South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-03-20
The Constitution.


sorbiDg and important subjects. which az.
feet vltaily the principles Of their govern.
ment, and III turn absoIbcj by novelties
though 'ri'e and flee;iu2 10 their effects -
How much more this too is true in relation
10 large cities than to rural districts New
OK Tor ms ance-aher i; seems that uu-
less some distinguished yillainy some at,ro.
eIous murder or other crime is constantly
occurring end fully bl,zoncl by the press
10 crafty vuI gar curiosity and raise an in
ofdluate excitement, press aud people suf-
Ter IRON dulluess and eHHui. II is much to
be regretted that such cxci,ements aye not
avoided and cannot be escaped. ana a more
stable state Of mind, more reflection and
delOeration cultivated and If such were
the case, who could foreiell tho evils that
would be avoided the blessings attained in
ourform q government TIE tendency Of
this unstable shifting condition Is certainly
20 disaster aud ruin. 1t therefore becomes
The Imperative duty Of The men cultivated
aud intelligent to avoid iho evil alluded 10
aud 30 every instance, as fsr os possible, to
hold the popular mind steady 70 some i'm
qorian' and useful end. beg leave there
lore TO recall your mind to q receut 10
stance Of The truth oFsome Of these gene
raj remarks.
Some few short months since, coutro-
Ycrsy arose IN cur State on ar imperfect
constitutional question l allude to the
question Arising IL the controversy between
AlessTs. BUiuGLs aud SuALLCRoss about
The superin'eudeney # tie Pcnitcn,iary
before The Supreme court. Whether Bird,
GLs or SHAlLCross be the iIicer was a
matter OK 40 moment 10 the State. but
that The Constitution be respected and pre-
served was OF vital Importance. l seems
further that candidate for the olica Of
Governor bad had the holiness 10 ignore
the mere trammcls Of party, was sustained
~ tho voice Ct th5 people aud regularly
lnductcd into ofice. This disappointed and
chagrincd his oppoulnts, aud they or many
OF them in faciious spirit formed them
selves into ring, for veal or wee, deter
mined to break down and paralyze The adj
mlnlsiratl0n OF the new Governor aud the
u himself if possible, and TO ride into
power Oh his ruin. Oae step in the pro-
grammG was to cut Of from tho Governor
all the power they could, and thus make
the Office as Insignificant and Ineffective as
possible. Hence, fielding in the Conetitu~
lion clause of doubtful import, this faction
succeeded III having he act of the Legisla-
tura passed under which Mr. BRIDGES rode
INTO place, and deprived the Governor Of
Constitutional powers CLEARLY iuteudcd to
DC cqntcrFcd on him) il every instance
they could, except III one or two inferior
matters, which were probably overlooked
Tho Governor made firm yet prudent
stand to sustain tie Constitution, for which
he we'll deserves The long enduring com
mendations OF bis people bur uDiortu
pately by the forms Of Jaw, the illegal
claims OF Mr.. BRIDGES were sustained and
ne form OF government designed hy the
Convention and approved by (Lo people
was set usIdc. THIS, II is true, relieves the
Governor o! q great responsibility and he
modcstly submitted for the sake f quiet
aud good order, but at the same time bis
Office Is shorn Of the power of doing much
good aud Of preserving tie unity Of ad,
mlnistration clearly designed in tho Cen
siItuti0u. d not mean to ref ct upon
tie court here, as this plain apology may
be used IN their defence. |. is a rule Of
law ia this country, that whom tLgre Is "a
doubt about the constitutional power q
the Legislature to pass a certain law, the
courts IN reviewing that lay, cut Of reapcc.
soIts coordinate branch Of tho government.
and for sake Of harmony with the Legisla-
t,vo department will cast that doubt lu G,-
gCr Of The Legislature, and tue principle i.
as well settled as that other familiar rule.
chat The prisoner may be guilty, We: if