Newspapers / April 24, 1834, edition 1 / Page 1
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270. 13 It ALEIGH, N. C. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, XS3 V0I-2XV Mi ttfc iv-.- : .Jul .VorfA CVtroirta AM? Gazelle, .. fCBlKIUKIl, WIKKLT, T LWVRF.NCB & T.KMAY. TF.ll MS.- StT,rt-TO. Ihree dnll-rt per n"'n7 ! ...If i..' mtwe-. Subscriber, in other .V.r imnniii uc nil..-' Sit. ho m itrtire lo beeuine ... i :..t' ...'..,t liav lie Millie"-' imm.it tl llie venr'i uIieriilion 111 -..ivanc..-. AiivtiiTiFHi:T, n it excee.Hn-; fitHHro lme, ut- ...... -- .. ; ,.rtrd Hire tun.- r;.' . ; ..iltrTrw, nrtinrMtm mnrt be pOST-l i Front the llrzutir. S'TPKKMK COURT. Jvo. D. Ilos.: v. l.iwsov Hknokiisov. The "irme i.i U.-rk .ol the Superior Court ii lli" r-iprnv the incumbent, mol tlie net ol IS ii, i l'HS Uie e cctioli ol clerk, in !' people, o lar il iiiterlercs Willi ilui propn--li, lb iiuc ji.sl Hiili Mi.il anil mill. Oil the last circuit, at Lincoln, be fore his Honor, Judge Nouvvooo, the l.tin'iif ului'ed a certificate, oi t,ie saeriilol hti.coln, which set lorth that . .,lr,-?iiill liotil ill llOl'U'lllCe ol 1 .n .... v.... . , .... act ol en. ne, me piamuu, . r- .' . 4 . . t .:. . w.. ; ra,r been -auryrirernr vie. ,,,.riur Coart ot Lu.coln.. Ihe P'-i till" then tendered the bonds required ; PV Uie .in. a.... ......... ....... ,.v ,...... I i.t. ...... Iil'i...! 'iiul neroiitloil tn t:ikp lit, '-.u. ...... r;. ;,"'.-' tin iimsell tile duties of the odice. . . . . ii i I wno proven tnai no ...u. uee.. .qoiioiii- cii clerK. ol tne couri in .prii, iou,,; ............ - s Tr r'n T rr. 11 ): Ill.n lie uau rcguianv mian-. lied and sriveii bonds for the faithful . - ... , ' 'Un.lAM.!lI4!'V.v VyJ" V"1" ' and that timse uoiuis nan .oueu renew-: e.d according: tu the several acts ol i i - Assembly requiring 'such renewal. ! His II ir disallowed the motion, be-' cause in his oplnum, the act of 1 K.12, c. i was- uiicoiijtituUonal and therefore null ami vo d, and of consequence, did uotaflect tuc detendant s right to tlte;. , . .i " i. &w i ,i ,. ., . 1, . ' the court is autliorised to hit it, and the o hre. rrom t iis judgment, the plain-: . - . . . . ,. ' . JO ' I I in -it, 1 11- :i mini nto.l Is to roll :.ltl in lilt re , THo riTii-sp -vx-.i-arrrnrti or ritt? and t 'five Tnxrse was argti Vf.. -j - under the act ol 18o-2, ft. Stand his ad mission is opposed by Mr. HenJcrxon, w!iu chiims the same ollice by virtue - - J - 1 - . ft IT" i i tt vi.-inx) UBnmwi-' v iciv mii --.w I " i - . , - ' "Jtadg'er, for the defendant. '. ',i,,.4,.1r, j. i.'! a' . '.7...-. .... ri I v., subordinate to the wunerioraullio-' in its true spirit, that they -will not 1 was si rung, an I the love i liberty anil Keif fin, Lhiel Justice.- 1 lie wince j Vi.CMttiH w m . s!l:ij have the ri dr. r,iy "' t,,i; fonslituUon, which entanat-' palpably violate it, nor incur the -da.i- jo right wis ardent and the weakness of IMerk of the Superior tmrt of Law-, ;tu'vJitaj( ' (!t.7').rtv'1j por is huv"! '' directly frcia the whole, people. Lc-'ger of doing so hv JaVesereWe i.f.'uf the iodidutl citia-u aiiinsjyhe yt.T, bv virtue tit his ejection thereto, ;..u.,.f-..iu.n ., il i in enact what to them may seem meet and oidv due ta fo? . constitution lor Hi government tui consciously hdt.-thi I tif a previous appointment thereto, un- lt- . r-- .nnT.- ,1 : - i'.r . 