The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-25
The Court of Appeals.


brought before it. One of these was the
Medical College case at Richmond, in
which the Court decided that the Gov
ernor was wrong his Interpretation of the
law governing the appointment of a Board
of Visitors to that Institution This con-
clusion was not that which the Governor
and his friends had reached, and for this
and the further reason that it left the Col
lege under the old regime, the court was
highly complimented by the Democratic
press. In other causes, notably in that
of the Judge of Prince William county,
where the Democratic judge was declared
to be the proper occupant of the bench as
against another judge elected by Read
juster Legislature, decisions have been
rendered which raised the Court above any
suspicion of partizan bearing. There has
been nothing, indeed, in connection with
the rulings and decisions Of the Court that
could reasonably he distorted to partake of
political bias.
In the decision of the case from Rock
ingham as to the Circuit clerkship, there
were really no party interests involved, but
because the Court sustained the Circuit
Judge, who is Readjuster in politics, and
declared against the County Judge, who is
now a Democrat in politics, it is charged
by partizans that there was partially in it
arising from political sympathies.
A case of much Importance to the par
ties litigant, but having no political bear
ing or significance, was decided a few days
before the adjournment of the Court. 1t
had been ably and exhaustively argued by
counsel, and after earnest and protracted
conference and laborious study, unani-
nous opinion was given as to the merits
of the cause, and only .one dissenting as to
the question of jurisdiction. The plaintiff,
in whose behalf the judgment was rem
dered, is Readjuster, and the defendant
Democrat. and for this reason, and the
further fact that considerable feeling had
been created over the matter, several of
the Democratic press, and number of
democrats in private conversation have de-
nounced the conclusions of the court as
partizan, and given because of the political
association Of the parties to the contest.
That was the case of Frazier against Fra
zier. ar
In order therefore. to meet these UNI
friendly and ungenerous criticisms, and
place in the hands Of the public, all the
facts and arguments upon which the opin-
ion of the Court is predicated, we have
taken the trouble to publish the conclusion
of the Court in full, without any comment
| of our own. 1t will be seen from it that
there was no hesitancy or doubt in the
mind of any member of the Court as to
\ the merits of the case. The opinion read
lby Judge Lacy voiced the views of each
Nudge on the bench as to the merits. So
| thoroughly was the Court convinced that
Injustice had been done. the plaintiff, that
the unusual order was entered Of judg-
mept in his favor, without referring the
CASE, for re-hearing, the reason for which
are clearly assigned by the writer of the
opinion.
1t IS due to the Court, as we consider,
that the criticisms of it's decisions, by
persons not acquainted with the facts,
should bs met by the reasons and facts
which governed in the conclusion, and to
that end we publish the opinion in full,
SO all who feel an interest in the matter,
can read and judge for themselves. We
do this at the request of number of gen.
tlemen whose sympathies are divided as to
the merits OF the case, but who desire to
read the opinion as presented by the Court.
| ;-t-> - >-----
When the Coalitionists came into power and
| VINDIcAToR made it it, business to hunt them
up and give them worl- Vindicdtor,
Yes; you gave then work for the same
reason that every ther employer gives
work to tradesmen. Y gu gave them work
because you could mike money out of their
work. The VIRGIIIAN gives work to
eight or ten hands, and if at times when it
needs further assistance idle printers can
be found, no mattel whether they have
been turned out or. lot, it is glad to get
them. And it doesn't think it has con-
ferred special faDr on the printer by
employing him. Tie obligation is mutual.
We must have his lbor and he wants our
money. And that1 the whole secret Of
the indicators Wanted generosity. The
moment the ''turnd out'' printers cease
to be profitable, that moment they go.
The Vaaoscator males the mistake common
with it's class. 1t imagines that working
men are absolutely dependent on employers,
and that every dol4r they receive should
be returned not -ony in labor, but also in
humble gratitude. 1t imagines as it drops
the hard-earned wages into the laborer's
hand, that it is perbrming magnanimous
deed, THAT it is bebtowing a charity, and
that the recipient thereof should go down
on his knees and kiss the hand extended
him. 1t forgetsl that when the work is
done and the money paid the obliga-
ton is discharged. This old arrogant spirit
this old relic of slavery-this idea that
because a man works with his hands he
must be dependent upon the party for
whom he works, has done more to keep
Virginia in the rear of progress than half
of the other agencies combined. 1t has
taught many pf our young men to look
down upon the trades with scorn; it has
instilled into them the belief that respect
ability and manual labor are incompatible !;
it has caused the young women of the
State to welcome to the social circle the
empty-headed fop, and close the door
against him whose hands are roughened
by honest toll it has turned the youth of
spirit and push and intelligence from the
land of his brit and the associations Of
his home, to seek employment in a State
where the badge Of q mechanic is a thing
to be proud of, and it has burdened this
old Comm with a horde of grace
less loafers who might otherwise have be-
come useful, wealth producing citizens.
lis time this old Bourbon notion were
crushed out. The mechanics owe it TO
themselves and to their children. 1t has
pressed them to the earth for generations
1t will hang like milestone around the
necks of their sons and their daughters
for years to come, if they do not rise in
their might and with an emphasis that
cannot be doubted, assert their independ-
ence and let it be known that they cannot
be longer snubbed and looked down upon.