Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-02-06

emit occasion. at the risk OF being |
prolix, however, l think l have your
permission for INDUCING some rem
nrscences OF the old institution whose
REQ uiem we are sounding tonight.
1t Is putting 1t In modest form to
say that the people Of virginia have
always felt a just pride In their coun-
ty court both for character and. JUS
tice. The institution had It's incep-
ton sixteen years after the landing
OF the first English colony at James
town, during the reign of Charles the
Hin the turbulent times OF the
Roundheads and Cavaliers, when the
spirit Of political partisanship was at
its height in the mother country.
Being composed of what was at
first known as Commissioners, and
afterwards as Justices, they were al
ways selected from the first walks Of
life, as men of honor, character, In
telligence and efficiency, capable of
dealing out justice between all class
es of the people. They received their
appointment from the Governor and
Council up to ITO; a certain number
being appointed for each county Of
the colony, holding monthly terms,
and known as the county court; they
held office during good behavior.
This obtained mp to the first revolu
ton. After that they were appoint
ed by the Governor upon the recon-
mendation, 1t seems, of their own
body, that is,when resignation, death
or any other occurrence caused va
cancy In the office OF Justice OF the
Peace, as they we're then called, the
county court would make a selection
of the successor; his name would be
certified to the Governor by order of
court through it's clerk, the appoints
ment made, and the appointee would
at once receive his commission. And
no one was appointed who was not
thus endorsed by the court at one OF
the monthly terms.
The court it may be, thus acquired
it's reputation of being the most arts
tocratic body of men that ever held
office 10 the State. In the sense of
high character, honesty and capabil-
ity this may be true, but not In the
sense that might be applied to them
by the unlearned and ignorant For
a more courtly class OF gentlemen
were never known in this Common
wealth; they were what they were
known to be, In the fullest sense of
the term,-"country gentlemen''-
not necessarily learned In the writ
ipgs of Coke, Chitty, Blackstone and
Kent, but learned in higher law
justice.
This system continued Ia the State
till the convention of 1929 '30-which
at that time and up 20 1860 was said
to have been the ablest deliberative
: body of men that ever assembled In
America. Accomack and Northamp
ton, jointly, were represented by
Thomas r. Joynes, Abel P. Upshur
, and Littleton Read-whose very
+ names suggest the ability OF the DEL
egates from the Eastern Shore. The
= constitution framed by that conven-
: ton still retained as one OF It's
prominent features, the county court.
, designated In some of the statutes, as
, "the peoples court, for 1t was the
? one court above all others In which
the rural population manifested the
= greatest interest. This court, with
t the exception OF a few necessary
ichsnges incident to the growth OF
, population, when business before II
r pad largely increased retained much
r of its ancient form, till the 1st day Of
a July, 1862, and the members OF it re
= ceived no compensation for their ser
8 vices, till the senior member of it be.
] came sheriff of the county, being
q raised to that Office by virtue OF being
r the Oldest in the line of service, al
one of the county's magistrates
J, Serving one term as Sheriff or farm
a ing 1t out as he had authority to dc
= with the many perquisites attach
ed to the Office, he was relegated tc
d the ranks and placed at the foot o.
o the class of Justices.
r This practice obtained throughout
q the State till the change made by
the convention which assembled In
q Richmond 1850 81. The delegatel
4 from Accomack In that body were
}. henry A. Wise and Louis @. II. Fin
s ney, and the constitution framed by
g 1t was known as the "Great Suffrage
4 Constitution" for the reason that fol
r the first time, In Virginia, any white
q man, over twenty-one years OF age
q who had been resident over oEt
f year and had not been convicted o.
o certain offenses therein named, had 6
o guaranteed right to vote.
Mr.. Wise of Accomack, Away
t. identified with their interests ant
j the champion of the people, made {
a speech occupying six consecutive
= days, in opposition to what wa
e known as "a mixed basis" and In ad
e vocacy Of manhood suffrage" Tht
:, constitution adopted by that conven
g ton revolutionized the question o
r suffrage, but still retained the coun