Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-08-11

have been swelled by Congressional legs-
lation. vet these laws have never been
placed within the reach of the people, and
we see il stated that there is not a full copy
of them extant. An edition Of the laws OF
the United States it is said, is now in pro-
gress of publication by private enterprise,
which, when completed, will make SIX
large volumes, Of eight hundred pages each,
at cost of twenty five dollars a copy
These laws were enacted for our benefit,
aud they, in certsin cases, dispose oil our
lives, our property, and our reputation; yet
what an overwhelming portion OF the peo-
pie know nothing Of their contents.
| But we have exhibited thus far. only
part Of the practical difficulties IN The way
of the honest man, who desires to under
stand his duty an American cit!zen;-he
must dive TO the bottom OF tina; muddy
stream, the common law Of England, which
| is made with inconsiderable exceptions,
the law Of our land, and some idea OF which
may be gained by studying SONS five or
six hundred British and American reports.
Now let US inquire what are some OF the
legitimate deductions, which may be drawn
from the condition Of things we have sta.
ted, We assert il to be one Of the great
truths contained in our declaration of rights
that the people are the only fountains OF
power from whence al law should eman
ate, and each indi, idual man is an integral
part of The great sovereignty OF the nation
Admit this. and it follows that it is the duty
Of each and every one TO understand the
laws and guard them carefully from abuse.
But is it not fact that a knowledge OF the
existing laws is impracticabe and impossi
BILE TO b, obtained by one man in every FIVE
hundredl In what n strange position does
this exhibit the sovereign people; laws are
attributed 20 Il cir making of which they
know nothing, nor can know any thing;
but when they would know any thing, they
resort to some one professedly skilled in
the mystical science, as those OF old were
won, to consult the pries'ess of Delphlc
oracle. Is il not SANDER on the present
generation Of men, and on the intelligence
Of free America, TO say that we are ncapa
BILE Of settling our business transactions
and differences, without such complicated
legal machinery, or without recurring TO
! the pTUCtlCe Which, pioSaIiCu SCh'1' 'oo "eo'
among semi harbarous nations, and under
oppressive and tyrannical governments?
Who will say there is necessity for all
this, in order to regulate the con duct Of
men? If lone will dare plead its necessity
then why in the name Of heaven and our
beloved country, shall we retain it? We
should be just as guilty Of extreme folly,
were we to insist on retaining in use the
implements Of husbandry, which were used
twelve centuries ago, or the rude manufac.
lures Of art Of the dark ages, as TO insist
on keeping in use the forms and practices
Of the courts Of those periods
Again, I'VE assert it to be an ncontroverti'
BILE proposition, that people who are con-
troled by laws which they never made, new
er assented or understand, are virtually
slaves. No matter wha, may be the theo.
retical or protested character Of the gov.
eminent under which they live; obedience
TO rules Of action which they have never
sanctioned, is incompatible with rational
liberty. We repeat here what we have
often said before; it is not our object to do
away with laws, but to simplify; to throw
to the moles and the bats, vast heap Of
worse than useless rubbish that now en-.
eumbers what is valuable; to codify and
bring down to every mans comprehension
and within every mans reach, what per-
tans to the legal rights Of the people.