Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 21, Number 50, Vincennes, Knox County, 22 January 1831 — Page 2

5uc!i a proposition treuU be received j

itl tktooiihmcnt, if not with disgust New York, has cilher employed some part of her Supreme Bench, or other men distinguished for learning and integrity! to revise her laws Several other states have pursued the same plan, from which has resulted the roost benefi cial effects Since the commencement of the debate, a friend has laid on my table two volumes (which he has brought me from the Secretary's ofiice.) of Littcll's laws of Kentucky, fiom the first of yhich I beg permission to read (Here Mr D read an act of the Kentucky Le gislature, of 1821, authorizing the Secretary of State, ol Kentucky, so soon as Littell ant' Swigert, should fitc in his oflice a certificate signed by the Judges of the Court of Appeals, certifying that theirs was a correct revision of the general laws ol Kentucky, and w jrthy to be quoted as authority, that then the Sec-e tary of State should be authorized, in D half of tTi e state of Kentucky, to sub scribe for six hundred copies of the same, at three dollars per copy Heal ao read the certificated the three Judg Here, we see that Kentucky, did nei ther by her Legislaiuie, nor by revivors directly appointed, revise her las in 1831; but that Littell and Swigert did make a revision (which indeed received a patronage by the Legislature, by a subscription,) that was better than any ivhich the Legislature could by any possible means have made in session; which cost the state comparatively almost nothing little more than it would have cost to print and bind the 6 '0 copies. What was th( the effect? Did the Lcgisla'ure ol Kcntecky have to re enact or amend Litieil's laws, before they were held as authority? No such thing They had received the approving sanction of the Judg h of the Court of Ap peals; and though they were never (as they came from their hands.) enactt d as law. yet, the Judges, the Lawyers, the people, the courts, all received t h m as the law of the land; a necessary consequence of theii having been prepared by two men in whom the people had con fllence, jnd of their being approved by tin ee other men, in whom the highest confidence a reposed. Since 182 1, the state ot Kentucky has passed annual sta'utes, and another tevUiou became Bee ssary About two years since Mi Swigert made a digest of the laws ol Kentucky, with notes containing the de cisions of the Court of Appeals upon a I their then existing laws,; which digest is authority in all, even the highest c ui's f hat s'atc. Itisa code mote perfect by r, 'han -II the ablest lawers of Kt jckv could ever have made, at ilu same time thit they were engaged in leq: i e business N-jw. 1 urn in favor of adopting the anuudrnrnt that has been read to us by th gentleman fioo. Gibson; by it he pio-po-es to elect three revisors, by joint bji.-ot of the Leis'aiure, to empower them to revise the laws that are now in fore , and to suggest by way of recom-Ui--filiation, what amendments may seem rrei jRi! ) , loany of our exis'ing statute. .f ttl also, to report with such revision the (iic.sions ol the Supreme ' out, on any l the statutes now in force o the qu oding General Assembly Bv this tneinod, w would in tlu firs; place save more than &5 00 We would have the revision made with such deliberation, as to wart ant the belief, that ir wil1 be well done The people will have c fi leuce in t ne men oi our selection intec nem . 'or of ga' learning and nigh character uooestv, ciioseu by the representatives t ' . i , . must necessarily be such men as would inspire the people with confidence True, they are to report theii revision vill examine it But little time w ill be . . c . . . . .... . requisite lor this examination. I heir , ,, , , Work will come back with the hiirh reti, f , , ,. nutation ot its authors, and though the , , . . u , ot xi L.egisiaure may examine it, unless the people shall in the inteiim call for some change in some particular statute, it ia not likely that any material change trill be made by the Legislature to whom ll is reported The gentleman from Franklin says. he urges the propriety ol a revision of the !aws in the Legislature, at this 'ime, because he wants them to be nlain. so ... thai the people can understand them without the aid of lawyers. This is indeed a desirable object It is one that can never be fully attained; but it is our du:y as the honest servants ol the peo ple, to make our laws so plain, simple, ond clear, that most neonle who can resd will be able to comprehend them. Is this likely to be done in the Legisla tu e. where loo much will have to be thr own together in an undigested mask? Can the peopel in most cases under etaud the law, and its true meaning from the b ok which we will so make? It trill be matter of doubt Is it not a mat ler ot great importance that we, at least Gh.uUhave the decisions of our Su D -me Court incorporated in the revised laH according to the amendment of the e tleman Irom Gibson? And who will p ect-nd that th's house could give such decisions and apply them to the s'a fu'ts to which they bear relevancy? 3r. sir, the resolution from the Senate, which by this resolution we are called onto reciprocate, contemplates . 3 such thing as giving the people the ciiionsof the Supreme Court on the --tstuiefl, as a par, of or reviled code,