1 . - tier tlie act oi iouu. i ne tine ue pends upon the construction and va lidity of the act of 18.3-2. Thcdescision in the Superior Court was in favor- ofthe old clerk and is rested by the Judge, who -pronounced it, distinctly upon the ground, that the act ii unconstitutional and therefore void. In support of the dest ision, it has however been contended here, that it is not neccssarv, for the purpose of tills I'UIJU nr 5T. iw M3n u ni l ini; tt - rtcine&s of the reasons ot the Judge ol the Superior t'ourt; for that the act dues not, in terms and according to a proper construction, oust the deleud ant ft out office. It ii true, the act does not immedi ately aeaie the?fi1ce-- which .were idled t4t - pansage; nor does it ex pressly remove the incumbents upon the ktwje eiections to be had under its provision. Tiie question is, wheth er that elfect arises from the necessary or fir .Htistrtifion of those provisions taken together r In construing an in strument, .the crcdlnal point is to as- certain the meaning of those who penk in it, from the words used by ' th.ftl and thev tibiicis hiSpajViitly ' tti be struction of statutes, as well as other iiisirumeuis; aiut it is tie Uuty ol tlie. courf, to whose province it lal-ls ac-l ,..-,!;., .,itl.a.t;t!V..it..iI;.. ,.t iU.av.. .Voilll,. .V ..UIWU,.I"I1 111 .ll. .. , ..i . 1 rs ot (iirvi'tnmnf in this nuinlrv. tn iyterprtit statutes to iut a fair mean- :.. . .i... I .... i....:. i.. ! inj ujioil iiiu iauur;iac .m lue iciiM.'i. . . i i i tu.e,,i order to effect, as far tu. tl.ey ! ''cUo J:'"1""1' t,i,r h;iv,c scruples are constitutitmally allowable, tliecnds ! ,-f " bcfo,e "pressed that they wefe in view., if the words are ambiguous, j ''I:1' " tlie ivquireiaents TWitl-tlnr t,Tit'toiiTmeiircd''iior'iqtpa jet4t or not sptscitied, and the remedy ."not plainly designated, the. eftbers and consequences of the one construction or tlie other, n.iy anil ought to be re sorted tu as iuipirtant aitU to the ex pounder. If m one sense the eiwict- ijnents are reasonable, consistent M-itliMHScovet'ingtue meaning oi the legisia JialuraLequity aiJiL sound public polUiiurej mid jioL ..aj.U-SUSc.aUiiii for tliso ,y; and ii, in anotlier sense, they in-keying it. It is the province of the ."ults fnivat; right, are l-ctnysttective in '.court -to rxtjomitl their wordrt-tm-as to iheir oocration iu riHimiiii.-in.r iiiimsh- nent3 for acts not before criminal' or Ull.4.?!tn2.'.n,-)crtecured bv dic- I ana tbeguanwity ot public fiiilJi if they atv rertanant in tin na.- v - -0 luna sense of jubtice, subversive of the pnnciplegofbuund legislation and coo-j ilict witha wholesome:' policy longes jiblished and sanctioned by the tests ol experieirt-e and coiumou conseri); ymJVi.ott,,eJeS1Slative authority as de-t I .... . . - J .... ...v. . juuv-iH,. u -ittey trsnscend Me Itneil Uf tiie Constitution;! rnnrt in och a case would not only be warrant- j muui iwnnu to receive the former . r . . .. ,aiter as the true meaning 1 v-i l-ieJ?tlslatreIMt" execute the 'sevcritr,the cruelty ofattatate by them ,! a rlfl3 terpreted. A decent sel-veV,' merely ,'aie and ought to be ur- tr T . v" ,eSiiature-ami a witge ot- the imperfection of lahs L-rVh u,.l"!. "imcuity ol express- t jneaning jh. such exact terras a to convey it with precision, to the iu ind of another, would impose on the court the presumption, as an irrcsistabteone, that general" plirasps, of dubious im port, were not used, in the harsh sense attributed to them, to destroy existing ri,,ht;, but in the milder one, (of which s scribing a new i ije f- 'the suliscjuenl .,,,.. ....... ...-,.,..1.1.. I...... .Iv auu13,in,.i ... . ......... ........... , These C .lir,id . rations Would itidllCV l. fiurl TWrlttrtn'-'vmftrfh'f- crrr- - rr :. f T77.. ; : r . T i i ! .'LI UL LI ' I HI I II v . Ul . t t if ottnseH.ir tie 1 th.TC nothing more cotitetuhd l'.ii- bv di -tend'ant, .were in PiTth.iii t!me i . parts on winch l.e luu nnimadvcrtoil. H it there ;uv o'her piu i-ions, j which are absolutol, iiienn-ient j wilii this consti -:ciioii. ' To mention a few will lie Millicient since iheyap-de-j cisive. The first section enacts that th sner ilfand all ie ' . . 1 . . turns at the net election lor members i , .. snail also imiil and sunenor court clerks in t court clerks in ie -!:;.Ilfiec :'iu! , . , uiiwer the .au.e tul. .-. a-.i.il . ...j'e:W-uKU!s of Uuj ,;.sla!,re. ( votes fir 'inrtTihe'rs I 'I'!.,, r.o.iil, c..,.iliiu i : ils iIims i lei tt'il J.rtl,.t ,1,.. fiiwt lor... nl their rest tu,. courts, which shall .h ippen alter I.. - ..r. . . ... . i.. . . ..... . i.. tive courts, which shall men eiei lloo, i-.'