The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-20
EARLY DAYS OF VIRGINIA.
Her Trials During the Revolutionary Re-
construction Period.
GREAT POVERTY OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
How Jnstiee was Adn,Ipistsred-The High
Sheriff and Deputies Dlficul,ies In CIV
ing Bonds and Collecting Taxes.

OF Virginia at a particular pefloo OF WINCH
little is known. aud which we think IS not
altogether unworthy OF notice Greater mat
ters have more properly engaged tie stten-
ton Of the historian. The modes OF which
Virginia after long and bitter trials had been
finally emancipa;ed from British tyranny
her sudden accession to the responsibilities
and powers OF an Independent State aud The
principles upon which the subsequently
founded free Commonwealth have very prop
ory become themes for The consideration of
political philosophers. and historians.
In the nature of things. this should
have been. But in writing tho true account
OF any people the historian should not isil 10
incorporate. II possible al the varied. details
OF incident aud elect with the woo; OF his
narrative. 1t ia only 10y doing tins that he
can construct the real history Of II nation.
DURING TBE REVOLUTION.
While The Revolutionary war was going on
MI the money raised by the state was
expended IN defending herself and the
country at large against the common
enemy Her soldiers lad 10 be paid, ied
aud clothed. Her civil government had 10
lie supported her naval es,aDlisbinent had 30
be maintained: hor frontiers had TO DO
guarded and defended from attacks Dy the
neiChbOrng savages and pubic manufacturers
of equipments and munitions ot var mad 10
be constructed and supplied Inc people pi
Virginia were scattered over an area OF more
than 60 900 square miles and much OF this
territory was totally uninhabited Inc
deusest psrt of the population was east OF the
Blue Ridge and chiefly IN the 'lidewator dis
tricts. OF course as long "a hosiiiiues con-
t,nued every branch OF industry was intr-
rupted. every source of production WAS taxed
T. ITS utmost b. meet tho exhaustlng demands
OF war and its intefminabie array OF horrors
AFTER INDEPENDENCE.
After nearly eight years of suffering the
people of tho State were of course. elated at
the prospects Of peace. and looked forward 10
an endless era of prosperity and ease HE
leaders in the late Revolution did not take the
same view OF public affairs. They were wiser
in their generation than their fellows. lav-
lng experienced the responsibilities and bitter
trials Of the past seven years they fOresaw the
difficulties OF reconstructlng an overthrown
government and OF reforming the scattered
remains OF dlsintegrated society. at ength
when the time arrived for gathering
together the debris resulting from the
violence Of wax. out of which TO build W new
State. II was not long before the people them
selves found that their troubles had not yet
come 10 an end. They knew they were poor
that the war had made havoc with their subj
stance: but they did not realize to what OK
tent this had been done until the new govern
They had felt the strong arm of the invader,
but on this very account they had been fired
with spirit OF resistance. such 0s made 1t
both honorable aud glorious % endure
hardships Tor their cOuntTys sake.
New and unexpected trials were now
about to test their further endurance.
Instead Of armed bands OF the enemy. the
ruthless hand Of the tax-cOiector was now
abroad in the land. literally gathering where
he had not planted and reapins where he Lad
not sown." II they had cen willing az late
years to shed their blood in the cause of
human liberty it had now become necessary To
pat up their money TO maintain It. With what
success and IN what temper this new trouble
was at first met will appear hereafter.
FRAMEWORK or GOVERNMENT.
The framework Of the government Of Viz
GINA was reconstructed upon the same gen
eral plan that had existed before the war
when she was colony OF Great Britain. The
power Of the king, his ministers and his Par
lament were represented by the Governor.
the council and the Legislature of the new
State The territory had been sub
divided into slires Ia accordance with the
plan adopted by the mother country. The
same arrangement was allowed 10 stand after
the establishment of Independence except
that these Circumscribed areas were called
counties instead OF sbres
We do not propose to attempt here his
tory Of the county court system as 1t existed
from its beginning down TO the end
of the late war To do this would
require volume in itself. 1t may
be said, however. with perfect truth.
that the mind of man never devised a wiser
or more practical illustration of local self
government. or purer form of judicature
than existed in Virginia under the direction
OF her ancient and honorable magistTacy.
Would that the interests OF the people could
be- once more reegated 10 the keeping of such
IS .
EARLY COURTS.
II is generally known that at the time of
which We speak "a county court WAS composed
of a certain number Of magistrates appointed
by the Governor and Council They were
originally called justices of the peace" The
number of these functiOuares depended upon
the area, population and special demand OF
the county in which they were to serve.
A county CONT was composed of
quorum Of its justices assembled Mt
the courthouse upon day fixed by law
and at least once month. The most I'M
pOrtant executive officer except the clerk of
the court was the sheriff. WHO was nominated
by the court. but appointed by the Governor
with the approval of the council. We dwell
somewhat upon these details because 1t Is of
this particular officer. his duties privileges
troubles aud responsibilities that We propose
u say something. especially IN connection
with the financial wants Ot the country i'm
u-lcl INC wal.
Personnel or TIE COURTS.
II must be borne in mind that the irstices
or magistrates were composed OF the best men
III the community They gave their time and
services T. the public without CONFORMATION.
The exception to tins was that tie oldest
member Of the court or the presiding magis-
trate. after u service of two years, became
thereby entitled to the Office Of sheriff and It's
emolnments. He had tho privilege of farm
ing out the Office should he decline TO serve
IL person.
But should il appear to the court that the
card date for this high Office was tor any
cause unworthy OF II they assumed tie
power OF nominating a proper substitute
In the earlier days this officer was called the
high sheriff. because he generally had Il GER
tam number o. deputies who like himself
had 10 give ade uate bond and security for
the faithful performance of their duties and
were known as under-shcrifs. An the taxes
levles or other dues 10 the State
under the hrst form of the Govern
ment were collected 10y the nigh sheriff but
In time snndry changes were made IN this
and other respects. indeed, from the date
OF tho ordinances passed by the first conven-
ton IN II IS important changes in regard to
the functions OF these civil officers had been
made irOm time 10 time. Ii Is only intended
here - give he reader idea OF the dignity
ana importance OF this officer at all periods.
ana especially at the con la,iOn OF the keyo-
Iuuonary war. A hundred years ago a
much hgber tone OF public senti- |
inept existed III the appointments TO
once tue dispensing ~ justice aid the ~. |
ecufion 81 Jaw tnQn now prevails The COM
mnpty dtMaade1 fho best men for admins |
terins the Office, OF State from the lowest IN |
tDe NiEhest Eenco IL was that many of the /
'"fo"ioSt men OF tie sine began TIER public !