Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-19
BAN ALL GENERAL
WARRANTS-TyLER
President Emeritus Of Viii:
liam and Mary Urges
Basic Principles.
FOLLOW MAGMA CARTA
Avoid Tyranny Under Laws
Cuise i'll SURPRISING
Other Evils.
FOLLOW MAGMA CARTA
Especial to The rimes-Dispatch 7

Especial to The Times dispatch
WILLIAMSBURG. VA. Feb. ls--In
enforcing the prohibition law, which
has been approved by the people of
Virginia and the United States, care
should be taken not to violate prin-
cipleB haI!owcd by time and protected
by tho certain "inniicnahic rights
contained In Magma Carta. declared
Or. Lyon @. Tyler of Richmondr
president emeritus Of william and
Mary, and author Of Tyler Quarterly
Historical and Genealogical Maya
Aine. here today In delivering tho
NTH Of the series Of constitutional
lectures being given at tho College
OF William and Mary under the aug
pieces OF the MarshaIl-W ythc School
Of Government and Citizenship. DR..
Tyler's subject waH Magma Carta:
Its influence of Virginia and Ameri-
can Institutions"
Would Dun General Warrants.
Any law which authorizes general
warrants. whether they he in arrest
OF suspected persons" he said. ''or
the breaking open Of suit cases. or
ing houses. or breaking places under
lock and key. without naming the In
dlvidual or the place. is against the
Constitution Of Virginia. which has
Embedded in II the principles that
have come down from the DAYS Of
King John. such Il law" ha stated.
Established an arbitrary authority
which enables every officer 10 act the
part of the tyrant. precedent is
Afforded" no asserted, which may
bs invoked In the interest OF n bad
causc-perhaps TO the injury OF thou
sands II Is therefore better TO keep
within the old conservative lines and
trust 10 public sentiment, though II
b. slow in the process" DR.. Tyler
said, ito conquer the evil. We should
avoid rushing TO remedies which carry
in their wake consequences probably
tust us dIreful as the trouble sousht
TO be corrected" he said.
Follow Magma Carta.
There haze been many appiica-
tions Of Magma CRrta In bo'h the
State and national laws pr 1sle'
declared Its principles were ioi-
lowed in the early Colonial days
OF The Old Dominion. under many
different circumstances, hut always
with the same vicw--the attainment
OF personal safety. personal iiocrt!'
and the safe custody OF private
property. Its latest application In
the Federal government has been the
adoption OF an amendment TO the
Constitution TO admit women 10 the
suffrage. the speaker SAID.
The real danger Of the Influence
of Magma Carta. DR.. Tyler stated, is
not that IL viii cease TO nc invoked
constantly, bu, In invoking II for
mistaken purposes, II has OFTEN
been the case In the past. he said,
that good causes have been ruined
by Objectionable methods. Speaking
Of this. he said. Where the purpose
Is good, men are very apt 10 over
look necessary and indcfcastblc
limitations. In their zeal to prohibit
slavery the abolitionists Endorsed
measures so extreme as to threaten
the existence OF the Union. and To
provoke murder and inccndiar!sm.
SO in present issues before the peo-
pie. we cannot be too cautious. In
seeking to avoid one evil. We must
be careful not TO encourage others
just as Objectionable"
Danrd ON First Principles.
The Influences Of Magma Cartn have
been innumerabie. Or. Tyler stated.
u
in the United States. The Virginia
Declaration OF Rights. the Declara-
ton Of Independence. the Constitu-
tons OF all the States. and the Fed
cral Constitution. are all based upon
IL. These Constitutions, he said. In
variably provide for taxation by the
Legislature only, for the privilege
OF the writ OF hcbcas corpus, for
trial by jury In criminal! cases. for
the prohibition OF laws imposing re-
ligIouS tests. and other provisions
OF a primary character. Little of
tho State and Federal Constitutions
was new, he added, much OF II be-
ing based on the great English free
dom giving document.
Concluding. DR.. Tyler pleaded:
Despite all temptations. let us stand
by Magma Carta. which means with
us even more than II did with Mr.
jefferson. IN affirmation OF the rights
of mankind. rather than merely the
rights OF Englishmen or Americans.
or the male sex. And as tho ma
tural law was ordained by God. so
Magma Carta stands today for rights
that are divine in their nature. Amidst
all the storms of time. IL stands
MS n mighty barrier to evil, flrm and
mistaken, and in the conception OF
its heavenly spirit. the patriotic
citizen. like the pious Christians, Will
cherish 1t as rock OF tho ages
and cling to 1t for protection"