-iuii: ouiuis i"i ur; , .,. ,,.. r ,f u .. 4...i .-.. ii. ,i i'....:t ,,,.. v v..'.- . ..t. ,, . . lime to time t.iereaitcr.in each couutv as a vacancy sliaii occur; uur luat a Au K. ........ (i ,., n, ,t : , . , .... OIs!oi I" holding The electinnT for member ol assembly, Indeed no p'ruvision is made for any future election, not even one at the end of the four years, tlie . . .- . i preserihed term ol service. l!i ti.e e , ,.r .. .. r !....,;..,. I . ; ; i : -itersol.ttieusseinio thersrerii making no provisions for subsequent i ,.!,.,-,.,:,:, f I.-. i tl... t ,l.,.sl rl.n .-i ..r ...... '.w. ol. ' follow its passito-e. almost immediately, j ' ","llel" ami enactment is oiili- in every count v in. tlie slate' iis tl:t"oatwiT a'l've 0,1 a" cili.ens, including ' words of the tirs't section in themselves! tl"'se art- '')' 11 public duty, to ex-' import. It is however said, that the ! 'cute the laws.' as well, as those on at't docs not remove tlie cxistifl" clerks; j WUoul '"c.v art5 10 Va executed, (.'.ottrts ' and it is asked when their ot'ices be coina vacated at ihe passage of the act. at the election? at Ihe qu.il '.iciit-cn of ike person elected? or at tne r.e'.t court? 'I'l.o ailsw i i is, thai upon the grounds of the public' service mid the silence of ihe act upon the subject of removals, the unices could not bv con i , , . . . . - ., cording to the other provisions, aim ther ollicer was ready to tli cnarge ihe duties, or, at least the time hud ved for him to enter on them. irri Uut by a necessary implication, when that time should arrive and lliis lie w Jerk, , i. !,,.il,..i. i.l.,-t...l I,. tl... ,,.,f.i.l.. .. -.i pointed, by. the Cttuj L shouitl have iv-' en both and taken dluMmths.' tne .iulles of the former close, and consequently. his rights as recngni.i d in t , act, iii- o,'. ti... ...i... ; ..r .i... ii.i ...iiiaicii. ,11 an i ii i sail ' ii i;i mi new clerk is the expulsion of the old one: lor both cannot be in at- once, each having a right to the enti.e thing. Thus in evecy county a new cleikTs to.:bs:ted andmittei and therefoie -ail the fupuer. clerks. 'are 'nus 'c!onc;iusiiriiis un-iu . j. j' t .i court-;wit" , -. , . i ..a :, .... , ,. ... c ., ',-,, i coiu, vvitn t.ic genets tal sense of the - I I l I coiiioiitni y, evinced by the ejection ....' . J H ac throughout the state under the In not a simde county was an e-! .!U..lXlv,J.,.'.1f.l:Vs. ln executing such a statute, a court is. not at.liberiy to disiegatl vr evade its mandate upon any of the ground s, upon which are formed ihe rules for the interpretation of geneial terms ol ambiguous import. These are rules toi ;itt:iin tu the ipeauing; autl to that end consequences and policy may be lock ed to. But when its niea.ning.is tlis covereJ, the act, us really intended, is UddiuaLorv untin the tniiitl. the will mid n J . . Uie coitcience ni the judge, how ever mischievous the imlicy, harsh and op. prcssive in its en.ictuients on ininvni ualstn- tyrannous on the citizens gen erally. Those iae political cotiside- rati nr., tit to be "weighcu bT and to ..... .... influence llu?' legislator: but if tlisre i'nrr!od h.v tlipui tliAir rcn.tiul!itut v iu to their constituents, not to the ''courts J lot justice. To furt, the impolicy, - Ue injustice, the nnrcasonableness, the gea in vain, j tie jumciai lunction is- not adequate foihe application of those principles and j not conferred loriia purpose,... It cix.gUls iu expcnindin i the rules of action prescribed by the i legislature; and When they are plainly ex pressed or as plainly to be collected,! in applying them honestly to t ontro- verges, arising under them, between parties, w ithout regard to the parties or the consequences. , la the act under consideration, as It we en tTicse part'e's, there is no ambi'-' uitv; l!ie wurtl.s are plain, t!ie int.enL t:on u'lei'.ui voc.il, ami t'ne true exposition .U e caiuwL, uuUer the preieiice ol uilerprct;ition, repeal i:nl thus usurp a power net cr con fided to us, which wo cannot usefully : I ii ' i e n-rn-c, imu w.nc.i we o not uenire. Since ihe-iueaniii ui ihe act cannot fe doub'ci!, an I a -cording to that meaning Mr. ll nd rs.u had not, but Mr. Jhkt - ha.l the right to the ollice of '-lcrk at the time the judge refused to admit the latter, the "round ol the de-' ' .1 . ' . , 0 . . 