Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-12-23

OF the present Gay.
Let US inquire who constituted our
magistrates OF former days, OF the pc
riod anterior to she Constitution of 1880,
aud see how our present Justices COM
pare with them. In the White Post end
of the county We had John w. Page. Of
White Hall. David Meade. of Breveur:
James Madison Hite, OF Gailford. In
Wildwood section there were, Nathaniel
Burwell, of Saratoga; Frank Whiting,
of Clay Hill; William Berry, of Berry's
Ferry. Capt. William Nelson and Maj.
Beverly Randolph were the magistrates
under the constitution of 1850. In the
Berryville section we had Col. Treadwell
Smith, Lorenzo Lewis. Col. Frank Nc
Cormick, Col. Benjamin Morgan and
others. We cannot recall the msgis-
trstes of Long Marsh, but they were
doubtless from the same strain of Old
Virginia Gentlemen, and were the equals
in every respect of the gentlemen named.
But now, Good Lord to scare up
Justice, we have either TO go to the SUI
mac patches of the mountain, or the
shoemsker's shops of the valley. and rake
out lot Of men totally Incompetent for
The discharge of the duties of the Office.
thoroughly illiterate and without even
ordinary intelligence, and, we regret to
say, in some cases, as we have learned,
devoid Of common decency or honesty.
always deciding cases coming before
them not strictly in accordance with
law or justice, but strictly in accordance
witt Ire ability of the litigous party
most able TO pay the costs. AS TO fines
for misdemeanors, instead of their re-
mission being TO the County Clerks
office, they invariably find their way to
their own greasy pockets.
Now we cannot say positively that the
Golfers of the Commonwealth would be
materially benefited by having these
fines RENTED TO our Clerks office. but
all the same we expect to vote for our
present clerk as long as we 10th live.
But, Messrs. Editors, seriously and
joking aside, is il not a terrible state of
affairs under which we are judiciously
living at present. and the question might
be most pertinently asked, why we do
not elect better men as our magistrates ,
The question is as easily answered as
asked-we cannot. Imprimis, better
men are not at this time standing for
county offices, and, secundus, they could
not be elected Il they so desired, for dc
we not all know that the present voting
Il and olecfinr r,opulofiop If ,ur cDu,t -
hold the very name Of gentility, refine
ment and culture, in fact the very name
OF gentleman, in the utmost repugnance
and adherence Has il not been tested
In our last election was there not a can.
didate for reelection 90 the Office OF
County Supervisor who was ingloriously
turned down for NO other reason. that
we can see, than that he was born a gen,
tlemau, has lived one and is oneg And
should we be much surprised at thi,
class feeling which is sought to be en-
gendered in our county when silly scrib
blers to our county papers seek to en-
courage itg Was IL not only a shor
time since, that one Of our voluminoui
and most entertaining contributors TO ou
county paper RECALLED US with lot o
poetic rot about sristocracy? Ii Shove,
clearly the direction that the wind wa
in.
Initiating the poetic vim of this CLASH
writer, we say in the language of tn
poet, "Go il, ye cripplcs;" "Woodel
legs are cheap" X.