Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-03-20

! pies as do the rules OF science. Inc
philosopher applies certain facts
experiments, investigates, and de-
duces new laws, and is then only
at the threshold of the temple of
knowledge. Thus the contrast.
He would now leave these ele-
ments and go on to the more inn
mediate theme of his lecture.
What is the power which protects
your community-keeps it in or
der, preserves you and your prop
erty? You have no barracks, with
military inmates; no police TO put
down the attempt at crime; no
patrol to mount guard at night;
your sleep is peaceful, undisIurb-
ed. What is the force which pro-
tects your slumbers? He here al
luded to the constabulary of our
town ION crutches," and the badge
J of the town sergeant modestly
concealed by his lappel-neither
very formidable i'm themselves.
Then there must be some Irresisti-
bic element to Whose power we
owe our security. 1t is the LdC.
But this answer is very broad
one, and it Is not easy to reduce it
to narrow meaning. There is
Law and Law, and so generic a
term must be reduced to some
thing more special, If it is to be
practically applied. / have no
references to Blackstone, Coke and
| Littleton, said Judge Hoge, and
the many failures of those who
have undertaken general defini-
ton of the term warn me not to
try it. DR.. Bledsoe says that one
hundred and thirty five defini-
tons of Law in general have been
given by men of ingenuity. only
to be pulled to pieces by others
more ingenius, and the lecturer
had no wish to be the 136th OF this
reckless band. But, said he, l
may, possibly, by describing some
conditions, be able TO illustrate
the meaning Of this term, and so
escape tiresOme definitions. If
half a dezen Barons of the feudal
ages, after knocking each others
heads against castle walls, and
sticking each other with sword or
wounding with battle-axe, had
made a treaty, agreeing to unite
in defence against foreign foes,
this would be an idea of society in
the olden time; also illustrated by
the famous visit of Betsy Prig to
Mrs. Gump, &c. History of ma
lions and individual experience
prove that many fatal errors can
be traced to want of distinction
between society as joining of
equal powers, and political society
which is founded on the surren-
der of personal rights--the &C.
acknowledgement of superior author
ty. This is not done without q
purpose, for mutual protection and
safety, the rights of the family
the tribe, gradually yield to the
government of nations Laws.
All true government rests upon
the wise directions of these indi-
vidual rights, not upon their ex-
tinction. They may be surrender
ed, but they must still exist, and
this is the definition we seek
that the Law which protects is
that which controls all the social
powers, We have nothing to do
with the accidents and incidents
which have often endangered the
application of this principle of So
cial growth which is the funda-
mental basis of government, form
ing. as 1t were, the warp and wool
of human society, no matter what
chance pictures History may have
painted on it in the shape Of usur-
pations, tyrannies, expressions
by the very powers intended TO
protect, broken contracts, despot-
ism. fraud, chicanery-all enemies
of the rights of man, have in all
ages weakened and perverted the
arm of the Law. All history of
the human race. its progress and
growth, is equally history of the
laws of the race. The earnest stu
dent Of history cannot fail to trace
through all its records-of blood
and terror, of overthrow and dis
aster, the unbroken chain which
links together the protecting prin-
ciples of Justice. Although created
by the demands of society, these
principles survive its overthrow.
Justice-the most beneficient of
the agencies employed by Gov.
ernment-lives on, calm and
serene amid the wreck of disinte-
grafton. Here Judge Hoge al
| luded to the fascination of his
theme. and the danger of exceed
ing the limits wisely prescribed
for the lectures of this course, and
resumed. Assuming that he had
shown that the protection of our
persons and property depend
upon no physical force, that liv-
ing under what is styled a free
| a nd indannndnnf OOvnrnmpnE I'M