest number is cardinal tenet OF DEM
ocratlc or Republican faith. and any sys-
tenn of laws or accepted practices, which
denies this fundamental fact, or interposes
to its practical utilization, is contrary. to
the genius of our institutions. The inter-
ests of the People is the fist great consiC-
Grafton which should engage the attention
and command the endeayors Of every pa
triotic citizen. 1t is the Peoples labor
from WHICH the resources for the mainte-
nance OF government are drawn. They
constitute the ground work OF our political
system, and it is their right and their well
fare which should be consulted as para
mount, and not the schemes and the plots
Of the designing few who live by their wits
and feed upon the results OF the primary II
| dustry of the country.
The Land Commissioner bill is the meas
| ure TO when We allude, that was intro
duced in the Legislature, but its passage ar
rested by the detection Of the Big Four.
| f. is this bill which has been SO vehement!y
denounced by the Bourbon speakers in this
canvass, for no other reason than its enact
ment would be fraught with immense ben
| efits 10 the people, while it would operate
| against the pecuniary gains OF certain
class who live on the present system OF
| judicial sales What there is in this meas
ure which should evoke such bitter hostil-
ity, we cannot see. 1t proposed to settle
estates by bonded officers similar to the
county treasurer in each county. 1t cur
tailed the costs. 1t simplitied the meth
| DDS and terminated suits. 1t would break
| I'D the present system by WHICH lawyers
alone are appointed Comm ssioners OF Sale,
only that they may collect commissions and
protract the clos ing OF accounts. IL pro-
| vjded for the distribution of estate funds
to heirs or legatees promptly and required
report of the comm toners at every term
of the Court. showing that the interests OF
parties concerned W, re to be cared for and the
purpose of the su carried out. The court
had the power to remove the commissioner
for the slightest direliction OF duty, or
failure to comply rigidly with the law and
another to be appointed.
What was in this bill that the people
could object to? Nothing at all. Under
the present system when large estate is
thrown into the hands of commissioner,
it generally remains there until it is con-
suned in costs, and the legal beneficiaries
depr lived of that which they would receive
and be entitled to were prompt closing OF
accounts effected. The bill required the
shortest and most efficient methods to settle
estates, and take them out Of court; while
under the present practice there is no end
to the accumulation of. costs, prolonged
litigation and continuous veX ltion and sus-
peuse. The comm iss toner's are the bene-
iiciaries, and not the creditors or debtors.
There is not business man in the state
chat does not know that such a law as the
Land Commissioners bill, would have
worked untold advantages to creditors and
debtors, and benefit the community by re-
annoyance, and consequent loss OF time and
paralysis of energies, incident to the pres
ent system.
| The enactment of the bill into law, and
change in the chancery practice, by
which costs would be curtailed, court pro-
ceedings simplifled. and the object OF suits
spe. div reached, would relieve the people
OF an immense burden OF expense. give
creditors their rights and emancipate deit-
ots from the thraldom of debt and set them
-
lawsuit hanging over their heads like an
| impending doom.
These reforms will yet be If. cted They
are in the interest of the people, and it is the
purpose of those who have entered upon the
| work of breaking the power of the rings
and cabals which have battened upon the la
| Dor of the people and used the power thus
acquired to perpetuate the methods by
which these wrongs have been inf Icted. to
continue IN the struggle until the ends they
aim at are accomplished. The result of the
present contest is, therefore, more impor-
tant in its influence upon the election of
a Legislature next fall, than for any
immediate benefits which may at
tend. Success now will inspire conf
dence for the future, and it is more for the
work to be doIe through the next Legisla-
ture than any direct benefit from having
Liberal representatives in Congress. that
importance attaches to the result in No
vember next. If the Liberals win the
| fight by pronounced majority in the ap-
preaching election, it clears the way for
the selection OF Legislature one year
hence. which will carry into effect the
salutary reforms to which we have re-
ferred.
In no State in the Union are creditors
and debtors 80 perfectly at the mercy OF
the courts rs in Virginia. 1t looks as
though our laws were framed to make liti-
CATION perpetual-to keep estates on the
docket until they are actually consumed
| by costs, and both creditor and debtor
robbed OF their property through compi-
Gated and expensive legal proceedings, for
the benefit solely of the agents Of the law.
1t is with the people themselves to say
whether they will longer tolerate such op-
pressive wrongs. There is nothing of par
ty in it, except as the one political force
may propose to reform the present wrongs
and the other may contend for perpetual.
ing them. The Liberals have given an
earnest of the sincerity of their profess
sions, in the legislation already eEacted af-
fecting the public welfare. favorable re-
suit this fall. will strengthen and encour-