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

on Tho part Of he bar must be deferred I'M
an q suitable commission can be appoint ed
by Congress TO undertake that work. Amer
he code had been printed as Senate bill
5000 a uumber 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
Ice 81 the BAR Association has spared
neither time nor labor in carefully going
over this bill. As a final precaution a
committee Of the judges Of the Supreme
Cour. of he District. consisting Of Judges
Bradley. Cole. and Barnard. sat with the
legislative Committee Of the Bar Associa-
lion from day TO day. and from 10 80 until
80 of each secular day. i'm going over me
bill together and IN considering carefully
aud critically not only each OF its pIo-
visions. but every word in which the same
was oppressed. In addition 10 this this
joint committee of the court and bar had
before them suggestions from many mem
hers nf his board from members Of the
bar from justices of the peace and from
citizens generally touching various provi-
~iouS Of the code. All of these were care
fully considered by he said joint commit
see. The final result of their labors was
submitted 10 the Bar Association Of the
District Of Columbia on Saturday. the lOth
instant. and was unanimously approved By
that association. So thai this proposed
code comes before the Board Of Trade with
the unanimous support uf The Supreme
Court OF the District and OF its bar. Ii has
also received the unanimous approval %
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. II may
DE 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-
ventiou assembled at Philadelphia TO pre-
pare a Constitution for these United
States Upon moving the adoption of the
Constitution as reported TO the conven-
ton. DR. Franklin. then eighty-one years
Of age, spoke as follows:
What Franklin said.
Mr.. President: I confess that there
are several parts of this Constitution
which I DO not at present approve. but
am not sure that ! shall never approve
them. For, having lived long, have eXpe-
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. 1t is. there
fore that the older grow, she 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
session OF all truth, and that wherever
others differ from them II is so far error
Steel n 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 infallihle and the Church Of Eng
land is never in the wrong" But though
many private persons think almost as
highly Of their own infalIibility as that Of
their sect few express IL so naturally as
q certain French lady, who in a dispute
with her sister, said, Il don't know how it
happens. sister. but 7 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 OF
the people If well administered; and ! be
lieve further that this is likely 10 be well
administered for a course of years. and can
only end in despotism. as other forms have
done before IL, when the people shall be
come so corrupted as TO need despotic gov
eminent being incapable Of any other. |
doubt. too whether any other convention
we can obtain may be able TO make better
For when you assemble
number Of men 20 have the advantage Of
their joint wisdom you inevitably assemble
with those men all their preiudices their
PASSIONS their errors Of opinion their local |
interests. and their selfish views. From
such an assembly can perfect product be |
expected III Therefore astonishes me, sir. |
to find This system approaching so near 10 |
perfection as 1t doe. and ] think IL viii |
sstonish our enemies. who are waiting with I
confidence 10 hear that our councils are
COMPOUNDED like those OF the builders Of |
Babel ana that our states are on the Dor
der OF separation. only 10 meet hereafter
Tor the purpose Of cutting one another's |
threats Thus ] consent sir. 20 this Con
stftutiou. because ] expect no better, and !
because ! am not sure that it is not the |
best Tn, opinions ] have had Of its errors
sacrinc, 10 The public good have never |
n, whispered q syllable Of them abroad |
Within these walls they were born. and !
her, they shall die. II every one Of as. iu
returning 90 our constituents, were 10 re-
port the objections he has had 10 it, and en-
leavOr 10 gain parisaus in support Of them, |
we might prevent its being generally re- |
ceived and therefore lose an the snlulary |
effects and great advantages resulting nat |
urally iu our favor among foreign nations. |
as well a. among ourselves from our real
or apparent unauimity. Much Of the
strength and efficiency of any government. /
iu procuring and securing happiness to the
people depends on opinion--on the general
opinion OF the goodness Of the govern
meut as well as OF the wisdom and in
jeerity of its governors. ! hope. therefore
that Tor our own sakes a part Of the
people and tor the sahe OF p0sterity We
shall agt heartily and unanimously in rec
this Constitution tif approved
by Congress and confirmed by the cOnyeu-
tiou-l wherever our influence may extend
and turn our future thoughts and endeavore
10 the means OF having 10 vel admins
tered.
ON the whole. sin. ] cannot help eN-
pressing q wish tina; every member of the
convention who may sill have objections
To Il would with me on this occasion doubt |
a litrlo OF his own intallibility and TO make
manifest our unanimity. put his name 90
this instrument,
Action of th- Hoard.
IA the conclusion OF the reading OF he
report q resolution approving il was
adopted. and the special committee on
the code together With the Committee on
Legislation was authorized with such
amendments 4s the Two committees should
agree upon.