1 i vision oi ine superior v ourt, as siaten- in the recor.l, .in I in:.. -I no .v recurs belore this court uii.ivoidabl V be cxani- I ! iik il. ' Ihe art a ti-ders the ollice ol clvrk . T""" ""' t e pai hvs to tlVe iitlu'r,f Without any ilet.uiit ol the lorm r or anv judicial s -uleliee ot" iVmo.val. The ! question Ii j i en iioii, a-i , whether ins legislative in ascei taiiie-.l, is valid and ef- iicacuiu lierng w ithiu the powers ol -- ture in tne con.-.tiiutuuis oi toe vminl, v or rs null. i.r ii -. i 7i v til ana inconsistent wnu u. -. . iletei initiation ot .ins question tlie y -, dicial function is competent. It. in- . . .- . 1 . involves no coiUtt'raL consitloration ah.-'.r-.ct justice or political expeiii- eucv It depeuus upanme cunip.uxs j..viive a viuiaiiiiu ol iite cutisuiutiuiu sou of tin.. ."intentions and will of thelt w astonishiiig that it does not ol pcrrpk' as expressed in the constitution, j tener happen. , That is does not,- is. a as the fundamental law, unalterable 1 proof not only of the essential value ol ccepi uv llu: net) . ..... i .1 I.. llM..,.lvc- ,..111.- I.v,,, , ..... .... , the intentions and will ol Die agent I chosen under that instrument, to vi honi-! power. 'is confided ihe o.euise of the powers' so as t 5 ,, 'r.. .-.. ( ...:.,'r.tr ,.-,.-t.! .. - .. v ...i: ..i ' : US,' til l, ilium iMl 'iihp'cts and in an ine'-ioo,, except Ihose on wnic.i .1 d those on winch their aclioil is restr;iined bv the constitution : iherelure mil t etiiorce such cu.ict- ments; for they la' fisec oft!,.' lejjrttiive v tiie rejire u'lttFlives pas: s bv jthe mere ill. )Uit wiie.i ' s all act upon a- le people have 1 i tliev shall not ; sunjoct uiion winch i s.iid in the eon.stilui.ioi legislate at all; or upon a subject upon w liic.i they are allowed to legislate,'! -4UbiC.fcia.L..Uiat-.-Ur-W anie instrument says shall not lie law,! known and wilful vjoli'ion of it, will - which resides the superior auihm'ity Ihop it becomes the province ot' those induce them to rejoice at the e.icue of can, at will, make it supreme ami ab wlioare to expound ami enlorce the the constitution from even their ow n sorb all the other departments. It laws, to determine whith will, thus or-. incautious ami involuntary infraction of does not f illow, ihrrelbre, that because tiered, is the. law. Neither the reasons , it. It remains now to enquire, the l'.ritish I'ai lianieul, whose supre-. winch ileU'i'inined .the will of the .peo-1 whether the act under --consideration ' niac v is ark now!ed'Ted, decides ques- pie on the one hand or (he will of the j 1 reiirc.sciil.ttives ou the other tan be I'tted t,Mntlue.tee tlre.ini.id-of tht- 1"" UJ'V" U'CM"". 'l"ulf" t.i Ili:it slmnlo itoint. lieu t:ii; is tl'.r .; - '. ' ' ;' . ; humbler and easier one. ol instituting 'a naKt'" comparison net ween wnai i.ie 1 i I . ' ' - , , : 1 V 1 . . ' i ;WU1 v!,al inc, PP11' "leinsc es pave , '''7 m'gntdo or simuld not do; - I I . - 1 I .1 I I ' I found that the act is without warrant a,lt.l eiliicts vv'" of t!l''Pl'0Ple as then tie-! cUred, the court cannot execute the act, but must obey the superior law, given by the people, alike to their iu-i i i i .. .: . i '"" "- ",.