Lyon v. Morris

By the Court. Lumpkin, J. delivering the opinion. [1.] Ey the 4th section of the 14th division of the Penal Code, it is provided that the fees due the Attorney and Solicitor General, and other officers of the Court, shall, -when examined and allowed by the Court, be paid out of tiny moneys, received, for fines inflicted by the Court or collected- on forfeited recognizances. (Cobb’s Dig. 833-4.) Until moneys for fines, then, are received, or on forfeited recognizances, are collected, we are clear that these penalties [482] may be remitted—we should be loth to hold otherwise. To tie up the hands of the Governor and Legislature, from granting relief in proper cases, the right, to do so should be unquestionable. To suppose that the other two departments of the Government are under restraints, thus self-imposed, the point should be free from all doubt. Suppose that a fund, arising from a particular tax, should be designated by laiv, for the.payment of these fees, cannot another fund be substituted ? Wo know nothing in the nature and tenure of public offices, which are created under our Government, for the benefit of the body politic, to justify the assumption upon which this writ of error is founded. In the case of the State vs. Dews, (R. M. Charlton’s R. 397,) it was held, in what Chancellor Kent has been pleased, and we think justly, to compliment as “ the very able and elaborate opinion delivered by Judge Nicoll”, (3 Kent’s Com. 454, 5th edition, note b,) that the power of regulating and prescribing the nature of public offices—their -duties, powers, privileges and emoluments, was purely legislative, and within the legitimate powers of the General Assembly—and that if the Legislature increased their duties and responsibilities, or diminished their emoluments, they must submit, except in those instances in which the Constitution, itself, had declared the duty and fixed the compensation ; because, in the nature of things, these are the subjects of such regulations as the general welfare may, from time to time, dictate ;. and offices, therefore, are conferred and accepted, subject to such regulations. I will only add, that the major power, theoretically claimed in this case, must necessarily include the minor,- which was actually exorcised by the Legislature, in remitting this forfeited recognizance, before collection—notwithstanding the effect may be to postpone the payment of the fees duo the public officers. [2.] No Court is warranted in predicating a decision upon the supposed want of good faith in the State. We are bound to presume that if, in the indulgence of its sense of justice or mercy, it has released a fine or forfeiture, and that thereby a [483] public agent or officer has suffered loss, or been otherwise damnified, that adequate compensation will be made in some other mode.