Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-09-24
essex County GERALD.
ISLAND PoxD, SEPTEMBER "a.
Where VIII IL End ?

The foundations OF government
were laid as deep and secure as
time, unlimited exertion, la
Dor, ingenuity and foresight
could possibly accomplish. They
were laid by men stern, conserva-
tive, with the profoundest re-
spect for law, and the highest
regard for the security and hap
piness-of the whole. A respect
for law, especially by a New
Highlander, was proverbial. For
nearly or quite a century the
stern virtues,,of a peculiar people
were maintained through toll,
suffering, dangers, and all kinds
of sacri6cial devotion. Above all
other causes and means the
characteristics and practices of
the founders contributed most
to the permanency, progress and
development of a country than
which none is more desirable on
the earth. Among other things
those wise men provided in fun
damental laws that no person
should be held to answer for a
capital or otherwise infamous
crime unless on presentment or
Indictment of a grand jury, and
that he should enjoy the right to
a trial by an impartial jury, and
be informed of the nature of any
accusation and confronted with
the witnesses against him. They
also instituted constitutional
guarantees that every member
of society should be protected
from unlawful annoyance and
from being disturbed in the en-
joyment of life, liberty and prop
erty, and especially that their
houses, papers and possessions
should be protected from mobo
cratic incursions or unlawful in
vasions. They also declared that
government is or ought to be in
stituted for common benefit ant
protection and not forl the par
ticular advantage or emolumen'
of any single man, family or Sc
of men who are only part o
community. They further de
clared that the power to sus
pend laws or the execution
thereof ought never to be exer
cised but by legislative authorit,
and then under the safeguard
provided by demonstration ant
at the will of the Legislature
Great credit is due to the people
of this country for the jealous
care with which these principle
were formerly adhered to. Blu
how is it now?
The whole country has II
Gently been startled by simpl
declaration or insinuation of
principle, the tendency of whic
might be to undermine or de
grade its judiciary. Severe an
perhaps just criticism is bein
made even in this State becaus
courts of justice are not mair
tanned in every county in thi
State, and been kept open i
such counties for the trial of a
causes proper for their cogniz
ance. 1t would probably hav
been better to have maintained
respect for the constitution b.
first procuring an amendment t.
the constitution before abolish
ing the highest of those courts
This would certainly have adde'
permanency to constitutions
law, even if no harm has been az
complished by pursuing a differ
ent course in this instance. Blu
ifpeople are so sensitive to tn
violation of the constitution the
oretically, and so startled a
even the insinuation of some
thing which may tend to under
mine it, what may be said c
brutal and shameless violation
of these constitutional guarar
tees by absolute and overt acts
When a multitude of men, ofte
including those who claim to b
devoted to law and order, in tn
face of a constitution which pro
Yides that no man shall be he'll
to answer for an Infamous Grim
only on indictment, that he sha
have a fair trial and candle
and civilized examination, wit
savage fury rush into our pris
ons and wrest supposed criminal
from the crctodu of tLo