Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-15
PUBLISHING THE LAWS.

The Legislature oil Virginia 10 nov IN session,
actively engaged in completing a code u laws
Tor lie government ol the people. That such a
work is needed 10 one will deny. Not on'y will
The laboIs OF The legal profession be lighiened,
but the magistrates who administer The law, and
the people who suffer hen error is commi.tcd, VII
thereby be enabled TO obtain clearer conceS;Ion
OF what the law really is in relation 10 lie vail
Gus difficulties that arise in he transaction o;
business That ,herc has been heretofore III na-
nv insia uccS, particularly among he justices Of
The peace, who are presumed 10 know he law,
but frequently 10 not, iIo.: the tact that rs study
would lake much time rom their uaual a2Cca
tons great inconvenience occasune.. nom ,hr
multiplicity and uncertainty III oar statutes, /, 4
fact ,ha, n i-c. is sufficient argGmc.i' - c>-
tab!l>h lll wisdom 81 he act By which provision
was made Tor 4 rryisal u the Cru Cote. We
pre.urpe this revsal will be nothing else lhan a
collection Of all The statutes Of he : l,c Gov IL
force, after repeating all oi supeIliuo'is char
acter and supplying omissions where necessary;
and The whole printed and bound So as 10 lie most
convenient ior public use.
This new code will be a subject OF interest
and inquiry amoas all classes OF our Citizens,
for The interest oi all are concerned; and II is
the duty OF the Legislature TO place the means
OF information within reach u every inhal'tan.
Of this Commonwealth; this has mo- heretofore
been the case-he acts ut cur Legislature haze
been sealed book 10 The srea, mass OF the poo
pe-tnat very mass from which he law-liaE9I>
derive heir power, aud who aIe most Interested
in knowing the law. Yet, Strange a /; may
seem in government OF The feGple, that very
governing power is prevented b. any Possibility
from knowing The principles Il IT'S government.
Though the law establishes as maxim that
"ignorancs IF The iap excuses no man. We, our
Legislature seem determined that The people
shall remain as ignorant as possible, tor they
coEfne all knowledge on The subject 10 favor.
ed few, by their own acl rendering II Impossible
tor the citizens 10 know that, the ignorance Of
which, i, IS declared shall moi excuse. What
slupendous tolly-what rank injustice. D!aco,
in his code Of blood approaches q nothing
like it-Caligula woud have been ashamed
II il. We say that il is the duty OF he lie
gi.aturc to Give 10 The lchot' people III mc.:n.
N knowing the law. Now how c.I Iii.
icsideratum &c obtained To furli.h cvcrY CT
zen win printed and bonnd copy 81 IL. Cojr
III Laws would be loo expensive ami burden.
some TIN only agent through which his into
nation can be generally and cneapy diiiusri, j
the public press The Congress OF the Unite.
Sla rs, with proper appreciation CT rs duly III
mis- respect causes all acls passed Of pubin.
and general nature u be published in two news
papers in each Stale. II The laws OF Congress
are Of such importance that their publication in
more than fifty newspapers is deemed necessary,
how much more important * j, that The Stale
laws should be known and understood by III"
people Let our Legislature, therefore, 80 sonu
As the Civil Code is finished, direct lis publica-
lion, lcgs,her with the Criminal Code, or Ii.
most important rans Of BON, in one Hewsrarrr
IN each county, in Inc State (where any exists, J
AMI they will have done 10 more than an act o:
simple In.,icr 10 iha people, and no more lhaI
their DUTY.
We respectfully invite the attention ~ oar IL.
eisla ors, and our brethren ol tho press through
OUT the State l. his subject.
Eorgagt0Ua .HoBongai,aa.