The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-19

EiltOtG IntANSencer.
The "beautiiul snow" has almost en-.
tirely disappeared here. The sleighing,
the skating and the s~nowballing are ended
for this cold Spell" Whether owing 70
the chaugea in the weather, or to the
careIessness Of the people, there 10 con-
siderable sickness, and especially bad
colds, from which your correspondent is
confined to his room for the first time
BY such like aiIment. Lily and George
Steele, daughter and son OF Rev. Samuel
Steele, pastor Of the NJ. E. Church here,
have been sick for some days. The
former has diphtheria and the latter
typhoid fever. Miss Ollie Marsh, also,
has been lying with fever for more than
two month";, hut Is now convalescent.
Nelson Berkshire, brother OF Judge
Berkshire is very low with consumption.
Mrs. saml ~Pickenpaugh is also very sick
with typhoid fever.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Superintendent OF the N. E. Sun
day School, Geo. G. Sturgiss, after serving
faithfully for over four years, ut the re-
cent reelection declined TO serve longer.
After considerable discussion and several
nominations, those nominated declining;
VIM. Wagner consented TO serve as Su.
perintendent. Mr.. Wagner Is a whole
souled Sunday School worker and well
fitted for the responsible position and
onerous duties which his office will re-
quire.
THE UNIVERSITY.
A change important to the students,
especiallyofthe Preparatory Department,
is contemplated as 10 rhetorical and elo-
~cutionary exercises.
Instead Of being required 10 speak on
the rostrum once or twice each term, and
having "section" essays or declarations
every two weeks, students, after the
change, will only be required to perform
at least once every three weeks in one Of
the two literary societies, TO which they
must belong; otherwise TO prepare the
chapel declarations etc. The object Of
the proposed arrangements is to have
less speaking but OF a better quality.
The President is the originator Of the
plan, and 1t will no doubt, prove beneli-
cial.
President Thompson, since elected 10
his present posltion, has made over one
hundred and fifty speeches and lectures
in the interest Of the University, and
written more than one thousand letters.
Yet an old man lin the country said on
one occasion that all President Thomp-
son had to do was to ride around in bug
gies and on the cars and receive a big
salary for this sport. But II that old
chap had to go around with the Presi.
dent aside from the onerous labor OF
preparing and delivering his lectures, he
might alter his opinion slightly before a
aiortnights travel. Mr.. Thompson still
has his hours Of study set apart and is
au untiring and devoted student.
LECTURE by HON. W. T. WILEY.
Last evening, the 18th, was delivered
in the University Chapel, by Hon. W. T.
Wiley, the fourth lecture OF the series
10 be given. during the University Sea-
sion. A large and intelligent audience
were assembled at the appointed hour,7
P. NJ, and gave their undivided attention
To the profound and entertaining lecture,
which lasted almost an hour and a half.
The subject was, "The Relation Of Law
to Civil Liberty" We give below a
synopsis Of the lecture. But no Bynop.
sis can reproduce the terse and individual
style and peculiarly forcible delivery Of
the lecturer. This production embraced,
no doubt, the collected wisdom Of years
Of study and practice, as well @s the
thoughtful consideration Of both ancient
aud modern writer's on Jurisprudence.
He remarked in opering,that the topic
was not one calculated to excite the
olfactory nerve Of a literary epi-
cure, or capable Of being served up
in the manner OF desert, but was a sub
ject full Of mental pabulum. In this
respect the mental resembles the phYsi.
cal. 1t cannot thrive and become Wig.
orous, il fed merely on dainties. In the
early history Of Rome there was a custom
TO suspend the laws in favor Of n dictator
for q time. This privilege was q bad and
dangerous one, and was liable to perver.
sion by the tyranny Of the ruler and the
~demagogue. A sound and frmer basis is
to always preserve the supremacy Of the
law. The execution OF laws is altogether
essential TO their having any weight in
forming public opinion. The laws Of
sovereignty should be supreme and uni
versal. Were 1t possible to Danish law,
old Chaos would return in his most
gloomy and irightful form, and the
heavens would no longer declare the
glory Of God" or "the armament show
his handi.work." Humanlaws cannot be
expected TO be so pure and just as
divine laws, but in proportion as
they are so will the foundations Of civil
liberty and institutions be secure. Our
foreiathers in forming u government
designed to leave nothing TO caprice.
They we're yersed in the history Of the
law, and knew that without Just, exact
and supreme laws there could be no pub.
lie safety. They sought TO establish an
impersonal-a representative govern
ment, and law was the essential element
OF the success OF this government. The
despotic is u personal government and
subject TO the passions and p~rejudiccs Of
political tyrants and demagogues. But
law Is security against all this and de-.
serves the feRlty OF all honest men. The
time will come, indeed has come, when a
theoretical patriotism will not suffice.
Riots and strikes show too plainly this
fact. The absolute enforcement Of law
Ia the crucial test Of representative gov.
eminent.
FAILURE OF FREE GOVERNMENTS.
The turbulence Of ancient Athens was
largely owing TO the absence Of law.
There was no we'll defined system Of law.
Their lava were only edicts. The rabble
was the principal Judiciary. Even the
renowned Aristophanes failed TO estab-
lish Justice on a firm footing. lie con.
founded the Legislative, executive aud
judicial departments of law. The result