People v. Foot

Spencer, Ch. J, delivered the opinion of the Court. Atwaler resigned his office on the 19th of March, 1818, and the council accepted his resignation, and appointed a successor. .. . , , . , , . ., lhe question is, whether under the 13th section of the act referred to, the defendant is discharged as surety. That section enacts, that if any of the commissioners appointed unijer that act, shall desire to be discharged from office, and [59] shall signify such desire to the council of appointment, the council, upon being satisfied that such commissioner hath faithfully demeaned himself, according to the true intent and meaning of the act, shall accept his resignation, and appoint another fit and proper person, &c. The substance of this provision is, that when a commissioner tenders his resignation, the council of appointment being satisfied that he has faithfully demeaned himself in his office, may accept of his resignation, and appoint a successor; but it is implied by the act, that if the council are not satisfied that he has faithfully demeaned himself, they shall not accept his resignation, nor appoint a successor. The council of appointment is created by the constitution, and all officers, whether civil or military, except in a few specified cases, hold their offices.during the pleasure of the council. The legislature, therefore, cannot prescribe to the council the mode or manner of executing the constitutional trust reposed in them. They cannot prevent their removing an incumbent from office, or accepting his resignation, whenever they see fit; much less can they inhibit the council from accepting a resignation and appointing a successor. The section under consideration seems to contemplate an examination by the council into the official , conduct of a commissioner under this act. This inquiry, the council may or may not make, according to their discretion. Having the constitutional power to remove an incumbent when the council see proper, it can never be required of them, by a legislative act, not to accept a resignation, or not to consider the office vacant, an<3 not to fill it. The act introduces a new and extraordinary principle : if a commissioner has failed to execute his duties faithfully, and is desirous to retire from office, his resignation is not to be accepted, but a faithless man is to be retained in office, because he is faithless. This section of the act being nugatory, and at war with the constitutional powers of the council, cannot avail the defendant. If he has been deluded into security, in consequence of his knowledge of Atwater's resignation, and of the acceptance of it, and the appointment of a successor, and has thereby been thrown off his guard, and omitted to secure [60] himself, as by due vigilance he cotild have done, it is a base strongly recommending itself to legislative provision^ but does not form a bar to this suit in a court of law. Judgment for the plaintiff.