Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-08-18

that sort should be settled by adjudication.
If he.were infallible IN this resPec'' sun
his book would moi contain the past or pre-
oxis,;nr Ia Tvs on which existing or contro-
verted laws would depend. and a coming
I,ao;sIature would much change the laws
noar in force. 1t plain, then, that CON-
a;la,;nD of the statutes at large, or an
,,;yaIent. is indispensable in every inde-
dndont permanent State-so that the rule
IF civil conduct on any subject, at any Pc
,iod. NAV be readily found.
There is a reprint IN ertenSo of the ma
tional laws and treaties, by Peters, in 8
volumes of 67lS pages small type. 1t
introduces the acts in the order of their
passage and original publication. 1t is
stereotype compilation with a view to the
continuance of the series for coming
years 1t is noble work, and the expense
of it can we'll be borne by great nation.
In proportion, however, to the vastness
of the library is the difficulty Of finding
arhat as sought; and then, on the plan Of
Peters compilation, all repealed, expired
and superseded legislation is Inclined
You have to depend in the induces and
scan the successive enactments. There is
no arrangement, no analysis, no sufficient
indications of what at any period was the
existing rule. The arrangement of the
chaotic mass into proper divisions and SUBJ
divisions, would have increased the labor
of the complsh an hundred fold; but just
in that ratio it would have diminished the
difficulty in the use of the work by the
people.
Although the plan of the Digest of 1889
was good, yet it was in preparation only
about two months, and PoIndexter's Revi-
sal, the reprint of 1888 and acts of 1889,
were the sources OF compilation; hence,
many law that were still useful, and some
srll in force, were omitted; the titles Of acts
were not inserted the references were i'm
perfect; the index not sufficiently varied,
and by the adoption of series of sections
for each chapter, the original sections
were changed.
Now the work on hand will correct all
these errors, and avoid all the difficulties
mentioned. 1t will be contained in one su-
per.roya octave volume of between 1900
10 1900 pages. 1t is arranged as nearly
as practicable according to Blackstone's
division of municipal law under IS chap
tiers. Each chapter is preceded by ta>
BILE of its contents, and each act introdu-
ced by its title and date in the order of its
enactment as an article, and so the origi-
nal sections are retained. Each section
healed by description of its matter, and
followed by the necessary references, and
explanatory notes neUer neglected.
To have inserted even all the general
and public legislation would have swelled
the work into three or four volumes, and
would have rendered it expensive, cum
brous, and in fact an abuse. Thus, for ex-
ample, it all the revenue, police and MI
Itia acts had been included, each would
have required volume, and there would
have been no use for any but the last acts
forming together a system
Yet no general act however repealed OF
superseded, has been omitted without
suitable reference 10 il; and whenever by
possibility il might be necessary to recus
TO defunct provisions, such as those GO
verning sales of lands for taxes, and their
redemption, they are retained. The granC
aim of the compiler being to make the
code perfect substitute for states at large
for all practical purposes, he has heen
careful to embrace every enactment ne
cessary to be resorted TO for the ascertain
ment of any and all rights that originated
under the legislation Mississippi as a ter
ritory and Safe.
To illustrate his strict observance of Thu
principle, he has inserted from the ordi
nance of 1897, and gives % acts in rela
ton TO county limits that were omitted il
Poindexler's Digest.
Considering the difficulty and even i'm
possibility of getting in every part OF tn
State the acts of Congress concerning Mis-
slssippi, and the treat os with the Choctaw
and Chickasaws, they have been included
At the close of each chapter there
given a table Of the local and private acl
appropriate to such chapter. In a wore
the work contains all the general end pub
lie legislation, either in force, or needle
for use, and references 10 every act, whe
Their public or private, from 1899 20 lS4t
The index is full and varied.
The legislation that may follow durin
the next ten years, may, if the plan of tn
work be continued, be made the subjec
of section and voume-aDd so the sc
ries may proceed in future time, render
ing an entire new code not only unnece:
sary but iniuriOrs-uniil a revision sha
benade.
GrEach ont Of me editorial brothe
hood of the State who may think it usef'
TO give this notice some insertions unde
his editorial head, may expect copy I
the work.
Db;I0eophical 1:..I