Litchfield enquirer., 1851-05-15

Soon after the close of the session of
1880, the Hon. Gurdon Trumbull resigns
ed the Office of Commissioner of the
School Fund, to take effect the LIST of
August following. On that day his re-
signation was accepted, and the vacancy
filled by the appointment of ]. G. Palm
er, Esq, who then accepted the trust and
took the oath of office by law required.
The reported balance in the Treasury
to the credit of the School Fund, March
81, 1850, was $500. The receipts Of
revenue for the last fiscal year have been
$lSs, O60 63. There has been paid in
that time to 92,22O scholars, at 81 40
each, $l29,l leaving surplus in the
Treasury, the 31st of March, 1851, Of
$3.50 Is.
The report of the Commissioner will
furnish full and satisfactory information
in regard to the state of the fund.
So closely allied are many Of our sta
tute laws, and mutually dependent inthe
Mysterious connection of 'sActs in addi-
ton to, and alteration of acts," as to pre.
sent often confusion of rights and duties.
l suggest as an improvement in the ems
actment of the laws, that in the first
place, every act be clearly expressed by
its title, which is not the case now and
secondly, that whenever it NAV become
necessary to essentially alter or amend
any statute law, that new act be crea-
TED entire, and the old law stricken from
the statute book. Such a course would
In time clear the statutes of all useless
matter, and make them plain to be read
and understood.
What comes under the head of the
science of law, in this country, is exnh.
cable only to the initiated. I regard it
as humiliating fact, that in an age of
great and growing intelligence, the rights
of persons and the rights of things lie
hidden under codes and systems Of law
practice, which very few know any thing
about rights which nothing short of a
tedious and expensive process at law can
bring to light.
With customs-the growth Of new
and vigorous age--customs suited to the
genus OF our people, and interviewer with
every thread Of their liberties, we have
no common law of our own, but still re-
pose with something Of conscious securi-
ty and pride, on that Of a foreign land.
1t is not strange, therefore, that we
have neither simplicity in our pleadings,
nor clearly defined and easy travelled
roads to truth and justice. Those rights
which should be plain to every man in
the community, since they concern all.
are only plain to those who have deeply
studied them. This being the case, cost
ly suits and ruinous delays, worse often
than defeat at law, are the necessary con-
sequence of the mysteries which enyel-
ope the whole system. Some legislation
is required to remedy the evil which I
think exlsts,-an enquiry, into which,
would, ! have no doubt, be attended
with the most beneficial results.
For several years past our courts have
been crowded with suits, the accumula-
ton of which has very often DELAYED the
administration of justice. Should tho
Legislature enquire into the present az
arrangement, with view to introduce any
changes, or prepare the way for a reform,
it might be well to consider, if it would
not be an Improvement in the system, to
provide for separating the criminal FROM
the civil business of the Courts, by es.a-
b'ishing Circuit Courts for the trial ex-
cIuslvely of State cases. In the event Of
such change, the County Courts might
be dispensed with; the jurisdiction of
Justices of the Peace somewhat enla-p-
ed, and CAGES tried before the latter made
directly appealabe to the Superior Court.
In this way, the ends of right and Justice
might be facilitated.
The Legislature will be called upon to-
devise some plan for proper Militia sEs-
tenn. No objection to system of some
kind can evade or suppress the fact, that
such thing is required by the laws Of
the United States. and no doubt it is the
duty of each State to carry those laws
into effect, so far as it can be done with
out imposing unnecessary burthens on the
people,. How far. the State is bound to
incur any expense on such an account, is
a question for the Legislature tosdecide.
One great object Of having military
force, is to protect the property Of our
fellow citizens, as well as to maintain the
laws which give security to property and
life. There can therefore be no injustice
in making property support to some ex-
tent. military organization. A reason-
able allowance to the several companies
in the State in addition to what they now
receive from the State Treasury for armo-
ny rent, would furnish some encourage
ment to them to preserve their present
organization, The whole subject is sub
mitted to you, under the conviction that
it is worthy of further legislative action:
An increase of the appropriations for
the Insane poor is required at this time.
The present allowance. though munif-
cent gift for that benevolent purpose, is
insufficient to provide for all the cases
,ub;oL oro r,rosantod durinor thu xvaow IT,