Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-03-13

The Influences of social ine1 ualitles-Oi rank,
Of place, Of patronage, Of wealth-that dan
gerous accumulation Of active powers into the
control Of one will-of these he could not
speak, the discussion is too bread for the short
time lie would have to devote to it. But,
whatever tie shortcomings Of the administra-
ton Of civil Justice, there can be no Individual
disobedience or organized violation Of the laws
Of the land without imperiing the integrity
OF the whole social system Ii is true that
men and classes often suffer from the burden
Of unwise statutes, and that communities rebel
against delays which seem to promise immu-
nifty TO fragrant crime But, whenever man
undertakes to resist the law which binds his
ueighbors equally with himself, CT any SET of
men usurp the jurisdiction Of the Courts, they
invade every principle Of social order. \ pris-
ouer, unlried, uuccndemned, may be unlaw-
fully hurried 10 his fate, on some leailess tree
may suspend his CHASTITY corpse, and the act
lie justified by the verdict Of the community
morally substantial justice may have been
done in the estimation Of the disguised execu-
TONERS, and even perhaps Of the quiet, thought
ful citizens. whose opinions constituted pub
lie sentiment. Bat the question arises, who
shall hinde. the criminal aud the vicious from
rising in turn, with masked faces, defying the
Law, tramphns down its BARRIERS aud dispo-
sing as they choose Of your lives OF your pro-
poIty and exposes the folly Of such danger
Gus preccdents The great wrong Of to-day
may be repeated tomorrow only with terri
bly, different motive to-days actors may be
to-morrow's victims. If this be true how
have we seen its truth emphasized in our own
experience. In the midst OF long-estabshed
civilization remote from the rude necessities
of tho frontier, we have seen the appointed a.
gencies Of society thrust away from their duty
the solemn responsibilities VI the Law def
antly assumed, and the Offices Of the halter and
the scafiold performed by lawless and reckless
hands. Here the speaker dwell on the obliga-
tions Of Government on its part to the constlt-
uents which establish its power at the sacrl-
tee of their own History, he said, repeats
itself, aud those whose fortune 1t is 10 live and
act history need not seek in the gloom Of the
Past a lisht 10 guide their doubtful steps
But If he should ask if Government always
faithfully performs lis part to the governed
usurps no prerogatiye beyond It's chartered
rights-he should not have 10 search for his
answer among the dusty treasures OF our hora-
ries. II be should 60 further aud IN the light
of q grave occurrence hardly yet recorded in
the history of the Present, ask whether the
Sanctuary consecrated 10 the rights Of citizens
and States against executive wrong has been
invaded and proiaued by sacreligious footsteps
he would leave the question to us Silence
is cloqueut-he would not break its spell
The fectiug years sill soon bring in the
dawn Of the 10Th Century, when this Present
shall be recorded with the history Of the Past.
We cannot foretel the events Of the future,
yet human uncertainty has It's ccnsolatous.-
Hope, Faith, Duty are the ministeriug angels
attending sustaining and inspiring. We
trust the coming years may crown them with
the blessings Of higher civilization, Purer,
more perfect progress than we have attained.
The duty of the Present is before us-let 10
jealousy Of tie Future repress its conscientious
performance.