-'. ...... Ali'S l's lunctioir be in itsell ; coniji.iiauveiy nuinuie and oe not call for those high attainments . rcquir-'clerks ed for w ise legislation, which, as il a Sleets all the diversified interests of .SiTciety;.'ou'g1irt of all of them and a just estimate of their relative importance to individual happiuess and the coiumou weal; yel i tiuuance in oiiice and ...be. .subject-to the exercise of it is the gravest tluty ! the same rules, regulations and pen d" a judge : and is always, as it ought 'allies as the clerks and clerks and tube, the result of the most carelul , j luitstcts of the courts before cstablir.it- cauiious, and anxious 'deliberation, No. ought it to be, nor'is it ever ex-r-;was , I I I I . , - ciseti, unless upon sum iieiiueration, tlie i epugi'uce betweeli the lepsT.itive and constitutional enactments be clear to the court, and susceptible ol being itioiially qualified by the act ol I bub, ! forfejiui e Mr. Hoke, had been duly ap clearly understood by all. In every during his residence in the county el ' pointed, or was by that act appointed. oilier case, there is a presumption in favor of the general legislative author ity, rvcogui.ed in the - constitution. The court distrusts its own conclu sions ol" an apparent conflict between the provisions of the statute and the constitution, because, the former . has tiie sanctions of 'he intelligence- of the le,gil4tois, equal to the apprehension of the meaning of the. constitution, of I their equal and sincere desire, from motives of patriotism and conscientious duty, to uuhold that instrument in its true sense; and or the present and tem porary inclinations, at least, of a ma jority of the cit'r.ens, w-Uich, must be supposed to be known to their represen tatives and to be expressed uy them. ?f.t evan fictent to overturn the constitution, if .Individual composing the societr; and the repujinaitce du really ex Ut and is 'against that there can be no effectual plain. For although the imputation I resistance, because it is sustained by is altogether inadmissible, that the I physical force. There is nevertheless' legislature intend wilfully to violate 1 .. intermediate jxixver between that the. constitution, and still less that of an individual or a few individuals the people tlremselves contemplate" on the one side and "the whole so violence to the instrument consecrated : nni itie consent oi . i t ... our alice16rstve't'V :lt men are " UYfif? and, in the il in tne despatch patch of business, the heat of -controversy, and the w ih to 'L'paHa;niar-.e:ku.jn& ...uucxl a. naj tentl voniit to .scrutini'.e their powers, ajtd atlnpt means, adequate .indei-d to th.i end, but 'beviunl those powers. It ought not to surprise, that sucii ;.n evcirt should sometimes happeii. In other countries, such has been the prar- that power we designate as the govera ticil (lil't'cuhies of limitii" the ai tion meut ofa cou.itrv, w nether it consists ol tho-e i.i S ho,e hands the powers ot ot one or more persiuis. 'i'he great government ai'e, that the elV.irt to do an I essential differences between gov- so has been tacitly yielded u;i, and t.u- . . . 14 1 win oi ne "ovenior, tne time lie- mg, admitted to be the supreme law. In America, written c.ir.siitii- lions, coiuei rin: unit iliviiliu"; Hie pow- ers ol governnut. ;overnnut, -and rcfctranunth of those r lit authority, for the ' i . "7 . I in actrons i time beii eiiig, have been established, as securities id" public liberty and private right. Still tlte agency of in. n is ne- cessary. to the oper.i:iou of the meiit and the 'execution ol its 'i he same Iradties which cause ;o ei n iow ei s. men in . i. .j ... v i. j .... .' .. ... iuovi-...i.une. cuununI:s vvnn then own n pidg '-.'To. trrnw'irt ginues and re-tr.iini v. lo enact laws unjust or oppressive, ma v here a!