Now, if the genllcmao from Franklio,

wishes the people to understand the laws, without the aid ol lawyers, he must consent to give them the laws made simple and clear, by men who have leisure to make them so; and he must also give them the decisions which the Supreme Court has made upon them. Are not the decisions of the Supreme Court part of the law ol the land? Now, if a tar mer should be presented with a statute book, that does not contain these decisions, he might easily misconstrue the law, so as to involve himsell in great difficulty and expense. But if when he was about to embaik in a weighty law suit, he should examine the statute on which he rests his claim or deleuce and also in the same boo read the decision of the supreme court on a similar case, as being against him, such a book would enable him to do without a law yer If a wise man he would close the book and say, I will abandon my law suit, 4iI will settle with my adversary quickly;" I will save my money, and thank the legislature that has caused this book to be so prepared as 10 en able me by its aid to understand my own and n y neighbor's rights Mr.Sptaker I have spoken longer than I intended to do, but the subject is one of such weighty concern, as to require no apology from one who be lieves he is urging the interests of those people who have honored him with a s at in this house. Mr Wallace of J. asked the indul gence of the house while be endeavored to give the reasons which would influ ence the vote he was called upon to give on this question. It is, said he a subject of much importance, and affects the interest ol every portion of the siate; and every gentleman on this floor is called upon to express his opinion fear lessly and candidiy on the subject IK was of opinion that a revision ot the sta tutes of this state was loudly called for, and were he to make tne enquiry of every member in this House, ought our statutes to undergo a revision, he would hear the response of every one in the affirmative There is but one opinion on this subject; but the mode to be pursued, to accconpiish our b ject. is wtia divides us. We must then ascertain, if possible, the best modethat which will ensure the most cor rcctness, with the greatest saving o ex uense We have two modes ptesentcd One that the Legislature, during the piesent session, revise the aws; the other contemplates the appointment of three competent persons to revise the laws and report the same to the next session. Before I examine these two propositions, suffer me to call the at ten'ionol the house, to the fact conceded, that a revision ought to be made, and that it ought to be undertaken with a spirit which would ensure its speedycompletion. It has been said, and reiterated again end again on this floor, that the whole New Purchase is destitute of our laws. If this be the fact, and there can be no doubt of it, wc ought t set about the work, and supply this great deficiency; lor it is cruel and unjust to subject our fellow citizens to the obligations of law, and at the ume time withhold the means ol information from them. The laws require observance, inflict penalties, and presume every man acquainted with them In view of this, 1 would ask. how is it possible for a man to observe that which he has not set n or heat o? Is it just to ii flict panalty where ctime is not consciously committed? Is not the j ' , , . . 1 U-, when he has not seen u, nor can ' twit ntitmri if. In w 111 lli. 'rttn,. ? not obtain it, foiiy in the extrenu? It has been correctly stated, that oui laws, by frequent enactn ems on the same sub ject, by fiequent amendments and re ! ,-n- . . , it . ; uithcult to be understood, that it requires i.. , . . M"e keenest penetiation and highest c. , ,, ; r , , , , gal attainments of our ablest iudtes and p . , , . , . .J , b . (lawyers to determine what the law is yer How then can it be expected that the great mass of our citizens, who only examine our statutes as a work of necessity, can know or understand them? all th facts before me, I shall vote lor ! the resolution now before us. recioroeating the resolution of the Senate on this subject. i - It is objected that the mode proposed by (his resolution, will subject the state to an enormous expense. The gentleman from Switzerland estimates it at seven thousand dollars, others at eight thousand I differ widely from these calculations, and will undertake to say, the mode we contend for, will not cost one half the sum, and eventually will rt r-,. . - .. I. . ... I.I I J piuv j iiic4j t uiic as iuuiu iic auui ted i ne gentlemen in me opposition sav. let us annnint three rrvisnrn mrn ol hitrh lepal attainments, ivhn shall re - - vise the laws and renort them to the next session ot the legislature This plan might appear plausible without examination: but let us for a moment look at it. Have we any assurance, that should we appoint these revisiors. thev wnuld nerfeet the work in the time rontemnlaieri? ; Might not an hundred casualties prevent them from prosecuting the work? Have we any assurance that the next le gislature would receive the code as presented by these learned gentlemen, read the title page and adopt it as law of the land? No sir, but on the contratv we know the next legislature would leel bound to investigate and critical'v exa mine eveiyact, section by section, audi wculd alter and emend it; then wbat do

