Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-12-17

I. II Vol Dctt 1Jf the p0Sitloo AFORESAID, EneEo-
| ~ .nerc IS = v4canc, 10 the cthoe, to DO filled
al The pleasure # the CITY CVuoo.
CoUK1LAND Fl. SMITH. Mayer
4 XsgGria. Va, Dc. Is, 1879
ALEXANDRIA, Va. Dec is. 1879
! Hon Coattand II Smith, 4NuyOr of -4teeun
! ,iriu e:
| DEAR SIR In c9mpiia &C with your request
iGr IN UplGlUu IL Wil'!us JPN the sutjyet Of
] tit c:pa5ll OF pe;aou nold!ag poss o.
| pf!n,, trust or emoiungut, civil or TX cuIlVe,
uucur thu Government of the Uulted States, VI
| why Ic9slvc5 IN unY way from she u. 5. any
! ulo'umln II! "h.teGer. t hold the Office Of FIRE
Nardru Ut tbs c:iy OF AirXaud Is, | by ~.
! s;Cciu'ly submit the following tur yLur consii.
cc8.uu
The Constitution in arrive 3, sec loo makes
; prOr!alGr as follows: "Ali 'iootious snail ia by
2a'iol. aEd all DcIaCGs cp,i'lrd to vote shall be
"ilsihia TO 4ny pttiao TLh!n he gltt o! The peg
| p. exc :pt a. rs reel 10 this Constitution.
! 1t @lll ttu- be- seen that the Gousiiuti0n
does oct Ia express terr!s restrlct person mold
| Ing saoh post Or receiving such em"iumeut from
! hod!nc tue posltloG Or place OF Fire Walden
! ia city iG Virgins, but this provision Was 10.
! tcuded ss rulo Of franchise providing the
| mode of alcction TO ofhc, and the persons 10 be
|
lies ct every nature, originating 10 the uecessi,
! tics OF government or founded upoo priuci pies
Vi public policy IS embodied In the incn exist
| Gg statutes, Tor was II iuteudpd 70 sbrogate
cQna4Go low lrr5lotluhs IRON Gpiing lc one
| pc!s!u incompatible flies Tie COussLutlua
Is to be construed 10 The light Of tie c0mrnou
IAN AID Of ihr isc. that lis rules arU still Left il
! i0rcc. CoOics Constitutions! Llm., D. 3d.
! aGd tho CJDsti utl0D-iD tho schedule theretu,
! declares that NE coulmon law AID statutes now
| ID fJt0e DOT r:Gugraut 10 tic Constitution shall
Tcrnau 10 tOrue until altered OF repeated by the
l. gtsaiurG. FIRE tho adoption of tie Coz
s;iiu,iDu the Legislature had deined the CHAR
J sU:e: OF cthces then deemed iaoompstitle and
The disabilities 70 hold them.
| These provisions arn contained 10 secs. and
81 CHAP H, Code 1878 as follows:
! IN Fe1san s! all be capable Of holding any
! post CT PROFIT, truSt, or emulumant. civil or
nl;Itary, legislative. executive or judicial 10.
| der the government OF thi, Common wealth who
hGd5 any ro5, OF profit, trus: or emoIum mt,
c:vi or ni!itsry, legislative, executive or Judi
cIai upder she Government OF the u, S.. or
who receis es N a'y way from tho U. S. any
| cmOtuDlcnt tChGtcrcr."
/ THESE pruvlSluus of Law rtmain upon the
statue book aud have never been changed
| slncc the adoption OF the Constitution, sXocpt
| by way Of Bmyt dUcut Their taclt c,ppltiyn.
siEenE heoed by ansadmeHt, uay b Justly In
! terpict"d a. manifestations OF legislative Intent
tnat they Should cp:'i1ue vi b all the force OF
t'w As not beng ccpug0ant TO the Constitution,
! nGr ST citing thc eligibility of voter to any
! o-c cinue. bu ~ res raiulug tho ctj 'ymont by
any one Individual Of al infbitc 2.!ety and ia
Il. h.itc number OF cthoes b. Determining Il eli
lccrG1patlnsy. If tAeo, the office ot Fire War.
den is such post OF civil trust under the govern
Gcat Ct this g. mm0nTeaIh, person holding
| :uch pes nr recllYiGg any such emclunent uo.
| der or ron tho lCVerE ment Of the u. S. is ia-
capacltatrd from hG!diLg it. Officers Of mum.
| ciral corporations ore always held Under tia
State government, because such corporations
s7c State agecce7 o: ius;rum autalities of gov
c'nment t" adn1ulster local affairs ard sc;iop
under d'Iegated powers. But stronger reason
p5evals iof applying tfp principle of our sta.
ut: 10 the ttco OF Fire Warden than TO Offices
! Of purely municipal character, because this of
nee being created and tie duties thereof 10 part
| prescribed By tbs Legislature, 1t is essentia IL
AZ othc. OF the STATE AID DOT of tbs munich.
pality
The statutes unon this subjart are contained
| IL III" S:h 9th, l0h. llah l2h, 18Th, l4h
aud 18Th secs. of chap. IS Va. Code 1878 The
9Th SEQ provides that 10 every town in which
toere may b any such company ('ur the exuu-
| gu!Skmeut OF hrss) there shall be sppuinted at
| such Time aod 10 such manner as the ooupcil
may pres cF,6e a pr !clpal engineer and likegise
81 macy IRE Tai deus as h. council may dir. c."
The other sectors relate to The duties and
p'w rs Ct The eugn or aud wardans. This
statute, 10 the contested election case Of Lad
b ateT vs.. HerbUer Tor tie ctico Of Chief Ia
GlDccr, WIS construed as creating ho officers
! therein r.ar;ioned State officers aud not
| lnciu,nd II the provlsioos OF re amanded
charter tot the election of city officers by the
people. The Cours of App.as of VIRGINIA
nave as, held hat afic rs for a uuuio;psIiv
| may be created directly By the Lasislatur, and
81 r25y bcclme State md not city officers.
BuTch VS.. Harrow cke 80. Graft. 81 ! au
therefore OF opluiun that tha post of Fire
Warden is trust civil in it's nature, der the
aoVeramun. Of this Conmonwes lth, AID that
q person VINO receives 10 apy Way from the
UuIted States any emolumaut whatever is
lnosnable OF holding the same. II this conuec
iioa Ii is material to consider The conscuuepces
o. choosing person to 10 office no is by law
laospactated 70 hold. The rule is that the
choice OF dhqus'ii~d person is ia, ffectual.
u Zen ca municipal corps, v1l. l, D l35
And 10 Cooley Cous'i ional Limtstlons %. |
GIG go the Jaw is sat.d to be, "IfI tho person
receiVlog Tho highest rumo.r of volts was |
lnelRlos The votes cast for him will be eff usl
SO tar IS to prevent the olplspg candidate |
oelos ohosen, sed the eltc lou will be consider, |
ed ss having foi!ed, aud new cleo ion must be |
n,lt to little vacancy.
l haze the honor to BE-, win great respect,
Edmund BURKE