National Republican., 1885-03-03

And now we como to the laws! Here
we reach the particular grievance that
provokos this article.
Mr.. Robert Brown, In his entertaining
Races of Mankind" describes an Asiatic
tribe called the Warali. Thoy worship 8
shapeless stone, besmeared with lead aud
ghee. This idol is named Vagina, the
Lord of Tigers. They say, when ques.
toned upon the subject: "There is some-
thing beside the stone at tho place where
II is fixed. What II is we do not know;
we only do as our forefathers showed us
They burn their dead for some supersti-
tious reason or other. "Where the soul
goes after death nobody knows; but Il he
dies In sin he will 90 to o bad place where
there Is suffering, but what kind OF
place IL Is nobody knows. Good people
70 to Baghavau, not to Waghia. for he
lives in the iungles; but where Baghavan
is, and where is not, nobody knows;
they don't. Such is their simple theol.
ogy." Tho same blissful faith
prevails among the residents OF tho
District of Columbia. They serve q
shameless mass overgrown with tho weeds
of ages They call 1t Jurisprudence, or a
system of law-"Lord of Tigers" would be
moro appropriate. They say, when ques-
toned upon the subject: There is some
thing in all this mass. What 1t Is we
don't know; we only do as our forciathers
showed u.s." They go to court for some
superstitious reason or other. What Will
result to q man thus going to court, mo-
body knows; hut IL he has sustained an
injury to his rights, laws will bo admin
istered In which there is justice-but
where those laws are, nobody knows. Bad
people go to congress, instead of TO the
court. for tho court lives in q legal jungle;
but what congress will do or what it will
not do, nobody knows. They don't
SUCH IS THEIR SIMPLE THEOLOGY!
A moro diabolical "system has never
been held up to the jeers of the nineteenth
century. This Is not hyperbole.
The Laws of the District, as they
exist to-day, consist: 1) of the constitu-
tion and such general laws of the United
States as arc not locally inapplicable,
together with the special legislation Of
congress in respect to the District; (2) of
the laws in force in Maryland, as they
existed on the 27th day of February, 1901,
except as since modified or repealed by
congress or by authority thereof; (3) of
the laws and ordinances of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown and of the
levy court except as modified or repealed
by congress, OF by tho legislative assem-
bly, (which, by the grace Of God and the
American congress, reigned in the Dis
trict for about two years. since the 1st
day of June, 1871; and a. of the antics
(sometimes styled "legislation") of the
said legislative assembly, SO far as un-
changed by congress.
These claws" spread through volume
after volume, and form one stupendous
pile of solecisms, uncertainties, and in
consistencies. They defy analysis. How
far general statutes are rendered inopera-
tive by special enactments in reference to
the District, or how far the special legis.
lation is modified by subsequent changes
in the general laws, no one knows. To
what extent the laws of Maryland have
been repealed or altered
is ANOTHER coNUNDRUM
OF the first magnitude. What were the
laws in force in Maryland in 1901? Let
the inquistive look for an answer to the
ponderous compilation of Kitty and Alex.
audor. They are composed of legislation
of Maryland statesmen, combined with {
conglomeration of common and statute
law of England. As to tho former clas
Of cnactments, the first in date, recorded
by Kitty as operative, is "an act o
recognition" passed on the 9th o.
June, 1862. Then follow multitude
of commandments and prohibitions in re-
gard to nearly every transaction and re
latiOn of human life-prescribing punish
ments for swearing" in the presence O.
any one, from n magistrate TO churcl
warden, and rewards for the extermina
tion Of wolves and crows. The common
law Of England is, Ms all know, terrible
in quantity. The statutory provisions
while Of less practical importance. ar,
not diminutive in size. The first givel
by Kitty, as in force, is Henry 3, CHI.
A. d. 1925, in regard to the dover right
of widows-the last is IL George 3, ch, &c
A. ID. 177l, to enable lunatics to reney
leases. II was horrible to impose upoi
the people this musty and confusing rub
bish of antiquity. 1t did not help matter
TO hurl upon them the bulky municipa
ordinances. But when congress delib
erately deluged them with the fire an,
birthstone of the legislative assembly
THEN CAME CHAOS!
A simple illustration will convey som
notion of this Infusion. Having a curl
osity to ascertain the law in regard +
Washington coroners, applied to severa
leading practitioners. None ofthem knew
One lawyer majestically pointed to be
cally told me to find out" SO began
But how? Did / take down massiv
tome. with an elaborate index, labelle
Code" and turn to all the laws on tn
subject in moment? Not at all. | frs
took up Blackstone and other works o.
the common and statute law of England
pored over black-letter lore till m
eyes ached. But was rewarded. Anon
other relics unearthed was one given
"Alexander's British Statutes in Fore
in Maryland" thus: "a Statute, d
ifiicio coronotoris, made Ann. 4, Edw.
Stat. 2 and A. ID. 1916" and begins
"Hec sunt inquirenda coronatoribu
domini regis" 1t is unnecessary to cit
further-everyonc will recognize it.
FELT JUBILANT.
knew that this statute was in force
the district, unless repealed or altered b
the laws Of Maryland or subsequent los
islative authority. So l won't throug
the Maryland laws and the Maryland r,
ports for positive enactments or expOunC
ing decisions. My track led me throug
the constitution Of the United States, tl
laws of congress- tho municipal ord
nAnces, and the wonderful achievement
of tho assembly. l was not trouble
much by district reports. Thanks to tn
kindness of congress in falling to provid
for reporter to preserve the local dec
ions, there was but meagro informatio
in that path to delay my steps. When
reached the records of tho assembly
knew / would find something. Tho:
distinguished lawmakers were indee
indefstigable. During their brief caret
they made up for the apathy of congres
In fact, had they not been summRril
legislated into private life. they woul
probably have elected an emperor an
subverted the republic. Upon their di
solution they seized the chattels while
adorned their council chambers, even
the brushes employed to sweep the col
webs from the walls. This act demOra
lied thom. Hence their elegant sobrique
'thc feather busters" / mention thi
nntas arpument but az n curiosity