Smyrna times., 1855-11-21
Publishing the L2Ws.

AAO G'AWos u
We find in The last Delu,care Journal an i
article upon this subject. which, we think, con. Y
tains worGs of truth and soberness The pre-
sent mode sf publishing the laws of this State,
seems rather to be inteTded to suppress or him
der tNe popular know ledge of them than other
<vise. In u moDarchical government the sys-
TEN would work admirably, for with such it is
desirable tt.at the people be kept in ignorance.
In free government every man should be ac-
quainted with the laws by which he is govern
ed, and, if he is not, the fault should not lie
with the lawmakers but with him, and him
alone Now. as regards Delaware we will
venture the assertion that not one voter out OF
twenty ever secures pamphlet copy OF its
laws; whereas, if they were published in the
newspapers of the State, they would fall into
the haads of nearly every man. Another con-
eidecatiou is, that, if published in the newspa-
pers. the laws would be spread before the pub
lic Immediately after their passage by the Leg
islature, when the people, being warmly inter-
estcd in them, would gixe them their careful
attention.
The manner Of giving due publicity to
she iaws is u question of interest to every
sitizcn, and should receive thatattenton which
ats importance demands; the old usage, in
which there is such nefficiency, should no Ion
ger be adhered to, because it is totally made
auate to supply the just demands of the people :
The laws being published about six months
after their enactment-the masses living in the
a. -, AZ bliscf,,l innnra nna n--thpv arc
forgotten, uncared for, and the reading becomes
a task too great to be performed. This often
Avorks to the detriment of good, Wholesome
laws-upon which public opinion may be divi-
ded-and too frequently gives opportunity for
eyasions: the officers, as well the public
having 10 " authority" to go upon. There is
no excuse for the States not doing her duty
especially when it can be done so easily
Reform here is greatly needed-the laws should
at an early day, be well disseminated among
the people-and we are of opinion that, to th
end, better method could not be devised thar
through the medium of the public press.
Tho Journal thus reasons upon the subject
"There is an evil in Delaware which deserve
the earnest attention of the next Legislature
and it is the present manner of publishing tn
Laws of each Session of that body. 1t is tn
duty of the law-making power to tuke ever
means to inform the people of the State Of tn
contents of the Statute book, and the trust
neglected if this duty is not faithfully perform
ed.
"What are the facts The population
Delaware, according to the census of 1850,
1882. Deduct the number of negroes an
slaves, 20,66s. and we have white pOpulato
of7I,IG9 We must still make another dedu
ton, and shameful one it is,--there are 4, 4,5e
white adults who can neither read or writ
and TO them the publication of the laws is
matter of no personal Importance. This leav
white population of 66,6S6 to be provide
for, and over some $4,000 of this number a
voters-sovereigns, who make the laws throue
their representatives. Now what provision
made for publishing the laws The Revis
Code, chapter 4, provides for the publication
800 copies of the pamphlet laws, 420
New Castle county, 800 for Kent, and $50
Sussex. The balance are distributed amo
the States, &c. When the above number
COpico oCuC " CuCh SouhIJ1 h"N my
hers Of the bar, the judges, the magistrat
the county clerks, the constables, &C., are
supplied, how many remain for the people
The people have 10 90 TO the profession or
the office holders to find out what rules are
govern them. This sisall wrong-it is worse tn
criminal in every Legislature who neglects
remedy this great evil.
The newspaper is the everyday book of
people-it is the proper vehicle for informi
the people Of every act Of public importanc
there they read it, and almost every State
the Union avails itself of the press for the p
lication of its laws The newspaper takes
laws as they are passed and presents them
the people. and reading them at time vi
,hey are attracting public attention, their m
features are retained in the memory. We HI
waited seven months for the laws Of the
Legislature, and now we have for distrlbut
one for every twelve voters of the State.
press should ring this subject in the ear
every member Of future Legislatures until st
reform s achieved"
COO
The Danot near SmVrna