Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-12-05

| HOcfty CaG De QTCSe1V"u. 1hc Insu "ho t,oi.
Office, holds it uGder the Constitution with It
grauts and limitations. II any such Is Wlllln
to surrander 10 aDo5ber slcge duty, ne na
already f1reswcrn himself and ls unworthy tn
trust he has assumed, care not 10 |nat 90
partmsnt OF the government he may bolong.-
Over u.s. holding Office high or low, is the Con
Isiisutiop, in which is expressed the symbol 0
order AID harmony aud safety and peace; enc
no man is q yorso enemy to it than he Wn;
holds ofiee under it and can be driven from
the performance Of its duties b. camor 81:
abuse.
Indeed, c,D imagine no greater want o.
worldly wisdom thar such course would iadl-
cate, however plausible 10 e cursory view might
seem the advantages. Nor can | conceive o.
any eraatcr waat OF docotum and taste, to use
&c stronger language, than f>r these who hcd
afico il enc department IT the government to
mistake sbu:e ior argument, and think by suoh
mea1s to gain a. end. Public opinion always
| ultimately weighs these 10 az even balanoe.---
| Hence give others filli0g public office credit
| for honesty aud patriotism, as l do to this
Genera! Assembly Of my State, and am not
willing to believe that any future one can more
ably and honoraby settle this difficult problem,
which now 50 embarrasses and cramps her
growth As they are bold and honest IN their
v:eRa of policy, | an very sure they Will, llko
bold and honest neo. give credit to those VINO
are compelled to different views from motives
Just as high and pure, and under Obligations
Just s. bludinr.
The General Assembly at its last session per.
formed its work according TO its views CT the
Constitution a1d justice. Will not aSsal!, or
even il the remotcst way inpugn, lts motives
Or any cf ;ts members, whatever may have
been tici. aston ! have no right, and would
take 10 pleasure il doi1g so. But acknoWledg
ipg their fai:hflIaes5, honesty, and energy II
the discharge CT their legislative functions, 1
thiak il i5 % dispaTagement to them to say
that Tic aauo tribute may bs paid to tue 60 Or
diratc departments Ct tho government. lhey
hsd 20 selfish interests to serve, could we sup
pose them susceptible to such iohusrees, aud
had onl7, like your own honorable bodies, the
veal Of tie Commonwealth at heart.
Whilst admit that legislation must Oe be-
sun ia the General Assembly, aud that such q
matter as tie State debt properly belongs to it
for settlement, yet, cZaniaGg the extent OF
rs authority 81 deiued in the Constitution,
which is The lcsker both Of ii and its authority,
it would b. q contradiction in terms TO say that
its cdie;s are to have tho forco OF organic laws
and 10 cfFac: wipe oct the duties and respoasi,
biIi!ies Of CO ordinate departments. Dill
Dsss2! ~ the General Assembly is not Law,
however nsnch its wisdom, learning and pa
trio:isin Day be respected, aod the executive
and Judiciary departments Of thu government
cannot 50 regard il, aoTever much 1t might at
ford then, icu2 poTary relief froGl trouble and an
uo7snca By tie bas, Surrender OF their conscience
and Judgment and shcrca the breach OF their
solecan oa;hs Ct otiioc. II the naS Scrs OF the
Constitution iaterdaI that The actlon or the
legislative department Of the government
ehculd be lay, biaJing upon every lndlVidua!
acd every department, Without turther lot
.naiir, thay would have 50 written Ii 10 The
chart. Then C. lnaa would have, disputed IT,
but all wouia have bowed IL cheerful obedience.
Bat they did not. ia their wisdom, see III so 10
crdai0; AID it you'd be far from becoming. to
use 20 str3Dgc. language, for those who assume
elise, and bind themselves bg constitutional
ot!ies!oas C Gi:cia.gc rs duties, to nscrao!y
and rai;hsssly !5rgo responsibility, aud by their
vary ac;oa o. r0I I.aCt01. overthrow tie Con
ss;tuii2n they were sworn aoa appointed 10 dc.
fcld. AID when those duties are performed
;ear!essly, however much may differ, or hoH-
cgcr liE'.rcctig ! you'd iu similar case have
acted. [ must have Very stso3g proof before l
will :utl!aSsiy ess Ill he actors, taus coog gross
Injustice 10 worthy nieO aG:i ;sUi;,osng the bonds
cf gced government give thc Genera! As.
sec1biy credit Gor havias been honest and faith
!ui, as | knoT they have j2en ailigcnt aud Ia
bGri0ug.
Rarjer:rg this tritoto 10 tho General As.
g-mHle, 7 an none the less willing to eIgaiiy
nv .cS7ecs lur tho Jui:ti&ry. They derive
4, liz pc e rs !rarn he sam: SOURCE Composed
q; p2e1 ,h.s2s: hy yoar predecessors tos thfl:
iasra:rg IA ahu;r profession AID exalted worth
Of r2iv,4e character, th2y ere fillog the most
sacred oaic: ia the Commonwealth. ConShiu
tiaps and laws are general; the decrets OF courts
arc GaccjG:, aaI % w.h searching force to
every ti;&sit;a. II ,beg arc composed OF GOOD
ms5, they ought 10 bo sua:slDed by all good
neo, whatever diversity Gt oDi0l0n there may
ba with regard 10 the correctness CT their &c;
cisio5e. When ac!ios within ;ho purvlcW OF
their dGiued pGwcE9, they must be the judges
in iscs as well SO ia ;1:ne, acd We cannot make
ourselves iu1ees esithout constitutional or legal
authority. thial Jussico Marshall said, among
his last p,teraacss near the end OF o loue, use.
ft,I and glorious i(t,, in this city, and before enc
Of The most august assem- blies that ever met 10
this Or sry otnGr couatry, that "he always
iao;inbt tro1i Bis earliest youth that the great
est sceurge go angry Heaven ever Inflicted upon
Al uosratciul and sn.iag pcop|o was an ignc-
rant: corrupt, or dependent judiciary. Next
u fearru.ncss, il to undermine l:a authority
and wcskan lis irnHerco, judicial aod moral,
among the pcopa by grouDd!css aspersions upon
| lis chara5tcr or lgnorans attacks upon Ns
judgments.
L seems to nc. witt! difilcucs and defer
cncc. that it would be we'll for Us to attend to
our duties in the light Of our best understand
irg ard conscience, and give full credit 10 9TH
! crs for the same high motives. L. would be
| equally vel! f,r US 20 remember that, however
| hsh ouS position o. ar.st cur l5fnance. re do
Tot ia ourselves constitute the go7ernment.
Such uss pufp2scIy act the Intention Of the
! ltsMars 6f GU, constitutional republican form
Of goveraneu'. 81 this division OF power
they proposed to perIsot freedom. Ard it !E
only by preserving their dasign taas We cao
SEQ tho beautiful working Of parts in oue entire
system, anl the sstaiaEent Of What 1 be!le7t
we heya 50 much ct heart.
Win these great priocples 10 hand, the truth
aDi iu port.uca CT gb!ca | am sure will uos bt
di=putri Their: is not oDly DO necessity for dis