Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-03-07
Solemn Warnings.
A READJUSTER SENATOR APPEALS TO
HIS PARTY TO PAUSE IN THEIR RE
vOLUTION AIRY MnASUREs-THE
REIGN OF PARTY OVER LAW,

A READJUSTER SENATOR APPEALS TO |
VOL TIONARY MnAsUREs-THEI
REIGN OF PARTY OVER LAW.
Estate Of Tuesday. 18th Feb.
The vote of the Readjusters in both
the House and Senate in which they
have reserved the decision of the Court
Of Appeals. which decided that there
was no such thing as an unexpired ju
dicial term, has provoked indignation
and establishment from many sound
lawyers. Judge Lybrook, though q
pronounced Readjuster, made an earn
est. but Of course Intellectual appeal
against this overriding of the Constitu-
ton. The subject was brought up in
the Senate to-day when the Joint reso-
luton fixing the 1st of March for the
election of the judges of the Counties of
Prince William, Carroll, Floyd and
Henry and the corporation judges for
cities of Alexandria. Staunton, Danville
and Richmond came up.
Judge Weldon, of the county of
Prince William, was elected to fill an
unexpired term. The Court Of Appeals
decided that he was elected for the full
term. Such was the case of J Judge g.
L Christian also.
In the Senate to-day Mr. L0venstein,
as soon as the resolution was read, NOV
ed to strike out the city of Richmond
and the county of Prince William.
DIGGING THEIR GRAVES. :,
Mr.. Lybrook then rose and made q
very impressive and earnest speetS.
He warned the Readjusters that they
moro diDuinn q no1if inoI GRO 90 for fhoyn
selves. He knew AZ lawyer that they
we're setting dangerous precedent and
aud that the people were not going to
submit to this revolutionary measure
They were running their party by the
position they we're taking in the matter
He asked them to look for moment
at this great business in which they
| were engaged Here was this Senate
attempting to sit as court over the
Court of Appeals Of Virginia in regard
to the terms of judges. That court after
solemn consideration decided that
Judge Weldon had full term ''and,"
said he, '.here Is our party 1.-THE Read
juster) which Is in the majority, has
deliberately, coolly, and by force of
caucus rule determined to reverse the
decision of the Court of Appeals. Now,
on that question give me tine because
1t is the last speech I ever expect to
make In this body. That court decided
that term was q term, and it is not In
the province of the Legislature to re.
verse that decision
| DEAF TO WARNING.
While he was speaking there was
much talking among Mr.. Lybrook's
Readjuster brethren. They evidently
did not want to hear him. He noted
this, and said II hope there will be
quiet rise to-day with my feeble
voice to warn my political friends that
there is danger ahead" The speaker
f; then went on to define (reading from
the Constitution) the duties and pow
ers the legislative, executive, and judi
cial departments, and quoted the ex-
press language of the Constitution.
which says they shall be separate and
distinct. There was not q man who
read the papers that did not know that
this Legislature is willfully opposing
and reversing the Court of Appeals.
VERY SIGNIFICANT.
| Mr.. LybrOOk said he had received q
letter from his county which showed
the sentiments of his people. He had q
letter from his county (Patrickl and
one from Henry county, and the Ian
guage of the letter W. 8 almost incredible.
The writer was a man of the highest
character, a man of wealth, man who
had travelled all over the county, and
he wrote that Tin the county of Patrick
to-day. out of 300 voters, there are only
three men against you in your position.
That was warning to the Readjuster
party. Suppose this revolution takes
place. said the speaker. Suppose it
should so happen, unfortunately (prob-
ably fortunately that these miserable
Funders. these wretched old Bourbons,
should possibly get into power two
reverse the Court of Appeals? If the
Readjusters opposed them, then they
would say, II thank thee Jew, for
teaching me that word" Don't you
see we are setting precedent for them
if they should possibly get inTo p,syer
This was the reason he occupied his
position against this wild legislation.
He knew he was right. The great law
of this land was that the Court of Ap-
peals alone has power to interpret the
Constitution of this State and it was
not in the power of the Legislature to
do it. The Readjuster party was SOW
ing seed that would bread their ene-
mics. He stood here to-day as break.
watsr between these two parties. He
did not want to see Funders get any
power. He would fight to the end Of
time to put stop to this thing.
He defied any man who opposed his
position to turn to the Constitution and
upset it. This is the most serious ques-
ton that ever came up before this par
ty. Said he, eff the people find that
you have been deliheratly trampling
upon this law for party purposes, they
will
SPEW YOU OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS.
warn you that you are standing
upon dangerous precipice. You are
deliberately going to work to violate
the Constitution for party purposes.
He warned his political associates to
beware. They had an opportunity to
crystalize party which might forever
rule the Commonwealth. He warned
them that no more radical and DANCE
rous revolution was ever attempted to
be praciiced upon true and conserva-
tive people This was the first time in
the history Of America that such thing
had ever been attempted.
| THE RECORD.
| The appeal was, however, Intellectual.
The vote was taken and the resolution
adopted by the following vote:
| AYEs.-Messrs. Barnes, Elliott Esk :
ridge, Hale. James, Jones, Martin,
Newberry, Norton, Powell, Rawles,
Riddleherger, Rue, Stevens, Walker,
Webb. Wilcox. Williams, Wood-19.
| NOES.-Messrs. Atkinson, Berry,
Diggs. Edmunds, Fletcher. Glasgow,
Heaton, Hurt, Koiner, Lowell, Loven-
stein, Lybrook, Smith, Twyman,
Wingfield of Hanover, Wingfeld of Al
bemarle.-16.
Mr.. Blaine's eulogy on President
Garfield delivered last Monday in thu.