Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-08
A.aVEsTIoM oFrJaRIsDIcr1ofT:


'Sanborn as. Rtlenoar.-Sone SIX weeksago
or during the rapidly ,retiriDg- months of
the year 1s66,.ve announced the gratifying
intelligence that Mr.. .JOhn-J. Sanborn, who
had been acting as a Justice of the Peace for
some months, under the government of West
Virginia, in and Tor the township of Charles,
town, had departed these coasts aud assumed
the direction and control of the conglomera-
ted schools of Berkeley county, with his
head. quarters in the ancient, but romantic and
enterprisiug town Of MsrtipsburG, where, it;
was sincerely hoped, he would find congeuial
element and associations better suited to his
tastes. When we announced tho departure
Of the subject of this brief memoir, We were
glad, and so were our readers, that the dis
Pcnsations of fortune had provided him sit
uation away from our midst, aud Whilst We
congratulated ourselves, we felt like offering
coincidence to those amongst whom he was
about to locate. We didn't do this, however,
but awaited with patience the development
of events-to see what day might bring
!. forth.
At Martiusburg, the, subject ofour sketch
was not satisfied. His affections clustered
around cur own beautiful town, and without
notice to the community, he returned, to US.
III Ucmi'd, he vidtd, but he didn't uict.
But if this social phase of the case were all,
we might be able to maintain the even tenor
of our way, and in the onward progress of
events, forget the presence Of, his "phiz."-
Not so, however. The social infiiction brings
in its train the adjudication. of other and more
important questions. Mr. S. is living il
lustration Of the old axiom that s;ofice hold
crs never die, and none resign" Although
accepting the highly responsible position Of
chief director and principal in teaching the
ideas of the berkeley youth to shoot, of
course, raGically-hc all at once becomes tired
of his post, returns to our 'busums," and
forthwith begins to dispense the Office and
functions of a justice, in our township. The
fact that the Board of Supervisors had con-
sidercd his Office vacated by his acceptance of
an Office of trust and profit in neighboring
county, and had filed the vacancy by the ap-
pontncnt Of Mr. Ridenour made no differ
cncc to him. "Once in Office always in of
fec is hobby of Professor Sanborn's, and
it mattered not if he had packed his craps"
and returned to his ''hum" in Massachusetts
and remained there for q. decade of years,
still if the notion took him to pilgrim back
to Charlestown township, he could at once
reinvest himself OF all the official functions he
possessed at his departure, precisely as if no
interval had elapsed.
Now, VIC confidently appeal to our old friend
Justice Myers, who always stays at home, and
who never for one moment, to our certain
knowledge, has either by act or implication
vacated his "posish," We say, we confidently
appeal to him to know, whether or not, un-
der either the Constitution of the State of
West Virginia, or the laws made in pursuance
thereof, any man, Notwithstanding he does
come from Massachusetts, can set up opposi-
ton In the business of justice, without
leave or license and thus deprive him Of those
fees Of Office, which in these hard times are
a matter of such moment and which really
is all that keeps body and bones together
We can assure Justice Myers that he has our
entire sympathics in this, as we conceive, IA
grant usurpation of official duties on the part
of Prof. Sanborn because we believe that he
and not Mr. Ridcnour will be affected by it
and we hope that measures may be at once
taken before the proper civil, or, if need be,
military tribunal to abate the usurped fuic-
tions and teach Massachusetts impudence that
it can't override West Virginia laws, if it
does otherwise oLtrude its presence where it
is not wanted.
WHAT DOES IT MEANp