-o he i i . .... expochMi somen mis to havii-i.u iim- eltects, anliongb their acts slmulil. lli - w rit-teii 'coil-tHiiTIoiis", but oT " tTic fuo- found wisdom v.ith v Inch, in ours, the ol gov ernmetit are tiis'i itnileit: . secure iu-cverv tleoarliiient .sci vaU..JUut i)l-l v rnn-.l.'o r.f ;-...m. i- eh eniGriiT bn 1 wisdom, hut the merit ol sen; un.tisiy observing it must lieallowed to t.ios.', who have been called rgis.lale uu- tier it, and Irave not, in tin: wiiuie.oi-iss.'i..m o! ii:s Ireeiiol.l, lilierties course ofthe legislation of nearly sixty 'or privileges, or outlawed or exiled, or years, been urged bv passion or be-! in any manner destroyed,' or Jrprived t rayed by carelessness into the adop-of his life, liberty or property, but by tion of, per!iap, half a do.en ai-is in- -the law of ih. laiid." JiiU.of Ulghl comiiatihle with it. , hen, rniuilii- mteiy pre'sei , such in vath.n e.! .'I'.tioii is c i . . t.iucrs no ot cur, t.n the iii'c-iiiy of the inljtletl by the People. ct, ( hs : li. 5:t, to the Judiciary, of that duty, the ap Ifgiskilure. itself is to pi '. ';;ii :ut ieq.ii tci lor the principle of be ol that character. 1 tie ollice ol clerk is recognised in decision, as it does its other tleter-the-constitution; . but the tenuiii .iA,j.tli,miu.a!ions1.nto t'ne form of a statute, prescribed in any part ot that nihlru- nient, ami is, tiouutiess, within the discretion of the legislature. Very . r. . .1 1 .' .- .1 ..."!. soon uiieriuc attopiioii oi tne cousu-1 i ! I L a. L L' j... V I I , V- . . , ' . 1 uiiuivtwm oi .aw, pas.se.. aul provided tl.at the courts should who should execute oilicial bounds and in the fourth section, (hut the clr.rks so appointed shall hold thnr ojires dur- t'g their nood behaviour therein. In IbO.G-a new law 'pas etl which estab- i . i i ; . ..i i i or court u law and a - court ot equity iq each county, mid pro. ; lued mat the judges snount appoint j and clerks and muster in c- i qity, td' skill anil probity fur the com ts i : thereby established, who should be fbt the act anil should continue tore- side wiiiiiu the same during their eon- j jed. L'mler this law" the defendant ' in April 1807 appouiied. ... The le-! i i . ' 1 fl . 1 r . . S tti tenure oi ins oiuce isinereio e mat created by tlte act. (If 1777, during his good behaviour therein, mid, as addi- l-incoin. ne nas not. neen inuiiti 'uiity of any misdemeanor in ollice, tiutliasdisthitrged it duties faithfully; ; and it is not slated, that he has re-' moved from the county, but that lie' -...i:e...i i it r. .:u .... . vyas qualified .anil therefore still ; rc-;dicatiiMi. Jgaiust it, altiioiigli the sulme sitles there. The act of 1B32 removes .'qurnt invest inent of the tiU in Mr. him frt)in office and confers it on lhe'M wriiild be legisliitrve7 ; Is tho act apjdicaMt. ; the less of tiie former character, ue- Tlegreat objects of tociety is to en cause it does not recite an abuse bv able men to appropriate amoug them-. selves the things which, in their natur- al state, were common, the purpose! ot thetrdinary law .instituted by. so - - cie'ty is to protect the right - to the things thus appropriated to one iodi- vidual Irom the acts anil wrongs -of other individuals The rigjit is yet thing he claims was never property ii.thf!Ka5..?f..lus;teji expoedlg traction,. cietV" oil the other, from which danger to individual rigut mar ue ' i i . . . I a p p iveiitT'e 3 1 1 tfitrr powr TAv lucinptshiH jndicifll wiKttmnjse But resides in the person or the body of per- sons, on w hom is conferred the antlior. s.i net ion of the supposed, will -of the whol." community: which iniiv be ob served an. I UM'd, contrary to the will ol'th,' community, for the purpo;es ol j private wioiil;. 1 lie ooov possessing ej - nm -nls, as distinguished Irom one sist anoi ner . bv tneir constit'ilinns, eons in the great. -r or less personal liberty of the cili.eu and the greater or fess senn it y ot nnvat ' rijdit, against the .'at'. - tlie government for the time b mg. , It is true, the w! wliole cmiimu - mtv inj.