Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-06
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
X l & II NJ o n d:
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1907.

IHE Laws passed at the last session be-
ing now ready for delivery, we resume our
observations Oh the proceedings of the last
General Assembly of Virginia. In some
former numbers of the Argus, we have con-
siuereu lew OF the most important mea-
sures winch were rejected, and will now
make such remarks as NAV in our on;n;on
DC useful, on those Acts that were ACTUALLY
passed.
The trst observation that occurs ON NO.
rusins them is that they are generally more
concise and ineligible than statutes usual
are. lhe fashion of prolixity and tau
eoiogY III the wording of laws, which for
merry SO much prevailed, appears to be de-
Ginning, ana will probably be soon exp,oded
altogether. In these enlightened timcs rho
language of our Legislators is manly and
eXpncit tor, while their only object is the
good OF thier country, they are anxious not
I'd conceal themselves under the veil of mvs-
'ery, but to he easily understood bv the
most simple OF the people. Laws are GER
Tuhiy not intended for the learned ONLY.
rerspicuity and plainness in express, nv
.eielh are therefore essential. Moreover,
e. r. hot ooeyeu, they are always useless, and
frequently mischicvous: Blu, the. connot
be obeyed without being rcmemhered 40;
Their can theybc remembered who, ted;o,,.
and verbose. Brevity is consequently on.
OF the characteristics of good law: and
Is attended with another advantage of inf
nite Importance, viz. that fewer disputes
arise concerning the Construction of short
'hah OF lengthy statutes. Where useless
words are inserted without any particular
intention or Discriminate meaning. the pr.,-
test and most difficult controversies arc cr-
gendered by the disposition of inpenious
lawyers, to invent meaning FOR them. and
SO 10 apply 1t, as to suit their clients INV
poses. Hence it is that gentlemen OF th,-
par are by many supposed to be inprober
Cnaracters TO act as legislators, being aeon.
sea OF making the laws Intentionally ambi-
suous' that thereby the profits of their pro-.
lesslon may be increased whereas, in re-
amy carter making allowance for the frail-
Tics OF human nature, and the greater. d,.
gree OF temptation to which they are ey
posed) those gentlemen are AS honest and
attentive to the interests of their constitu-
ents, as any other members of the general
assembly. The fact s, that their habits of
!antoiogy and prolixity, acquired by follow
lnS the Old common law forms IN their Dc.
carnations and other writings, and by con-
t'nually making long speeches to courts and
Iuries, have often accustomed thei, do;no
mSch'et IN legislation when their intent.
ohs were perfectly pure and upright. 7.
must be acknowledged, however, that the
lawyers OF the present day are greatly
improving in their modes of practice. In
winch simplicity and dispatch are studied
much more than formerly and, in the
same proportion, it appears that the STYLE.
IN winch their new codes of Jurisprudence
are written, is daily ameliorating. This
is circumstance which ought to afford
considerable pleasure to every friend fh;s
country, since its happiness necessarily de-
pends on the excellence of it's laws: for
Notwithstanding the ridicule often uniustIv
cast on attornies, it is to them that our svs-
tenn OF government is indebted for all ito
good as well as its bad features ;-and. If
ever 1t should attain that perfection of
which It is susceptible, it will be accom-
plished by the means of their talent, ana
eXertions. The truth of this Observance
must be evident to all who consider that
IN every trade or profession, improvements
can only be made by those who understand
It thoroughly. We admit, nevertheless.
that person not of a trade, can oftrn
Judge otthe excellence ola workman'sber-
formance with more impartialitv, and con-
Scquentty, more correctly, than the work !
man himself. We think it therefore high
y usefnl, and, indeed, absolutely oeccsso1|,.
that legislative body should consisf -
members who are not lawyers by protest.
on, but with generally sense sufficient 70
decide upon the plans, which they Drcpose.
such body the General Assembly ofVir-
gina usuaily-is; and, from the mass az ;r-
teiligence and virtue of which it is CONNIE
sed, the politician and philanthropist NAV
always confidently expect that each of is
sessions viii be productive of some benef.
ciai Improvement in the science Of iurisnru-
dence. We may hope, therefore, that in
time, general abridgment of our Laws,
which we conceive would be the greatest
OF all improvements, will be accompIishSJ
under its superintendance.
When we mention an abridgmcnt ,,o
40 not mean such an abridgment as that nc !
Yiner IN twenty-four folio volumes. nor o. |
ven as that OF Bacon, in seven large octave !
The abridgment we want is one wbicL
should contain in a small Commas. tbe go
stance OF so much of the Common Law Of /
England as ought to remain in force in tbis /
country, and expressed in such a mannrT |
as 10 be made familiar TO the meanest CO
pacity. However difficult a wort Of ,b;.
Kind may appear to be, we presume tb,t
NO person would deny its utility, if accom- |
pished ;although many may doubt its nrac- |
uca0ility. Butwc cannot entertain so moan |
an opinion of the talents Of the Viroin;ar,
as not TO believe that there are MANY citi-
zens among them, who would be capabIe ~
this great task with honor
TO themselves and advantage to their COW
try Indeed, we will take the liber,y of