Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-11

The Criminal Code.
The following Report was read, aud concurred in
by the House -
The Committee FOR Courts Of Justice. TO whom
son. Esq upon the subject Of the revision Of the
Criminal Code Of the Commonwealth, have had the
same under consideration, and the following
Report and Resolution hercupoh
lnas,nuch rs Mr.. johnson appears to have ma,
some preparation for the said revision, md has
doubtless. bestowed much reflection upon the gene
aiplan Of 1t. there will probably be less delay in Ia
completion by HIM than there would be if coufdst
TO other hapds. In all probability, TOO. no person
could be selected well qualified in an respects 10
perform the services. aud it r highly desirable 10
have the bene6, OF his Distinguished talents and his
enlarged experience III a work Of so much inpor.
lance to the public. Therefore.
Resoirea. 40 he offnion ofhc CoaaiNee. That
Is '"erpehent to make any further provision for
the revision aforesaid.
Rcr;sai ofhe Statute f'ars.
The following Report WINS read:- 4,
The Committee for Courts OF Justice have had
under consideration, n Resolution, directing them
to inquire into tho cSpediency OF providing for the
Revision of The State Laws OF this Commonwealth,
excepting those which relate 10 criminal expenses
and for Revision of llenngs Justice, together
with so much of the Governors Message, as relates
TO thai snbroi,to them referred aud tespectlul,
submit the following Report
The numerous Statutes which. have been passed
VI" NtNsion ~ l6lf, lave very much increased
both tho volume and The eomplexiiy Of our laws
They now extend through three volumes, and The
Acts OF SIX sessions OF The General Assembly. The
different Acts concerning tho organization and iurs
diction o tho Courts, To be found IN The Rerssd Coir
and Supplement, would probably Gl two hundred
pages and many changes have been made IN oihc,
important Laws OF general naiqrc. The conse.
qhencc Is an increased difficulty, ascertain what
Il IN reality the law of the land in many ca
ses ondthe increased litigation. aud The other ms
chiefs, resulting from the multiplicity d complexi.
~ oil our legislation, II is IN every view desirable
that the laws which govern the conduct Of the poo
pie, which declare their rights, and prescribe lhu
mode Of proceeding to redress their wrongs should
be as plain and brief possible. Unless the, be-
made so to very considerable extent, il is inpossi-
bic lor the mass Of the people 10 understand then,
correctly; aud there isno description Of knowledge
winch 1t is moro important to diliusc among a free
people, than nm adequate information Of their own
laws. In n county in which legislation is frequent
anu us variable NJ ours, II is impossible to di1uso
sue h information extensively without occasional r..
VISIONS of the Statutory Code. Whenever there be-
comes necessity OF Hunting through many volume
10 ascertain the law on given subject, the effort g
gwen up To those whose peculiar vocation il il 10
study and understand the service and even anou.
them, error will not be Uncommon. We have seen
dnrfog the present session, important right lost to-
respectable aud Intelligent gentleman, by his wa b.
Of information OF particular provision Of Of ou
varloos Statutes on the subject OF Elections Surely
every effort OF which talent and Industry are eapa-
bic should be exetied To abbrev,ie and to simplify
tue acts, on subject OF so mach Importance to al,
Our citizens.
The different acts, which relate 10 the former Su-
peflor Courts OF Chancery. the late Superior Couns
of Law and Chaptery, contain mullifarious proyis-
IONS, which have presented no little difficulty to tho
best ntcllecls which hsve been employ ed in their sd-
and have freq eniy occasioped appeal
to The court IN the last resort ne, fur the purpose OF
doubtful claims, bal for the Insle pur
pose OF deciding the proper mode Of proceeding TO a,
sert nn1ueslionabIe rights. These evils are the i,
e,itable result OF the changes of systems, which ia.
wants or the will ofihe people require in their VAR
Gus institutions They may be temporarily riitica
tell occasional corrective acts, themselves, per
haps, the source OF new difficulties when in connca
ION with former acts on the same subject. But H.,
most efficient remedy IS careful and judicious r
v'sion-not n mere compilation Of The numcrou us acts
wiih no dminution of the volume, but digest While
shall embrace, MS briefly and plainly as possible o.
those provisions Of our Statutes which are actual :.
IN force which shall remove antiquities and contra
dictlons and which will enable plain man 10 find
IN comparatively small compass, the whole Statu.
tory law on any one sui jet, without being doomed
To search through dozen acts some altered and SOM
repealed and at last be unable to discover what
desires to know.
Thiss very much the condition of our present
code, and therefore the Committee recommend it's
revision.
with respect TO the other subject of nquiry--tLs
REVISION OF Jennings Jus,lcs, il will be remembered
that the Governor has informed the Legislature OF
the constant and increasing demand for this woys
among the Justices the Peace. II has long bee,'
in use as their manual and policy and propriety
like require that this useful and disinterested class
should be regularly supplied with that, some otl.
er similar work. Oar officers aud people have b.
come familiar with most of its forms, and it ha,
therefore advantage in that respect over othe
works oftho same Character. Iii ,however, too Won
nj aus, and 1t is deficient in respect TO some of o.;
recent statutes. Hence, revision Of it is recon-
mended. But II will not be expedent to commence
HE work until the compilation olile revision Of our
penal code. winch now engages the attention Of
Chapman Johnson, Esq.,
The Committee recommend, therefore, the ador-
ton Of The following resolutions:
EeSo[red, That il is expedient TO provide for tho
revision OF the Statute Laws Of the Couino nweah'
except the penal code.
ReSotred, That it IS expedient 10 provide for II G
revision aud publication OF Itsnning's Justice
some other suitable work for the use Of the Justice
1i the Peace, as the revision OF the penal
code shall have been completed.
On motion Of Mr. May, the Report Was laid on tic
table and on Mr.. Jacksons motion, ordered to b.
printed.
A bill to amend an act entitled an tito incorpa-
rate The Eagle Hotel Company OF the City OF Rich
mond, was read the second time, and ordered 10 u
third reading.
report oftle Commit;e ofClaims, rc1ectiag the
petition OF William Davis, asking remuneration for
property destroyed by fire Norolkn l776, was CON
Cured in by the House.
A report of the C6mniittee of Claims yesieefias
the petition Of the heirs of John Woodsides the eldr
in Norfolk in 1916. eoncarfed IN by III
House.