- nridifv the rights wuicii p-r- sun., can pleasure, ia e li tilings, or, at their a xdisli them altogether. li lt w hen the cnm.n inily allows the 1 rigut and deiiares it tu exist, that con- .iiniuii.rn .ii. . i o in I inn, null II ; riot - bids thtr-grh-ern ment to ntmtish; the irom it. J ilepriviiig a particular citizen of nocuirt u -justice coulu have pronoun u otlier woi lis, pulilic lib.'i ty re- ced the judgme'tt under the existing quire inat nnvr.te property snoulu he ':'J V . t. - . J-,.l...y...M..i. v . lii'olec.ted even ii om the gov eruiucht If. The p eo pi a f ill c ou ti4 ries who hav e enjovel fo -sio-flatKU of -. Irctedoui, have regarded iln- a id insisted tin it ;n "a fii'iiTaitietiial prii'it "i i iT.."" Taiier befiiie the foi niation of onr present constittl- tion it was a 'Sei ted Itvour ancestors on various tn-j-asi ns; and," in one sense l . t.U Its. v tnilii u' ion produced . ihe jie i;le lorm. il the coiistidition ol tins slate; and linveiu declarod that no freemaii ought to be taken, iinpi iso.icd s. ID. liv t h-lourlh section it is tie- cl.ired, " tli. 1 1 the legislative, execu tive ami supreme judicial -powers td g iverunii'iit might to b;' forever sepa rate and distinct from each other."' In absolute governments, whether hereditor-Y or represent!, tive, 'the tlivi- sum of the uiwers ol government is tions of private ri"hU and puts that that whatever it tlues is legislative in its nature, 'ten does' It can adjudicate ami of- substantial ly adjudicate, when it proteoses to enact imw laws. . . - ' "rtt '"-"v- " u.xuxt legislature us much as legislation is denied to our judiciary. Whenever nn ac t of- the -..s.svably thereftu-e is ,i decision of titles between indi- vLJiiids or classics. of individuals., although it may in terms purport to be the introduction of a, new rule of title, it is essentially a judg ini'iit against the o4d claim of right: i . , , . . . . ...,.,..-...... a ..:.. i..r, uuiajuu- na! filticlloii. Irinay hot be" easy td dist iu0u,sli those p;iwers and to define each, so that an act shall be seen at out e to be referable to the one or the o'imr. Hut 1 think, that where a right .i,,, been in one person at" one time, and U hi hi to cease in him aiid to exist in an- other, whatever - in .-it be the origin of the new right in the .tatter, the destruc tion tif the old one in the former is 6y xe.nteiu:e.. II tneactol 1 biii had been confined in its terms tu the clerkship of Lincoln, its judicial tlmracter would bo . . ' . f . ...... . - - obvious. II it had said, that Mr. Ihn- de.r.ioii had forfeitetl his ollice,. or hml conveyed it to jvir. tioue, or mat alter i . . iff- . i ... j-or had been elected by the ritr.cirs and was approved by the legislature, ami therefore the one should go out anil the oilier .uo in. it would lift idainlv. as re - pecta Mr. lkndermu's title, iin utliu- .'-? ... ... . . . ' JJmdtrson or other cause of forfeiture? Jvnot uich forfeiture assumed in-t? for it u inqmssible-i 4hature-f things, that Mr. i.an be rightfully put tn, unless the other "Tie rightfully put out; ,andMr IleMew cannot rightfully be deprived, unless the parted from the'propcrty he had in it, by forfeiture or otherwise. Tin act, however, Is not i cstricted to one coun ty, but 'applies generally to all the clerks in every county; and it it aid that, for that reason, it cannot be a ju dicial-act. It certainly, m that light, is wanting in the precision and direct i rj operation usually Belonging 10 ana Ui- . I , nevertheless ; it partakes of tliat charac ter in its operation on the former oni- to ileprive tlie oflicers withoul iurtRer eifquiry before a court and jury into the fact or legal suflicleucr of any cause of forfeiture or removal If .he Lc- Hslalure cannot itself adiude a for- , fetture directly, still less, it would seem, ougiu tney to command tne rourts- to remove without any causte whatever. Nor does the extension of jthe sentence of expulsion to all the clerks in the State vary its charac ter in this respect. The provision is not that of a law prescribing a rule of property or modifying ihe extent of in- jUr:Kr:hr.:tj w hich these ollices shall be susceptible, or declaring that all proprrtj-in them shall reave by the abolition of the of fii'CH themselves: but it is a provision, bv which the ollice, preserved in the law and stHl regarded as ihe subject of ed as property, is taken . ami merely taken I I imu imii oi.l II Cil. siTrTTTirBinnncil TlVejinlj'W tiotrtTTHitftt f.e'tafPwiid1is';" tlratr law unoii thetitafe of fact in this case. Ti! tinVeiuth'o mwi r-further Ugnda4 Un- wwl4have nwn: vxmsmy.