The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-06-22
lN1R 0AUMHHBs
PORTLAND, THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1890.
BOWDOIN COELECE.

sage to each House recommending Bowdoin
College " Ne attention and regard OF the Lee
sisls.ure. The object is 10 induce a liberal
provision for the Advancement Of our oldest
literary institution and place II in a situation
10 promote the character Of our STATE in sci
nee and the libefsi srts. A provision. Of this
kind is absolutely aecessary TO enable it TO
support It's existence. This unfortunate Col
Ieee has passed through a series Of nisfor-
tunes particularly in its pecuniary concerns,
which have checked its progress, and dlmin-
lshed The power so much desired OF extending
its sslu,ary Influences over the community
There are now officers connected with that
institution. who would do honor to any Uni
versiiy in the country, and who are making
sacrifices OF pecuniary nature to cherish this
child Of their early aud fond attachment =
but this cannot long continue-the families OF
these gentlemen have claims upon them which
they cannot disregard. and The loss Of such
men, money cannot heresfltr repair. The
Legislature are earnestly and solemnly called
upon, as they regard the welfare and honour
OF this new State to see that this institution
receive no detriment--io take care that the
cause O! learning pine not il their hands
Patronage only can prevent It, and that pat
rousge il is in the power OF this government
to bes,ow Heaven give them the disposition!
The Hon. JOHN CHANDLER having resigned
his situation as President OF the Senate III con.
sequence Of his choice as Senator to Congress:
the Hon. Mr.. MoopY, Of York, has been ap.
pointed 10 succeed hun. The vacancy at the
Senate Board from Kennebec for the same
cause has been filed by CHARLES Morse,
Esq. Of Wilton.
.Appoiatment--Col. SAMUEL CosEy, Of Au.
gusta. has been appointed by The Governor
and Council, Adjutant General Of the Militia
OF Maine. -
Saturday next, the Festival Of St. John the
Baptist, is assigned for the consecration Of the
Grand Lodgs Of this State, and the lnstaila.
ton Of lis officers in this town. On which
occasion we unde rstand r. w. john H. SHEP-
PARp, Esq. Of Wiscasset, will deliver the Ad-
dress
The - Baltimore Federal Republican"
contains some remarks upon that part Of Gov.
KINGS message which recommends I" Board
OF Jurisprudence" to the attention Of the Lee
gissture, which are in degree in unison with
our own, although not expressed in that de-
corous style, we could have wished. The
official suggestions Of the Executive Of State
are always entitled 10 respectful consideration,
as they are supposed not 70 be presented
without mature deliberato0 and council
harsh and severe language is therefore highly
improper 10 regard TO such Communications.
We extract some Of The observations TO which
we give our concurrence -
s'Though compilations Of statute law have
been common, yet it has always been thought
dangerous to new modle the text, the construc-
ton OF which, by the change Of word or phrase,
becomes unsettled, and copious source OF iitt-
CATION Is opened. The cost 10 individuals would
be immense, before the meaning Of and practice
upon the new code could be fixed and under
stood. As much a. ought prudently to be doue
with statute law, is to amend it by degrees when
necessary, and we ought not TO attempt to shake
the whole body Of it at one grasp. But what
board or other noun Of multitude, would under
take to collect and amend the body Of the COM
mon law And after they had done it, how many
years would II require for permanently sitting
legislature &c examine, debate and sanction 1t
II II be meant to curtail and force II into small
compass, it misnt to be sure, be handed about
or carried in this pocket, like the Code Napoleon.
But where would be the security for prc-estab-
lished rights? Should they be expressly saved,
there would exis, two codes or bodies Of the law.
The community would have to consult and I'M
dersiand the Law asit stands at present for the
rule Of many Of their rights, and try to find out
the meaning Of the new one to determine in fu-
ture changes and transactions. Here, therefore,
there would be no short road TO justice, no turn
ing of completely into simple processes, and no
Of study and labor in the profession
Of the law. The leanness ofthe text would nee
essarily be attended with the exercise ofarbltra-
ry power in the judges the cost and delay
ould be overwheim isg to suitors; and after all,
il would prove no more than seed from which
a tree would grow, gradually extending and
its BRANCHES, till it squalled the size
Of that cut down.
1t must be confessed, that the law as At stands,
is immensely complicated; but We believe there
10 no safe remedy for its corpulency. The inn
mite number Of principles, distinctions and anal
pgies, which il embraces, are all Of them mounds
for the security Of civil rights and the exclusion
IF arbitrary power"