The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-23

kansas
 Be aenacfed 6g the seaafe and House of Represea- ta5ues offhe Jnaed Sfafes of .4merica in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury, be authorized and required to make such com- pensation out ofany money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the agent employed by the Governor of Arkansas, to select two town ships Of land for seminary of learning as shall be just and reasonable.
 To he Editors of fRe .4dpocaie.
 GENTBEMEN:-Thc inquiry made by C Deidrich Knicke rbocker,3 ; in the last number ofthe \ rkan- sas ezette upon the subject of the next election for County Judges, merits reply. Whether the author was impelled by desire for informa ton, or wish to display his intellectual faculties in scann- ing the statute books of his country or whether he had any other object in view than to indulge in criticisms upon the acts of the Legislatitre is al together immateriai. The interroeatiye is made. and should the gentleman not attract tie attention of some abler pen, please say to him. that but for his own notions of the purity of language, and the cbasteness of the style which should be used by Legislators, the ambiguity of which he complains would not have attracted public attention as ser- #ous evil.
 However amongst the many liberties secured to HIS by the blessings of free government, 1 know of none more freely indulged ia, than that of invest- gatlng the public acts of public men. This advan- tage cannot be too highly appreciated, for 1t is one of the strongest pillars, that support this glorious republic. If tie object be to correct error-to search for truth, or to investigate any subject upon its merits it is praiswortlyi or if it be 10 throw open the rich treasures of brilliant mind to u- minate understandings, then IS its genial iniu- ence sensibly felt and never fails to call forth the grateful acknowledgements of generous public. Y no can tell the advantages that will result if ss Deidrlch Knickeroocker,'' would condescend to shed the light of his countenance the general sembiY of his coHntrY fhe world has always la- poured under the disadvantages resulting from a want Of perfection in human sdom and human in- yention, yet there has at ali periods been charity enough to acknowledge that it is easier pull down than to build up To originate measure and Ye- duce ii to form Is much more laborious duty than to find fault with ii when it is done. That there is some awkw ardness in tho langnare used ia the 2d section of the act referred to- Is not denied, but that 1t Is dubious md ambiguous as to be heavy tax on the JurIst 10 give It legal construction. do deny. The act entitled an act to establish Coun- ty Courts, referred to by s Deidrich Knickeroock- CT, in the first clause of the I'd section, provides that the court established, shall be held by one Judge, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county. at the time and place of holding general elections in the Territory, and shall eon- tinue in office for the term of i've years. And then after describing their oath. &c. there is provlso iuserted that requresth the first election to De held on the first Monday in January; then follows the only ambiguous words. to wit, < and every two years thereafter" which said ambiguous words so used, explained by the concluding clause of the same sentence, viz. and the person elected, shall he commissioned aforesaid by the Governor, and hold his office uotil the first day of October, lS9I;P obviously meaning that every subsequent election should be held on the first Monday in Att gust, which is the time of holding general elections. The term of service of the persons to he elected at the general election the first Monday of Au- gust, will not commence until the first day of Octo ber ensuing, and will expire in two years thereaf- ter.
 hope my friend will he satisfied with the con- struction which have given to the statute, estah- fishing County Courts 1t is tue only that the act will bear, and for his satisfaction, permit me to call his attention 10 Sir Edward Coke; he says" Ii is the most natural and genuine exposi- ton of statute, to construe part, hy another part of the statute for that best expresses the meaning of the makers Judge Blackstone says, < If words happen to be still dubious, may es- tahlish their meaning from the context with which 1t may be of singular to compare word a sentence, whenever they are ambiguous, e9uiyocal or intrIcate.'9
 The only question propounded is, at what time does the election for County Judge come on! and think have clearly shown that If was the intention of the legislature, that the first eiecton should be on the first Monday in January, and that every sub sequent election, should be on the first Monday of August, al the time of holding the general elec- ton. To be the legislature makes use of the words sand eneTy t'eo years thereatlero twice Tn the same section, in reference to different dates; expressing at the time, that their commissions should expire on tho first day of October, conse- qnentiy, if the elections were to take place the first Monday in January, there would be an inter- regnum from October to January. Without pre- tending to any knowledge of the routine of bus- ness n legislative bodies, can well imagine many ways for such to get into their statute book Whether the error in the original fra mers Of the bill, or whether ii was in the enrolling clerk, and overlooked by the committee, whose du- ty it was examine bills, or whether 1t was mis- take in the Public Printer, is not material.
 SPECTATOR.
 From the National Inteligencer.
 We had an accidental opportunity yesterday of seeing a beautiful Gold Medal, which has just been received by MT. LIVINGSTON of the