Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-09-25
Legal Reform.-No. 8.
To his Ezeelisney JOSEPH A. WRIGHT,

10 hs E<ceHeney JOSEPH A. WRIGHT,
| Governor Of Indiana:
SrR-In concluding the series Of letters which have
taken tbs liberty Of addressing you beg be al
lowed single remark in regard the protection OF the
bleeding the body polite, through special legislation
That system oil corruption and injustice happily,
ended but another door opened which unless closely
watched Will lead to abuses the most fragrant BY our
Constitution the Legislature may provide for bringing
suits against the State, and will doubtless be
made Tor carrying this provision into effect We shall
soon no doubt have instances enough in the Courts
proceedings to enforce the collection Of real or magn-
airy liabilities. Add TO this the claims which the State
may have as well against her citizens the citi-
and OF other States and against the
General Government, and il would seem indispensable,
and greatly to the advantage Of the people, that
one the Law officer OF the State should be placed in
charge OF these important interests Most Of the States
oil our Union have their Attorney General who only
gives his attention TO the law business IF the Common
wealth. but is made the Constitutional adviser Of the
Executive. Indiana has heretofore entrusted her inter.
ess both civil and criminal, TO very great extent in
inc hands OF the Prosecuting Attornes OF the several
districts and counties. In quite number Of civil
Counsel have been employed considerable expense,
and the assertion may be hazarded that the thus
paid out oil the Treasury home and abroad added
the losses which have been sustained for the of e
hciency and legal skill, would for the last years
greatly exceed the highest paid to Attorney Ge.
neral In any oil our sister States Shall be that every
monied institution and corporate association have
devoted legal adviser and advocate and that
State, with all its and varied interests too poor
or or careless provide herself with the
means oil protection and defencef We have large
number Of corporate bodies such as Pankroad, Rail.
road and Insurance Companies, and Manuact turing Ed.
ucaona and Benevolent Associations all liable to be
proceeded against in the OF the State for viola.
ton oil their charters; and, against such corporate
aggression, who have the people now to protect their
interestsf
If necessity for such an Office has heretofore existed
now when an entire new system OF Legislation is be
adopted II would that his services would be nds.
pensaoie as an adviser upon the of such
acts as may be submitted the Governor for his appro.
VAL 1t urged, therefore, both the ground Of ne.
cessity and economy, that such officer should be
yded for with such compensation will command the
time and best services Of the incumbent.
There are other subjects which press upon my aten.
ton, among which, occupying place Of vas, impor-
tance IS the law OF evidence; but cannot longer
psss upon your time.
Suffice il to say, that with the proposed reforms in
pleading evidence is necessarily and intimately
ed; hut the subject extends large field running
into particulars numerous as, OF ITSELF 10 form the
subject OF an essay or volume.
The true principles Of Criminal Code are also well
deserving separate and somewhat heightened discus.
sion, embracing also the Grand Jury question, which
formed SO prominent subject Of debate in the
Convention.
Deeply sensible as am of the imperfect manner in
which have been able present my views am still
confident that the general system of which only an
line has been attempted, would TO very great extent
remedy the prominent evils connected with the ad.
ministraton of the laws. The time is critical one.
Reform is loudly called fer by the people, The Consti.
tuition enjons it, and it must be made Laws must he
adapted age and the progress of the Elec-
tricty and steam have almost annhilated time and
space Indiana with her fertile plains enterprising and
rapidly increasing population, has become, as it were
but the suburbs Of New York and Philadelphia and the
great cities of the Atlantic seaboard while they in their
turn close by London and Liverpool and Paris and
Hamburger. Old things passing away. Old modes,
old IDEAS and old forms, must go with them The law
must be brought back to its simplicity and all its OPP
pressive features give way to true, honest simple
prompt and effective code to the end that Justice may
be established public order maintained and liberty per.
petuated." PLOWDEN