Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-23

full. The lands have been sold and the
year of redemption has elapsed, before
the circumstance has come to the know
ledge of the proprietors. | ask the at
tention of the legislature to this subject,
and would suggest the propriety OF ex-
/ tending the term allowed for the redemp-
( ton of the lands of non-residents, which
may hereafter be sold for the payment
of taxes.
There is ne subject claiming the atten-
ton of the Legislature OF more vital i'm
J portance to the welfare OF the state, and
its future greatness and responsibility,
than the provisions which should be made
for the education of the rising and sue
ceeding generations. Intelligence and
virtue are the main pillars in the tenn
pie of Liberty. A government founded
on the sovereignty of the people, and
resting on and controlled by them, can
not be respectable, or even long endure,
unless they are enlightened. To pre-
serve and hand down to continuous line
of generations that liberty which was OBJ
tanned by the vaIor and virtue OF our fore
fathers, we must make provision for the
moral and Intellectual improvement OF
those who are to follow US, and who
are to inherit and have the disposal OF the
inestimable boon of government
The United States has made most libe
raj provision in lands for Township
Schools, and University. But, from
the present superabundance Of lands,
these will not be productive of much
revenue for many years to come; they
should however be strictly husbanded as
a rich source from which to supply
future generations with the means OF edu-
cation. In the mean time, would it no,
be wise to make legal provision to assist
in the support of local schools!
Considerable Efforts have been made
| by the Executive to effect compliance
with the law which requires annual re-
turns to be made to the Adjutant Gene
raj, of the number of the militia. re-
greet to be compelled to state that these
efforts have failed, and that such are the
defects of the law that it canno, be en-
forced. 1t is to be particularly regretted
that this neglect of the officers 10 per-
form their duty, has ocoasioned censide-
rable loss TO the State, in the late appor-
! tionment OF arms, received from the Fe-
deraI government. A portion Of the arms
received by my predecessor, was put into
the hands OF a company in Randolph
county. The portion received last year
remains in store at Shawneetown. 1t is
respectfully submitted to the Legislature,
in regard to these and any future arms
which may be received from the United
States, to direct whether they should be
preserved in an arsenal, to be used when
wanted in defence of the country, or be
distributed to the militia; and if the lat
ter, what securities should be required
for their preservation.
In free government where the law is
supreme, controlling equally the COVER
nors and the governed, and where provi
sions made for the adjustment of the di-
versihed relations between man and man,
it is of the first importance that the laws
should be attainable by all, and SO expli-
cit as to be, as far as possible, within the
comprehension of all. To effect this es-
sential purpose, our sister states have
been in the habit, from time 10 time, of
revising their laws, and publishing them
in digested code. This code, when iu-
diciously complied, classes the subjects
in SO systematic and simple manner,
that plain hard working farmer may in
a few minutes ascertain the law on any
common question; and the volume is so
reduced in size and price, as to be within
the means OF every citizen to procure.
This is of immense advantage to the
great body of the people, and saves them
much time and expense in seeking the
opinion oflawyers on simple cases, where
it is easy to render the law plain and ex-
plicn. Under these impressions, re-
specially suggest the propriety of ap-
pointing some one or more persons learn
ed in the law, to compile digested code
OF our laws, Incorporating into it as much
of the common law as practicable, to be
submitted to the consideration and ap-
proval Of the next General Assembly.
As much inconvenience is often felt by
every branch ofthe government, and par
ticularly BY the Judiciary, for the want Of
library at the seat OF government, am
induced to suggest to- your consideration
the propriety OF making small annual
appropriation to that object.
We had the misfortune in December
last 10 have the state house consumed by
FIRE. With the circumstances which
a,c "a this dicastar ~, NJ, ,>cr,;c,,l.rIr