tte gair It is answered, tic cspcri-f

ence and legal knowledge cf these learn ed revisors. If this be any advantage, wc can have their assistance now; but sir, our laws are adapted to the pecu liar wants of the people, and the judge or lawver, immaterial how able he mav 4 be, cannot know the wants ol the people, as well as he who lives among, and -is one of them. The man whose business it has been through life, to pore over his volumes ot books, knows very little about the requirements of a r ad, an es tray, and many other laws. But, sir, on this floor all classes ot our citizens are represented, by those w ho study their interest and know their wants. The law yer, the physician, the tarmer, the nilchanic, the trading man and speculator are all represented Is it not fair then to infer, that this body, whose province it is to enact laws for their various wants and circumstances, is capable ot compiling and revising the laws, so that the? may be embodied in one volume, that all may know and understand: If we appoint revisors as proposed by the amendment offered by the gentleman from Gibson, the next legislature may reject their labors, and do foi the state what we ought now to do ; and that this may be tht case we have reason to suppose, from the fact 'hat other legislatures have done so Ohio, South Caro lina, and other states adopted rhe mode proposed, committed the revision oi their laws to the hands of revisors, and when the same was reported, reje ted all they had done, and did the business then. selves. But say gentlemen, the expense will be enormous if the iegisla ture does this work, and the people are not prepared to bear it. I am aware. Mi speaker, of the use that is but too fre i. quentiy made of this terrific term, expense. I am aware, that the people are sometimes deceived by it, and that politicians sometimes ride into office upon it But expense or no expense, we are sent here to do the people's business, Sc it the laws that protect and govern them, are complicated and unintelligible, we are bound sir, without stopping to enter into a calculation of dollars and cents, to make them plain and easily understood. Ii sir, we adopt the mode of appointing reviics, the amount we pay to them, U. the expet se ol an increated representa tion which will probably be in the next legislature, say three thousand dollars will be thrown away. In the item of printing and stationary, the expense this and the next year will be the same That this legislature cannot revise thf laws and make ihem better and plainer than they now are, 1 3m not willing to conctde All the laws we have, are the productions nf former legislatures, and it i-emains for us, and we are loudly call ed upon to revise them Let us undertake the work, and labor assidiously un til it is finished, and I doubt not, but wc will be uble to produce such a code as will be acceptable to the people If we fail, I tor one, will bear cheerfully my portion of the responsibility In con elusion, I hope the resolution offered by my colleague will be adopted ( Debate to be Continued ) The ayes and noes being - ailed for. the vote on the adoption of this resolution was as follows : .4yc Messrs. Armstrong, Bell, Bence, Bussell, Casey, Oaypool, Ctaig, t tume, Dicker, Dowden, Eiliott, Fer ris, Finlcy, Gardner, Hendricks, Herod. Hillis. Holman, Hoover, Kinnev. Leven worth, Long Lowry. Owens. Pc.ddocks, Parks. Pitrher. Pollock. Read of D & M , Roe. Bussell, Semans, vkecn, Smi ley. Soper, Stewart. Wallace of F , Wa 'are ol J, Work, Worth, WrigM, ai i Ia -no' 42 A'ore Messrs Bentley, Boon, Coffin, Uumotit, Galletely Hall, Hamilton, Hankins Logan Lynd, Rt iley, Schoon over, and Howk, Speaker IS The senate appointed Messrs Hillis, Kinney, F. nis, Wallace of F . and He rod, the committee on the part of the house of representatives in pursuance ot said resolution. Several bills and joint resolutions were rear! a second tirrc V Made & Sold, by l. h pvltc, ( V incenues, India am, J B N the house lately occupied by S James & McArthur, as an Iron store, on Secoi ttreet, one door above j Market street The jtices of UAts in general, are for Beavc. glO i Fine Roram, Coarse do 85 i t re CjtfCT 8 j Coarfie do m 6 ... ! iais maue in me shops Here, are in Scnerah much superior to those iml'ortecl frotn the Eafctein states, for the ,atter arc made of the coarsest wool, aml "aped with rabit fur the farmers would intl it to their interest, at least Per cetl to purchase from the man utacturers I pledge myself that mv ATS snalJ be made in the bett manner, of nutierior stuff, and in the most Path ionable style. RICHARD P. PRICE. February, '830 2-tf tZTPORK, COliX Lf 0.1 TS will be re ceivedin exchange for Hats. R P P ULAMv DKHDS for sale the W. Sun; ollicc. at

