The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-06-06


wise course of policy, the executive and ie-
laid the foundation of lasting harmony be-
tween the two States.
Assembled Tor the purpose OF performing
the first acts Of legislation, on you is devolved
the arduous and important duty OF devising,
maturing, and perfeoting system Of wise,
equal and wholesome laws. Nor is the re.
sponsbility and difficulty of your situations as
members of the first Legislature diminished
by the consideration that the consequences,
which may result from your deliberations, will
have an important bearing on the generations,
which are TO succeed you, as well as upon the
present and future character and standing OF
The State.
The establishment and organization of a
Supreme judicial Court will require your
early attention. As the security Of the peo-
Pile, the uninterrupted enjoyment Of individu-
al rights, the protection OF property and the
peace and harmony Of society, in great
measure depend upon the correct exposition
and impartial administration Of the laws
through the fundamentally Of our Courts OF
Justice j, is highly important 10 the people
themselves, that such adequate compensation
should be assigned 10 our first Judicial officers
as shall command the services Of men Of un-
questioned integrity, possessing the first intel
ligence and extensive legal attainments.
Connected with the establishment of our
Judicial system there is a subject, which ]
! submit TO your consideration with great diff
dence. Our statutes, which embrace, as is
"a oil tnawn hui n small ,ort:no If ,,uv la,ve
are comprised in five or six large volumes
In many cases in consequence Of explanatory,
additional, supplementary and partially re-
pealing Acts, il has become difficult TO ascer-
tain what the law is. Under government,
such as ours, government Of laws, aud not
OF men, il ought TO be one Of its first principles
that the laws should be simple and plain and
easy TO be understood A new and revised
code OF statute law therefore, it is believed, is
exceedingly desirable as it certainly is prac.
licable. II also becomes an interesting CUES.
hon, whether II is not practicable, as we'll as
desirable, TO extend the revision still farther.
When the United States assumed their indie.
pendence, IL became necessary for the several
States, and Massachusetts, among them, TO
adopt the then existing colonial statutes, TO.
ge,her with the common law Of Great Britain,
embracing also considerable portion Of her
| statutes. This Heterogeneous mass with the
statutes and judicial decisions of Massachusetts
has been Professionally adopted by this State /;
in addition to which, we have those of the
United States, the whole combined forming
such variety Of laws, opinions, and Judicial
decisions, as to Gil so many volumes, that few
fortunes can purchase them, and still lever
capacities correctly understand them. A
condensed, plain, perspicuous and well di-
gested code therefore, embracing every branch
Of civil aud criminal law, as well as the forms
OF proceeding in the several Courts would, it
IS believed, be a most invaluable acquisition
TO ihe citizens Of this State. That the compi-
ation and establishment OF such code is mol
altogether visionary is demonstrated by the
fact, that such code has not only been framed
and established for itself by foreign nation
in our own times, but is universally acknowl-
edged TO be one OF the greatest national bene-
fits ever conferred on any country IN any age.
II the enacling OF such code is ever pracii-
cable under a government constituted like
ours, there can be no period more favorable 10
IT'S accomplishment, than the present, when we
are just commencing our political course, as a
new and independent State, and when so gen
eral disposition prevails 10 harmonic in all
measures calculated TO promote the best inter-
ests OF the community. Should the Leg,sa-
ture deem it expedient to adopt any measures
preparatory TO such general revision OF our
laws, ] would recommend that provision be
made Tor establishing Board Of Juripru-
dence 10 consist Of men best qualified for the
duties OF such station, with instructions TO
digest aud prepare such code, and report
the same to the Legislature.
The situation OF our fellow citizens, en-
pIoyed in agricultural pursuits, will not suffer
in comparison with that of those Of any 9th
CT part oil our country. 1t furnishes the most
plenary evidence how advantageous this EN-.
ployment is 10 The people Of our State. The
encouragement which agriculture has received
not only IRON government, but from patriotic
individuals, and the consequent advances,
which il has made, afford the most satisfactory
evidence of the importance Of continued aud
more particular attention TO that interest.
The propriety of encouraging our various az.
ricuturai societies al this time cannot be
doubted. As the inhabitants Of a good soil
and healthy climate, we owe II to a 5ountiial
4 -, L.. L.. :,