Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-22

a.
Now, l demand, in the name OF The
people of this State, what authority
have you, that you can trample the
Constitution iuto the dust and tor politl-
cal purposes ignore the express pro-
vision Of the Constitution Of this State
and elect men to fill vacancies hat do
not exist, and, by mere act OF
CAUCUS LEGISLATION,
turn men out of office who are entitled
TO hold their Offices under the Constilu-
ton.
The Constitution provides how judges
may be removed from their offices oy
section % of Article VI. This caa on
" be done for malfeasance in Office
upon impeachment by the House. to De
tried by the Senate upon oath and
twenty DAYS summons upon the
judge.
The Senate will then sit as Il jury to
try his case. There is no other provl-
sion under the Constitution TO deprive
any iud!e. whether county, circuit, or
iudoe Of The Court Of Appeals, OF his
full term, under tile constitution oil
Article ". in tie 23d section. l dare
any man in this body to point on' any
other law in this Constitution that VIII
Justify tie acuon that Is now being TAX
en- by the Readjusler party.
The Richmond Whig, the organ OF
the Readjuster party, Charges the Court
of Appeals With maladminislralion and
audaclous usurpation in is decision III
Weldon case.
Now, if tbe judges be guilty OF the
crime that this paper charges against
them, let Us try and punish them in the
manner that the Constitution prov ldes.
But tell the editor OF this paper, and
all who believe in his doctrine aud fol-
low his teachings, that there is not a
man Of respectable intelligence in this
S,o,e who does not know that this
Legislature for partisan purposes has
wilfully assumed the place Of that cour
and reversed It's decision without i
shadow OF authority under tie Consiilu'
ton and the law.
7 declare here 10 my place that the
neople of this State viii hold the parry
responsible for this outrage Ihls one
&C: " i'll destroy any party. But thu Is
not all YOU are trying TO do; Jon are
attempting TO iuvLde the precincts o.
the public schools Of the Slate, and tho
asylums Of the deaf and dumb and the
Hind and the insane. aud TO turn out oi
Office the honored and venerable
teachers and professors of these ole
institutions. You propose 20 invade
the courts Of justice and appoint com"
missioners to sell a little piece OF lane
under DEGREES OF court, to appoint
commissioners to settle accounts: yot
even propose 10 appoint the trustees o
the common schools all over the State.
HERE AT RICHMOND
oil Of these Offices to be filed By mer
whose main qualification IS blind acc
abiect obedience to the one man power
and the autocracy that is being aitemp''
ed to be set up at the capital Of The
State,
Have YOU reflected what power that
will give the Governor of this State
He will have the appointment OF nol
less than twenty-five hundred or thre'
thousand offices in this State and ye
we claim TO be the liberal party i
favor Of an unlimited exercise OF lre'
franchise. Don't you see and dom
YOU know that YOU are robblng The
people Of his State of ali liberty an'
converting it into an absolute mouarch'
in eycrS uing but the name.
Iwarn tic Readjuster party that II
standing upon fearful precipice, ao'
the people cf Ills State will hold you L
account.
You have given US fatal preced"n'
You assume the right TO reverse dec
sion of the highest court in this Slate
YOU declare that it Is subordinate bu
NOT q co. ordinate branch of this govern
ment. If YOU can reverse one OF 1t
decisions by legislative acts you hav
tie same power TO reverse every dec
sion it has ever rendered, and that 10
political purposes. Then, l ask yol
what protection have we for life, hoer
,y, and property III this Comm
wealth?
You nave the right by mere iegislt
tive act 10 turn out every criminal no
confined in The penitentiary OF tn
State and take from every cElzeh
this Commonwealth every dollar
worth of properly he owns. | wal
you to stop here and now.
Suppose that the Funder party wv
Years hence should come into powe
fortunately or unfortunately, and PR
pose by legislative action llhe propos
tion that we advocate, that the succeed
ing Legislature is not bound by the a.
ofa preceding one to reverse ever
thing we have done; put out all ID
Judges that they claim we have vi
: constitulionally elected to vacansi'
;hal do not exist: destroy your board
! of visitors to the colleges and the put
liz institutions G Ibis State; reiGsta
t the professors that you are now turl
lns Out for political purposes, and eve
/ destroy and annul the settlement
the public debt, could our party com
, pla,n Their answer would be,
Gratiana said to Shylock, L than
thee. Jew, for teaching me that wor'
! The yillainy thou hast taught mo l vi