SUIEBICXHE,

DOCTOR II EN BY DAVISO! EMBER of the College of Snr. geons of London, Licentiate of itie Lying-in Hospital of Glasgow, Scot land, begs leave to tender to the inhabi tants ot Vincennes and its vicinity, his professional services. He may be tound at all times (except when absent on the business of profession) at his room in the house of Mr George Davis, Water street ; his charges shall be moderate and he confidently hopes that his capaci ty may entitle him to the confidence ot those who may call on him. Vii-cennrs. Dec 16 1830 45 tf '4 p. ZLfet ot 2.cttm J Remaining in the Postoffice at Wash-M-it:gton, Ind the quarter ending on the 3Jst of December last; which, if not taken rfut within three months, will be sent to the General Postoffice as dead letters. A. B. C. 1). E. H. K Thomos Asbil, Robert Bell. Reizen Brand, Geo. D. Ballow, James Calhoun, Calhoun Raper, Andrew Cannickel, Dennis Cam, Jacob Cosby, W alter Clark, James A. Carnalvm, Geo. Dovenir. Joshua Lw ii.g, Edmund Hulen, William Kimber. L. M P. R. S. T. V. W.-James Lloyd, Janies Lilly, E. II. M'Junkin, 3. Napoleon B. M'Combs, Samuel Murry, Alexander Melton, Lucv Price, Elizabeth Rutherford, Jvimes Stephens, Peter Sander, Charity Taylor, William Taylor, John Vantree, James Whitehead, Hortley V aymore, Jos. Williams, and James Ball and Benjamin Bale nger. JOHN MURPHY, Postmaster. Washington Jan. 1, 1831. 48-3t 35 IIEMAIN1NG in the Postotnce in Merom, the quarter ending the 31st day f December, 130; which, if not taken out within three months, will be sent to the General Postoffice as dead letters A. B C. H. J. K. L. M P. R.S. Stephen Allen baueh, George Boon, Esq. Josiah li. on. Mores Burnet, Samuel Be'om or Eli Remus, John Bleything, Clerk of Sullivan county, 2 King Hamilton. Jaircs Hams, Elizabeth Huff. George Hammock, Wil liam Hankies, Asher Hunt, Asael Hunt, David Howard, Tytex Harris, Jas Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Joseph Kelly, Phillip Lloyd, John ?vlahan John McKee, John Pugh, Grove Pon-.eroy , Burch or Joseh Reed, Hen ry Smock, George Sai dford ISAAC ONG, Pottmaatcr. Merom, Jan. 1. 1831. 48 3t 28 tf NOTICE. fifjf AVING puichased the right of JlJl making and vending within Knox county, ruiKnam Mo&ncr s Wastung Machine, for scouring and washing clothes, any person wishing to purchase can have them on triai, and if not ap proved, may be returned I have also on hand and intend keeping, a supply of Cabinet v are of the best quality; will also do Carpenter's and Joiner's work at the most reduced prices JOHN MOORE. May 1st, 1830 12-ly. KNOX CIRv UlT COURT. BAHCU TERM) 1830. John C Rfiley agent "1 0 for Martin Keiley i I Michael Burns and Oi petition for Eleanor his wife, Mi partition of chael CV.nnoway and j real estate. Mary his wife, and j John O'Biitn and Ju- j anna O'Brien, heirs j at law ot James J j O'Brien, deceased. J OTICE is hereby given that on the fi st day of the next ensuing term of tht Kotix circuit court, to be holden at Vintennes on the first Monday of Ma-ch next. I shall move the said court to appoint commissioners to make a par tition of all that certain tract of land containing one hundred acres, and known by the number two hundred and eleven, (21 1) in the Donation Also one hun dred acres known by the Survey number one, ( I ) Also town lot in the borough of Vincennes, and designated on plat number nineteen ( 19,) between the pro prietors thereof, the above named Mar tin, and Michael and Eleanor, Michael and Mary, and John, Margaret and Ju anna. JOHN C REILEY, agent for Martin Reiley. January 12, 1831. 49WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 17, 1830 PENSION AND BOUNTY LAND REGULATION 'IJHE many impositions which are XL attempted in relation to Pension Bounty Land Claims, have caused the Department ot War to establish a reg ulation, which declarea that no attention will, in future, be given to application from persons whoact as Agents, unless they are known at the Department, or are vouched for as respectable persons by some one who t known Notice of this regulation is hereby given; and that all may be informed thereof, it is requested that publishers ot the laws of the United Stales in the respective states will insert the same, on the front page of their respective papers, for three months. BjjKdcr of the Secretary of War. J L. EDWARDS, ) First Clerk Pension Office. W WILLIAM GORDON, First Clerk Bounty Land Office.

