Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-12-01
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
sg.

80 a's:GE9TIEMEN The representatives sol
5 the good people o(ihe State, yodhaye met
!. here TO consider of and provides for5iteir
welfare. The universal frame" is gov
erned by immutablc and unerring laws
the same yesterday, to-day, and forever,
zand all is harmony. But hunanityis is left
I'm its blindness aud feebleness, 10 provide
for its own changing aud never satisfied
necessities. / need scarcely remind you,
that The law making power imposes on the
law give. the highest responsibilities which
individuals can incur in relation to their
fellow man. : 1t involves not onlysthc oO-
legation Of providing for the passing day
but after generations have claim upon
you, 10 which you are bound 10 respond.
not that any !llins that you may enact
will be imIutable, but that YOUR enact
ments may serve as guides aud lights to
those that may come after US. To me the
constitution has imposed the humber, but
delicate duty, 10 give you from time 10
time, "nformatioa Of lhe.condition Of the
Stale," aud to recommend To your ''con.
sideration such as shall judge necessary
or expedient." And shall enter upon
ahis duty in The perfect confidence, that
coming from all parts Of The State, with
full knowledge Of the condition and wants
of your constituents, you will rsadlly per
ceive any omission aud correct any error
of my own. Perfection is not 10 be ex-
pected in the works Of man, and few are
found who are hardy enough to qestion
even the wisdom Of some Of those laws
which have been ordained by almighty
wisdom for the government of The moral
world. It's moi then matter OF surprise,
that still more complain Of those which
emauate from the hands of man. Some
are governed by what might be character
ised perverslIy of thought, Others are
from defect Of education incapable Of rea-
soning Alright, and still more numerous
class are benishled by their sel6shness.
Hence the clamor which is raised not only
here, but every where else where law.
governs, about its delays aud uncertain
ties. To frame laws therefore, 10 meet
the views Of every individual, is not only
impracticable, but any attempt to do so
would be productive OF nothing but auar-
chy. AIiithat can be attained, is to pre-
serve the old, and frame anew those best
suited to.the wants and necessities of the
great mass OF the people.
There is no one who is conversant with
ourgenerals laws, aud has Witnessed their
eifscl. aud operation, but must admire aud
approve Of their general fitness. Tile
English Common Law, founded on The
sSI6 ssiaiq1p r 81 aGsa af
enactmenIs sof our Legislature, and by
stow. and cautious judicial decisions, aud
moulded 10 aSform suited TO our peculiar
circumstances, and the genius of our Peo-
pie, is the great foundation Of those rules
by which we are protected aud secured in
our; lives, liberty, aud property. They
may be susceptible Of Improvements, but
as a principle of legislation, l would lay
il down as a rule, that any attempt to
change. these great. laud marks BY legisla-
ton, ought TO be done with great care and
circumspection. A particular case may
develope apparent evil, but there is danger
thal in remedyins that Others Of greater
magnitude will grow out OF the remedy,
aud. long experience has persuaded me
that ihe safer course is the correction OF it
by what is sometimes stigmatized as Judi
cial, l. esislation, but not therefore the less
safe or salulary. 1t is nor the province of
the Judge to make the law, but 10 apply
the principal 10 the practical concerns of
life, and il is no cause Of wonder that the
wisest are some times mistaken in us ap.
plication, in some of The infinite variety Of
cases that daily arise. These errors arc
developed by time, and the true correction
is in the correct application OF the well
settled principle. The great beauty aud
excellence Of the common law, is It's won.
derful adaptation to all times. places, and
circumstances. | do not mean that one
common law would equally dpply 10 all
countries, but ,hatevery country 10 which
right prevails, must have, SO TO express ii,
common law of its own, possessing sim
liar properties, founded on The usases and
necessities of its citizens; it provides a
remedy ior every wrong, and il would be
unwise 10 fet,er it by arbitrary rules, the
opera,on of which cannot be toreseen,
uules, the evil admits Of no other remedy.
have therefore, nothing to propose TO
YOU on this head. Nor does any import
ant defects in our sla,ulary law, effectlns
the rights of property, now occur to me. me.
Mankind readily accommodate themselves
to any system Of laws which are founded
on correct morals, aud are known and un-
derslood, and The same dangers and diff
cuhies present themselves in reforming and
modifying The statuary laws as in the
common law. Neither ought TO be han
died withou, great caution and c'rcums-
peclion. If evils do exist, they will be
found ouIE careful examination, not SO
much in the laws themselves, as in the
machinery by which they are carried into
effect. Ii is vain 10 expect their Legitimate
aud successful operation in The hands Of
unsiilful artists. where tho machinery is
{ cetec,ive, or The power employed is insult
6cienl for the work 10 be performed. Oc
casionaI complaints against delays in the
administration of justice has suggested
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