-"' ' . If kTrtrei'theiii'tnat ttu; act is not" partly ..judicial... But this is all thaLcan be said inKupport of it. THs "ccrfaTtiTy'a (rile Uiatlt H not purely legislative for it leaves the naturiMif the office as it was, in duties powers , pnviTegesaiitretnfoTuiiiFnfsintl " CvtkTsjt4inrron lfle l owner. , As far as the act is le gislative, it is within the' legitimate po wrrjjjjf t!g.jynegLbffuibiyiJfPil lt m u sT tie udtttt ttetl.tii t i die elet lions al lowed or coiiiirattded by it ore consti tutional and valid, and confer a gootl title on the persons elected, where a va- ' 'cancy existed; and it -tnajr. pcrhnpa.be... admitted that they are also valid and confer a title, whenever thepre-exis'-ting rights tif the in umbnts shaM 'ex pire. by lapse of,titne. or ccase by 8ur ri nder or by forfeiture lor any cause declared bv law. . 7-1 7 The question is rot now upon tiiu validity of the title Undf th3 hew e lections to the ollice, if vacant, tix when it shall in future, becoihe go but upon the right claimetl under, it to immedi ate, itiilucttmi, tiolvvithstanding the of fice is already full br a previous letral BfohrttrTTTlt T)f "TrftnthtT "WrSWr"' sustain this claim the previqus appoint- ! inent must b vacated or the officer t iitljudgetl out. W hen tlie net proceed to do this, it becomes, in that respect', , &n adjudication. Alt hough . it- ia not - purely so in nil its provisions and may not in any be conclusively and defini tively so, because it does ; not decide ;iVrwrV by name; yet it j.ertakeii ofth?it natuie, for the" ''reasons ktreaily " statetl, flftil ihepnihibitiirn of the con stitution is as imperative agaiust the assumption of tlte judicial power by th- legis4nre tr--eombinaKit:Lwlh their legislative authoritr, as if the act were a single and simple one of ilt- rect ; adjudw-atHin!; i;Cha tinjjf- "rtjgit" or conierring it on one, wljf a nPt JJ reatl y Atte.d m anot htv- 4 legislatitm,- u . . it. . .!... n ; - .tio piTSLTiiung me iiuiies hi ouicers, their qualifications, their fees", 'their powers and the consequences of a breach of duty, Including putiishment and lemnyal, are all rilitical regula- 1 tions and fall within the lecislative irovinre. Hut to inDUt thosi pun ishments, afit r finding the ; default, ia to niljutlge; and to do it," hithnut dc fault, is equally so anil still more inde- rrnii nnvi n--te tsi a -tHH-ann(K-af X - in that character j: ami tVercfore, af7 thitugh thpfr act Tiai' the torms of law;" it is not oiie of thtmo leiim uf the hind, by whidi nlotie a freemhn can be rfr prlred of his prontrfy, ' " "Vj intiseirnns "law oi tne laml" iui. not mean mei-ely an act of the general' assomniy.' Jt tliey-tint, -every rcstric-t tio'i -iipon the! i legiaativeTiuthority'' would be vkp ncB .'abl4gaed.' . For, ' what more 'cah "the : c'tP.en rinflVr than . to be iaken,,linpi'isiShed,'' disseized of his frjiitliJitM'rt.rti''aii priiuleiyo'' be outlawed, ' exiled and 'estranged! nritl be deprived of Ids property, bi uoeny-anii pis uie,'- wimout crimer Yet all this he may iuffe'if n act of assembly, simpiy denouncing tlioae pe-' naltiis on particular pf rsons or a par ticular t l,ass of pej-sonsV be in itself a law of the land within tiie sense of the com-titut ion ; for what Is,' in that sense. the law of the land, must be duly ob- served by all and tipneld and enforced ' by the courts." Irt ref. n nce to the Iri-Hiction-nf-puni.hmentlid divesting " ui mo tiguiBoi pruneny, iijiaaueeii f eateilly ncjd in this State, and it ia , . ley etl," in vet y other of the Uoion, ' that there ale limitation upon the le rislatwe power, notwithstandinc those hahasjwords ami tliaA thejtlause i Uselfniean - . jr.-; Vi - - i ...peai'lMu -'Vr s. il j '
April 24, 1834, edition 1
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