The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1910-09-09
THE RIGHT OF PETITION.

There seems to be a distressing
misunderstanding or a lamentaole
ignorance on the subject OF the
Right of Petition" abroad in the
town Of Farmville, and it occurs to
us that some remarks on the sub
ject are strictly in order
This is the right Of the citizen
70 all those in authority for
redress Of grievance or the pre-
vention Of some wrong. IN Iree
countries this is usually regarded |
as valuable right, and one to
which every person is entitled by |
the constitution. 1t extends to all
LEGISLATIVE and all discretionary ex-
ecutive action.
To secure the full value OF the
right it is necessary that great
freedom be allowed in commenting
upon persons and measures, and
petition is therefore regarded as
a privileged document. and errors
in its statement do not subject the
sieners to responsibility if they
are made without actual malice
The right Of petition is express
" secured to the citizen by constr
tutional provisions in the UUiled
{ states and in legislative bodies the
presentation Of petitions and their
reference to appropriate committees
are usually entered on the Jour
nal An exception was at one
period made by Congress Of petit
lions on the subject OF slavery
d which were not accorded the cour-
r tesy of a reference.
d Bearing these facts in nina
e and no intelligent citizen can de
o spute them. we beg to say that the
Council of Farmville on two noted
n occasions violated all constitution
20 al regulations governing the right
- PETITIONS numerously signed by
& representative tax payers and voV
h. ers we're ignored, made no matter
10 Of record. and treated as thougi
they were the impertinent interior
ence of irresponsible outsiders.
J. The council in both cases acte'
ne as though the creature was super
Tor to the creator, that the suoor
w. dinates were masters Of sovereign'
k The citizens of Farmville have IN
~ constitutional and sacred right q
ch making known 10 the council
respectful manner their wants an
-, wishes upon all subjects. To dc
III eide otherwise would be to SUI
vert the principles of constitutions
iys government and TO ignore the go'
i've erning power i'm each communit
commonwealth. and the governmei
nm AT large. Let it be remembered I'M
am only once in it's history has Coz
In gress dared to reject or treat VIII
70 disregard a petition Of citizens an
of that during the angry and passion
ate controversy which grew out
the vexed and vexing subject
30 slavery.
on At such time blind passion an
OF unreasoning prejudice held swa
ner and men did not listen TO the al
meals of reason. No such conditio
en- now exists in the town Of Farmyl
ar and God be praised that it does no
oes And since this is an era OF goo
nee feeling when the citizens of FarI
Vile dwell together as one larl
family i'm harmony. let those in co
ar troll exercise their authority WI
air. discretion and with due regard
the constitutional rights Of the gre
ais body of citizens
de Burke. the greatest of Engli
and statesmen, wisely and well said tn
Ike he could not be persuaded to dr'
an indictment against commun
Of people. and let us hope that {
y" citizens of Farmville will never
p p@r gain be arraigned at the bar OF
~ council as incompetent, impel
ond nent or ignorant
this -