Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-04-08
For the spiri. of JEFFERSON. !
Car Shops VS.. Legal Qn1bbles.

same as ours, and yet elsewhere this thing is
done.
Is it possible, those who drafted our Consti-
tuition and our Charter were SO ignorant. SO
simple minded, SO far behind the age that
they have built Chinese a1au around our
town, and we alone of all the towns in the u.
s. are powerfess to help ourselves? If it be
true, the Council has no authority to meet
this emergency, then, those who assumed to
write the Law are responsible for our future
poverty and our present misfortunes.
But thank Heaven; the law is 10 favor of
improvement.
ln some countries, they have KING, viz
man who rules because he Inherited the
right to govern. It matters not to him. what
the people visible says the word and they
must obey the people belong to him. Now.
we don't have King in this countryl
In some countries they have an ARIsToc,
RAcY, viz: seleet>few who govern because
they Inherited the land --the people, almost.
belong to them and are bound to obey their
orders.
Now. we don't have an Aristocracy in this
country.
Il there is any one maxim, in American
politics, better established than another. it is
the maxim that, -Governmen is the AGENT
of the people.
The Government being an agent must obev
thu voice If the people.
W hen-l make man my agent for anv pur
pose, explain to him the extent of his
agency; the scope Of his authority; define
the limits of tho field within which he must
act. l may do this either verbally or in writ
ing
An agents authority must be cnextensive
with the purpose Of the agency = else the
agent can't do his work.
1T you give an agent written instructions
and he doubts the meaning of the writing. he
comes to you to explain what you meant by the
words employed; and then, he must act ac-
cord'ng to the construction or INTERPRETATION
yon have placed upon the doubtful words.
These remarks applicable to the techs
meal legal doubt raised by those who oppoSe
subscription.
The council is the agent the people have
appointed to take of aud promote tie
welfare of the town. It's powers, it's field of
action are set forth in writing called the
town Charter.
1t is natural to suppose TIE people have
clothed this agent with sufficient authority to
perform the work entrusted t. it, and hence
we find in tho Chaiter these words
Powers of Council The Council shall
have poser to open new streets; t,
curb and pave the streets X X y to control
the construction and repair of all houses,
bridges aud culverts; y to purchase and
lay off appropriate public grounds and control
the nse of the same; = y X to provide for
the annual assessment of taxable persons and
property; to adopt rules for the trans
actions OF business and for the government
and regulation of its own body to PROMOTE
TIL" GENERAL WELFARE OF THE TOWN and
proters'ti'e persons and property of cit:zens
tor all of which purposes, excep, thar
OF taxation, the Council shall have inrisdic.
ton Tor orc mile brynnd the corporate limits"
CIh'7 section is very ling, and have only
copied such parts as relate to the subject in
handy
Bar the people cxala;ne1 the meaning of
those words when they voted ISL 10 l6 for
subscription. Does the agent. the servant
prcsnae to- interpret these words contrary to
the es"ress orders Of the principal the
master. the party who wrnte them. aud m
the i5'h of March decls, ed their meaning =,
the polls. Does NY servant mean 10 denv nv
r'Sht - explain my langunge WHY this
matter IL horou'ing ridiculous
b"t they say we eau tax to build uD the
town. There is Il tax to support the free
schools, viz y"u tag me to educate four chI>
dr"u, that Is all rirht-ain'I it? You tax me
t. buy graveyard, where I don't expect to
tie hurled, that is all right. But the ppop|e
can tax themselves to buy PRosPEnrTY, in
which all will share as they share the Tree
sunshine AMI air of Heaven
This legal iouht is a little too hin.
lis no use to binS,cr about injunctinns
yon don't scare ANYBODY; the i'm prnvement
men are on top Mt last
Come to the Public Meeting Saturday
night, ye who doubt, and You will see ga
hand writiu" on the wall" y