Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-28
COMMUNICATED.
Fourth FERN for MayOr,

Ii is highly Important as we'll as honorable,
when an advocate attempts to give law to sus
tain doubtful or even bad position, to b.
entirely correct in his quotations. Tor if he has
bad or weak case TO advocate, and attempts
to falsely he law on the subject By intention
ally nisquolDg it in order to mislcad he
minds OF those to whom he appeals Tor Gre
dencc or support in his cause or opinion. and
is caught in the direct attempt at deception,
he irjurcs both himscfand his cause; Tor when
exposed in the effort to misIead, he brings
down upon himself not only discredit, but pre-
judice to his case.
When lawyer essays to give lis opinion on
gwen case he should ''construc" law and not
make" the law 10 suit his case. IN the let
ter Of Fl. D. Claugh,on to TX Kemper, esq.,"
a very good example OF this bad practice will
be made evidcur We will give the quotation
in his Own mode:
1.-The 34ih section of the charter provides
that the Mayor of the city Of Alexandria shall
| be annually elected by the qualified voters
that he shall hold his Office for one
year; at the expiration of which
| period be may be re elected Tor two tcrms sue
cessivey and no lohger.
This is the reading of the section as it bears
| upou the question OF your eligibility 10 re.
election
Such Is Mr. C.'s quotation of the law. We
will give the exact language OF the chatter IN
| ord .r TO allow the reader TO observe the cyl
dent intention to suppress that portloo OF II
which made it necessary for MIR. K. TO get the
opinion Of lawyers:
''The Mayor of the city of Alexandria shall
be annually elected by the qualified voters at
the tlmes and places and iu the manner that
members of the City Council are elected; pro
vi led that the present Incumbent OF said othce
shall hold his office for the time for which he
Was elected under the existing laws. He shall
hold his office for one year, and until success
sor is chosen and qualified 10 his stead, at the
expiration oil which period he may De re eject
cd for two terms successfully, aud no longer
uut lie shall have been out OF office tor one
year.
This law was passed 10 1871, and the ''pres,
crt Incumbent referred to By it was the hcu
Mayor, aud not the present Mayor; aud # the
law was intended to give Others than the then
"prcsent incumbent three years in the office
Of Mayor, the law would certainly have said,
the present and future iucumbeuts shall hold
his and their Offices for the time, Sc. But
| WY Ga lawyer =. oWit Lue pro'lso. Ii luc
law on the sutject were Mr.. &. quotes IT.,
til there would DOT have been any necessity
tor Mr.. X. 10 have rotten his opinion; for II
then cou d have had but one Interpretation.
We must study law according 10 rs letter aud
spirit, and il we are allowed to omit prov>o,
and cuI! tie language Of an act to suit our pur-
pose, We can ind jusU6c ton Of every wrong
movement of life. MIR. 5. L. Beach declined
to give his opinion in the Council on the sub
let aud said ct was question for the c)ult
t. decide" Mr.. Kemper has already occn
elected three times, oncc ty the City Council
and twice by the people, and II any one thinks
that the time for which he was elected by bic
City Ccuacl did DOT c"uut let him refer to the
Auditors books, and should be be elect ID In
May TX it will be, not the third term. bur
the lou, IN tcrm. STRICT CONSTRUCTION.