The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

on the part Of the bar must be deferred un
til suitable commission can be appoint ed
by Congress to undertake that work. Artcr
I the code had been printed as Senate bill
$500. a plumber of copies of the printed bill
were circulated among the judges, the
members OF the bar. and members OF the
Board of Trade. The Legislative Commit
tee of the Bar Association has spared
neither time nor labor in carefully going
over this bill. As a final precaution d
committee of the judges of the Supreme
Court of he District. consisting Of Judges
Bradley Cole. and Barnard, sat, with the
Legislative Committee of the Bar Associa-
ton. from day 10 day. and from 10: 50 until
3; 30 of each secular day, in going over tine
bill together. and in considering carefully
and critically not only each of its pro-
visions but every word in which the same
was expressed. In addition 10 this. this
joint committee of the court and bar had
before them suggestions from many MEM
bers Of this board from members of the
bar from justices of the peace. and from
citizens generally touching various provi-
sions of the code. All of these were care
fully considered by The said joint commit
tee. The final result of their labors was
submitted TO the Bar Association of the
District of Columbia on Saturday the 10Th
instant. and was unanimously approved by
that association. So that this proposed
code comes before the Board of Trade with
the unanimous support of the Supreme
Court Of the District and of its bar 1t has
also received the unanimous approval OF
the special committee upon the code Of
this Board of Trade.
1t is obviously impossible in this report
to go into any detail with respect to the
codes provisions. The Bar Association of
the District of Columbia was content to
accept them upon the faith OF the joint
committee Of judges and lawyers. 1t may
be that there are special provisions which
may be considered not as favorable TO Spe-
cial interests as those affected by said in
terests would desire To all such and TO
the members of the Board of Trade gen.
orally this committee desires to recall the
following words of Benjamin Franklin,
spoken in September, 1857. before the con-
vention assembled al Philadelphia TO pre-
pare Constitution for these United
States. Upon moving the adoption of the
Constitution as reported to the conven-
ton, DR.. Franklin. then eighty years
Of age spoke as follows:
What Franklin Snid.
% Mr. President: | confess that there
are several parts of this Constitution
which | do not at present approve, but |
am not sure that | shall never approve
rienced many instances OF being obliged.
by better information or fuller considera-
tion, to change opinions, even on impor
tant subjects, which once thought right,
but found to be otherwise. II is, there
fore that. the older ! grow, the more apt
/ am to doubt my own judgment, and TO
pay more respect TO the judgment of 9TH
ers. Most men indeed, as well as most
sects in religion think themselves in pos
nF III 'FYr,t1 md hot rh.at..
others differ from them, 1t is so far error.
Steel, Protestant, in a dedication, tells
the Pope that the only difference between
our churches in their opinions of the Ger
tainty of their doctrines is THE Church of
Rome is infallible and the Church of Eng
land is never in the wrong" But though
many private persons think almost as
highly of their own infallibility as that of
their sect. few express it so naturally as
a certain French lady, who. in a dispute
with her sister, said, Il don't know how it
happens, sister. but l meet with nobody
but myself that is always in the right, il
ny a'que moi qui a toujours raison.' /
= In these sentiments, sir, ! agree to this
Constitution, with all its faults, If they are
such. because / think general government
necessary for us, and there is no form ef
government but what may be a blessing TO
the people if well administered; and / be
for course of years, and can 4!
only end in despotism, as other forms have |
done before 1t, when the people shall be- |
come so corrupted TO need despotic gov |
being incapable of any other. |
doubt too. whether any other convention |
we can obtain may be able to make better |
For. when you assemble a |
number OF men 10 have the advantage OF |
heir joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble
with those men all their prejudices, their |
passions. their errors of opinion. their local
and their selfish views. From !
such an assembly can perfect product be |
expected? II therefore astoDishes NE. sir, |
% find this system approaching so near TO
as II does and ! think II will |
astonish our enemies. who are waiting with |
confidence to hear that our councils are |
like those OF the builders OF |
Babel and that our States are on the Dor
Ter of separation only TO meet hereafter |
FOR the purpose OF cutting one another's
.hroats Thus / consent sir 10 this Con-
stitution. because l expect no better, and |
because | am not sure that il is not the |
best The opinions / have had OF its errors
sacrifice 10 the public good. have never
whispered syllable Of them abroad |
Within these walls they were born, and |
here they shall die. If every one of us. in |
port the objections he has had 10 it, and en-
leavor 10 gain partisans in support Of them,
We might prevent its being generally re-
neived and therefore lose all the sa!utary
effects and great advantages resulting nat
1rally in our favor among foreign nations
as well as among ourselves, from our real |
or apparent unanimity. Much of the |
strength and efficiency of any government |
in procuring and securing happiness to the /
people depends on opinion-on the general |
opinion OF the goodness of the govern
ment as well as OF the wisdom and in |
teerity Of its governors. l hope. therefore. |
that for our own sakes a part of the |
people. and for the sake of pOs1erity we |
shall act heartily and unanimously in rec
this Constitution Cf approved |
by Congress and confirmed by the conven-
iionsl wherever our influence may extend
and turn our future thoughts and endeavors
10 the means Of having il wei admins
tered.
On the whole, sir, ! cannot help eX-
pressing a wish that every member of the
convention who may still have objections
10 il would with me, on this occasion doubt
a little of his own infallibiIity and, TO make
manifest our unanimity. put his name 80
this instrument
Action of the Bomrd.
Al the conclusion 81 the reading OF the
report . resolution approving ii was
adopted. And the special committee on
the code together With the Committee on
Legislation was authorized with such |
rs the two committees should |
agree upon.
The next matter which came before the
meeting was the reading of resolution