Catoctin clarion., 1897-02-11

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litigation. Such is the autocracy that may
be practiced under cover of the assessment
act of 1896. Is that act consistent in forth
flying men merged into places in the Board
of Control and Review with imperial pow
ers, to the exclusion of all other men saving
those who may be directors in National
Banks? Is 1t In conformity with the man
date of the Constitution Ifso, where is the
need of Section l91 making or attempting to
make them eligible and, at the same time, to
save for them the precious plum ofthe county
commissioners Officer Section 191 reads:
mo person shall be eligible to appointment
for the position of Assessor, Boards Of Con-
troll and Review, or Clerk, who at the time
of entering upon thu performance of the
duties prescribed in this act, shall hold or
perform the duties of any Federal, State or
county or municipal Office of profit or trust
within this State, except director OF any
Bank, or in the case of the County Commits
sioners of the several cou mites, who, as here
inbefore provided. are constituted the Boards
of Control and Review for their respective
counties" Why make especial pets Of direc'
tors of National Banks and County Commits
sioners? If the right OF the Legislature was
sufficient and undisputed, why make this
Section 191 saving clause? In making the
! Commissioners reviewers has not the Legis-
lature outconstituted the Constitution; not in
granting permission to the County Commits
sioners to serve Us members of the Boards of
Control and Review, but in the endeavor to
secure for them two offices at the same time
with especial pay for both?
| There can be no doubt of the right to &C.
cept the position, but 1t is perfectly clear
that when the County Commissioners swear
themselves into the Board of Control and
Review they swear themselves out Of the
County Commissioners office. 1t is vol.
untary act, deliberate vacation Of the first
office for the second, and any attempt after
ward to act as County Commissioner on the
part of any one thus vacating the office, with.
out being either legally appointed or elected
to the position, is usurpation, and all action
on the part Of such usurpers can but merit
the condemnation of all just and honest men
as fraud and nuliity; though it be sustain
ed by ambiguous legislation, fostcred, as it
probably is, by political intrigue and hedged
about as it may be by the technicalities and
the delays Of the law. In a moral sense the
cold fact remains, two offices of profit and
trust held at the same time by the came men
-usurpation and fraud casting the suspicion
of dishonesty and greed upon such as may
usurp constitutional authority, and supine-
ness on the citizenship which tolerates it.
1t may be a sweeping assertion, that every
man is presumed to know the law; that ig-
norance is no excuse for the violation Of law, ,
and that the accountability Of all men is
equal before and under the law. 1t may be
presumption to infer that some men elected
to office have ever read the Constitution Of
this State; yet it is safe to say that neither
ignorance nor arrogance is any palliative or
defence for usurpaton, If a man, like the
dog in the fable, drops his meat to snap at
the shadow he deserves censurc rather than
commiseration, while he watches his sub
stance floating away. Usurpation under
any form of government is distressing, but
under government such as ours il is danger
ous for it is the beginning Of the end, with
the extremes close together. How to pre-
vent it in this case is through the form Of
law and the wisdom of our judiciary. If the
incumbepts cannot find the error Of their
way the courts should make it plain to them.
The manner or form Of procedure is not for
layman to prescribe. The fact exists that
men have abandoned the post Of County
Commissioner for that of Bard of Control
and Review and the evidence is on record,
in the oaths they have taken in their actions
under them. If the attention of the court is
called to the matter and it shall find life and
vitality in Article 20 of the Declaration of
rights to the Constitution, That the trial OF
facts, when they arise, is one Of the greatest
securities oi the lives, liberties and estate Of
the People, the sheriff may be commanded
to take possession cf the offices Of County
Commissioners, until the Governor may
make appointments for the places voluntar-
lily vacated therein. JUsTIcE-In Westmin-
ster Sentinel.
The program of the 25th Annual CoDven.
ton of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions of Maryland, West Virginia, District
of Columbia and Delaware is just at hand.
The Convention meets in Frederick, Nd,
February 10Th 2lst, commencing at o'clock
Friday afternoon, 10Th. The topics to be
presented and discussed cover wide range
and will doubtless prove of much interest
and profit to those engaged in this work.
Special attention seems to be given to Bible
study, which will be conducted by &. M.
Copeland, Acting State Secretary. The
music will be led by Percy s. Foster, of
Washington. We note that, from places not
having Young Mems Christian Associations
r'foung Peoples Societies, Churches and
Sunday Schools are invited to send repre-
sentatives. There will be reduced rates on
the railroads. and the delegates will be enter
tained by the people of Frederick. Among
those who will take a prominent part are
Rev. II. M. Wharton, d. D., Baltimore; W..
H. H.. Smith, Washington; W. B. Millar'
New York. and E. Lawrence Hunt, Secre.
tary of the Students Club, New York City.
Persons intending to 60 to the Convention
should communicate early with w. H. Nor
riss, Secretary Y. NJ. G. A., Charles and Sar.