Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-03-13
Lecture Of Judge John Blair Hoge.
arhe Relations OF Society TO the Law

the Measure Of hearing IN this hall some
ronths sioce on " Water. aud bad overheard
one near him whisper" Wha, can be tell Us OF
water that We 30 not know y lie pardoned
tile inquiry because il was a criticism on the
hearers rather than the lectarcr. Nater-eS-
s-utial 90 existence, necessary 10 every phase
Of animal and vegetable life, in tears of laugh
TT OF Il sorrow, 10 raiudrop or IN tie current
which turns the mill-whIel-we may study
IFS constituents and fancy ourselves acquaini-
81 with al us properties. While it Is as nee
,ar 90 tie sick, il is, be feared far different 10
many vho are 40, Good remplGrs and would
c4niina It's uses e. ablu,i0n or navigation. His
rcroraG.n On Water here was eioQuent aud
beautiful. winding up somewhat humoroUsly
on the arrors Of the saturday nights wash TO
havhard. then touching on the mysteries Of a
certain pump destined, perhaps TO convert
Ciariestowu into tie Chel,enham 90 the Iun-
bridge Of the Western Hemisphere. Air which
we brca:he-its hie-g.ying power-walkns
down the turnpike We drink IN the braciog
draueht as Of natures chamPaisu-perhSp IA
ecueral meme OF t. would think % us blessings
unless. indeed, when the C1urt-hoUSe stoves
will draw their conclusions tue wrong way
Be hoped unlike the Count Itself. Perhaps Il
SIZE bah q better knowledge Of the properties Of
.lis u1llerful luil, we would appreciate Il
mogo aol not De as Pigs eating acorns and
never lookiusup o. see where they come from.
The sneaker ,hcu dwelt ou Light al some
leu.ta. aud In language # which cur mcas-e
rep. rt can give little iiea Hs called IL " the
nsi.t-r ana poet Of tie elements. ly rs ma
LII, brush % Tyre every glimpse Of landscape
becomes O pictIre-eveIy rinFlne wave OF M
luhf,rg atoms q song. Those WHO have
read lNu3tl oa ills subject w.'i be cautious
boss tIer venture t0 explore IT'S hld.!an depths.
To is enough taat God has sand let there
De- Light "-agd Light IS. We see It 10 the
glorious mornings dawn, IN The noonude
sp'erdor aud in the grandeur Of sunset.
Waess Lasiy illusions 70 these elements be
s,iI have a purpose which be would not con-
ccl he proposed 10 speak OF another differ
eut e,cmeat as familiar, yet as unknown 10
most of us as Light. Air and Water. lie
would alule o. the beginning aud progress OF
those rules tor human conduct which consil-
tu,e the Law. An laws have been made IN
response % social necessities. IAcy exist be-
cause called into being by these ueeas--not 10y
uuauoraa,e principles Us 10 the rules o' SCI
euce The philosopher applies certain facts
experiments, Investigates, and ccduccs new
laws. aud is chen only 40 the threshold Of the
temu,eof knowledge Thus the contrast. He
would now leave these elements aud 90 on to
Gle more immediate theme of his lecture
What Is the power which protects your com
NUDITY keeps It ia order. preserves you and
your property You have 10 barracks with
military inmates; no police b put down The
aucupt at Cline; no patrol 90 mount guard
ot night youT sleep Is peaceful, uudisiurbed.
What Is the force which protects your SUM
bers? lie here alluded % tie constahuiary
oi cur town on crutcles, and the badge OF
The town sergeant moicstly concealed by bis
hrpcl-uei,her very formidable IN themselves.
Ilsu there must be some Irresistible element
o. whose power we owe our security. 1t is
the lar But this answer is very broad
Que. aud 10 IS not easy O. reduce it 90 a narrow
ucaui1g. There Is Law and Law, and SO ge-
rcrc q term must he reduced % something
uore special Il IL is 20 be practically applied
have 20 references 90 Blackstone, Ceke and
Ii.et5a. said Judge Ioge, AID The many
failures ID those who have undertaken j gen
cral definition ol tac term warn Iue not 70 try
it d. Blelsoc says that one hundred aud
.lir.y-fye definitions cf Law IT, general have
been given by men OF ingenuity, only to be
pulled o. pieces by others more incenGs, and
the lecturer had no wish % be the l5jth u this
reckless band. But, said be, I may, possibly,
by describing some conditions, be able % Ill
igstrlte The meaning If this term, aud so cs-
cape tiresomo definitions Ii half q zen Ba-
r3os Of the faulal ages, after knocking each
others heads against castle walls, aud sticking
each other w,ta sword or wouudug with bat
l.e-lx-. Lai made treaty, agreeing % unite
boa defence against foreign foes, THIS would be
an i3ls Of society in the o.lcn time also H.
Illustrated ty yae famous visit OF Betsy Ping 70
Mrs Camp, Nc. History Of nations aud iu-
Jiy'lual experience prove that many fatal er-
r.rs cau be traced 60 a want Ol distinction be-
tween society as jliuius OF cqua. powers aud
political society which is founded on the sur
render ot personal tigats-the acSuow.e,'S-
ueut of superior authority. This is not done
without purpose, tor mutual protection and
safety. the rights Of the hmiiy-the tribe,
gradually yield % The government Of a nations
Laws tli true government rests upon The
wise direction q these Individual rights, not
upon their extinction. They may te surrcn-
de-el but ,tcy mus5 still. exist, and this is tie
ltfuiii.o wc scek-that tle Law which pro-
,ec,s is that which controls al. toe social pow
ers. l.e have nothing 60 Do with the accl-
beats auJ incidents which have 0itcn entau-
cer.j tbe application Of this principle II So
cai growth which is tie Fundamental, basis Of
government, forming, as lt were, the warp and
W0ni Ol human society, uo matter what chance
pictures History may have painted ou it In the
shape u usurpat1us, tyranuies, expressions
hy the very powers intended 90 protect, bro-