M

-tfrJIIEREAS 1 have taken cut tt V y the Probate court ot DuLoif county, letter! of administration on the ettate cf Napoleon B McDonald de C ceased all those having claims against y

said estate, are requested to bring them ( forward properly authenticated within twelve months, all those indebted are requested to make immediate payment. The estate is supposed to be insolvent. JAMES McDONALD; Jdmr. December 9th 1830 46-4t. EOKOUGH ELECTION. OTICE is hereby given, that an e!ecjL tion for nine Trustees, three from each ward, will take place at the Court Hotifc on Water street, on Monday theTth day of February next. Rolcrt Buntit is appointed Judge, and John Coiling clerk, for ihe upper ward; James Smitk Judge, and John B. Martin clerk for th middle ward, and John B. Dunning Judg and Martin Robinson clerk for the low er ward. Bv order of the Board of Trustees, SAMUEL HILL, CM. January 13, -PJ-31 Administrator's otice. OillE is hereby given, ibat I A have taken out letters of administration on the estate of Alexander Bruce, deceased, late ot Daviess county, Indiana, all persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment, and all who have claims upon the same to present them for adjust mnt; said estate is supposed to be io solvent. NATHAN BASCOM.wfrfmV. January 8, 1831 49-3t NOTICE, E earnestly request those indebted to us, whose notes are nov due. and those who have book account unsettled to call and pay the same with out delay Af COTTON, y Picked or in the seed or merchantable will be received in payment. We have on hand a well selected, ainl assorted, stock of GOODS which will be sold low lot eisa, or ex changed 'or the above namr-d a 'idea. REYNOLDS & BONNER. Vincrni.es Dec 11,1830 44-tf. SEglTH a TRACY'S Tin & tShtct Iron c MAN! FACT OUT. ON the comer of Market and Second streets, have on hand for sale. a large and general assortment of Tin and Sheet Iron ware, -which they offctv at reduced prices. Tinware will bo sold wholesale and retail upon advan tageous terms to purchasers. Vincennea, October 24, 1829. 37-tf LOOK AT THIS ! A LL persons indebted to the subAm. scriber, are requested to call in this month and settle the same with cash or by note and all havine demands against him to present thtm in thfr same time and receive their cash R POTTER Vincennes, January 1, i 83 1 47-5c iSforron & 2?tmtrr HA VK the pleasure of informing their" friends and the public generally, that they have received, and are now opening, a ge neral assortment of merchandize, among which will be found Supcrhne Blacky Blue, Olize, Brown and Green Cloths very superior brown flight-blue cassincts lied, hite and Green Hanneh Rose Mackinaw and Point Blankets SuperBlack Italian Lutestring .S7A- and Tab" by Velvets Bombaztts, Plaids, Cam brics Calicoes, Gloves, Hosiery, Fash ionable Bonnet and Belt Ribbons, Leg horn Bonnets, Fancy Soap., Cologne M eter, Silk and Marseilles Vesting, Btowq and Bhcehed Dometties, Prunella, Morocco and Mens'' Leather Shoes Fina and Common Hats, Sfc. cc. together with, an assortment of Hardware, Iron, Steel0 Castings, Fresh Groceries and Queensware, they arc determined to offer at the lowest rates for cash or merchantable produce of any kind. They take this opportunity of informincr the customers of the Vincennes Steaw' Mill that in future that establishment wilt be under the immediate management of one of the firm; and they hope that their invariable disposition to accommodate wtll ensure thcwi a share of public patronage. tC7Thc highest market price fat Wheat, Corn and Saw-logs. Decejnber2',b30 4-tf BOOK BKTDI2MG n b carried cr Jl near the Market House on Market street, where the Public may have either old or new Bocks bound with neatness and dispatch Also iJlault 23oofca of all Mutts may be had upon short notice public patronege is solicited by SOLOMON RATHBONE. Vincennes Jan. 5, USl.. 4i-tf

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