The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-26

MORE FACT THAN FAscY-Speaking Of the
statutesof the state, and the various attempts to
revise, codlfy, condense and and put them in an
intelheible shape, as well as the enormous ex-
pense that has hitherto attended abortive en-
deavors in that line, the Baton Rouge Comet.
of the 4thi INDUCES in the subjoined obsera-
tions. which smack infinitely more of fact, than
of fancy:
The STATUTES AT LAReE.-It is painful to
reflect misunderstanding an annual expendi-
ture on the part of this state-of say, at a low
figure, 5000, to revise the statutes-that
every succeeding attempt to do the work only
confounds confusion. A gentleman remarked
the other night, in company with several gen
tlemen that tie volumnious work from the pen
and scissor of Mr.. Phillips for which the state
has paid the modest sum of $4,000, is such
medley of contradictions, that paragon oflaw
yers, who resides in Philadelphia might take
the book and strain his eyes out of their sockets
to find what the law is, and come off no wiser
than others, who with their eyes open, are yet
in the dark. zEG ggs@
The last legislature ran over this volume, as
it did all things else out of which nothing could
be made, and as the book is already bound in
calf to lay on the library shelf with King & Co.'S
digest-wbich only. costs about S4O,oOO--of
course the nextlegislature will consider the pro-
priety of having the laws revised, and give
some other faithful partisan lawyera job The
same gentleman above referred to, (who is Il
lawyer, said that in company with an expert.
enced member Of his profession, they spent a
whole day in frutless effort to find the law
governing SUGGESTIONS. .r
II ;c ,poH 1ypour in raf,ranco fo fbis n, aff
that the laws of the land are not intended for
| the comprehension of the common mind, but
for heavens sake-we say it in behalf of the
tax-ridden people-do let us have the statutes
at large collatcd in some fashion Ineligible to
| those who live by them.
What is the reason the State never secures
! the services off competent and industrious law
yer to compile the work?
| Mr. John Van Buren is so anxious for re-
union of the scattered factions Of the democratic
party in New York, since his prediction of
1000 plurality for the softs i'll that state was
falslhed, that he proposes to make extraordinary
sacrifices. He has written letter authorizing
one of lis friends to say that
eff the hards and softs, as they are called,
will form single organization. and send a sim
gle delegation to Cincinnati, | will enter into
bonds, with good surelles not to hold any office.
state or national, for ten years from this date,
and SO far from considering this a privation or
sacrifice, | will make the exemption good con-
sideration for promising to pay annually for the
same period, to the democratic state committee,
two hundred and fifty dollars towards the legal
expenses of the election" Vii
John said, in speech delivered just previous
to the N. Y. election, that he had served the
democratic party long and faithfully, without
remuDeration-tha he never received nomi-
nation for Office, nor was voted for, except once.
when he received one vote for the high and
responsible Office of sheriff Of Queens county.
He also stated that the height of his ambition
was to be appointed to representthe democratic
party of New York at the national convention
to be held at Cincinnati. John evidently sees
that shere is no hope of receiving this honor,
in the preseat divided state of his party-hence
his unremitting efforts and proposed sacrifices
to bring the hards and softs together again.
The sofls committed fatal error in endorsing
the weak, yaciatng, and unpopular admins
traton OF president Pierce, and that was the
cause of their overwhelming defeat. Their
leaders have now discovered the utter hopeless
ness Of their remaining distinct organization
any longer, and are making herculean efforts to
heal the dissentions and feuds which have so
long existed between them and the hards, and
| bring about coalition. But, tits evident, thsy
will never accomplish this end until they repu-
diate the present administration, which the
hards detest as much as the wings and know
nothings do.
| .. --~~~~-~>--~--~~>-~---~< 1 @r---
| ROMANCE OF REAL L1FE.-The Chicago
Times relates story, the incidents in which are
said to be real. In small town in the interior of
Ohio, lived a beautiful woman. whose father
dying, wiled her the whole of large fortune,
which she was to inherit when twenty-one years
of age, on condition that she should remain
single until that time. She obeycd the iniunc-
ton for some years, but her young affections
became at length-some three years previous
to the expiration of the time named in the will
the prey of an artfu man, of snowy address,
who removed from another place and took up
his residence in the village where the young
Ehelress resided, for the purpose of laying siege
to her heart. He succeeded too well, and under
pretence that he was wealthy himself, and did
not require the young woman's fortune in order
to live in ease and elegance, induced her to con
sent to a secret marriage. IN I-IsE 81
The wary fortune hunter had been duped by
his own urgency in pursuit of the large property
which the young and credulous woman was
supposed to inherit Internationally on coming
10 the age prescribed. He made known the
marriage, and was at once undeceived by the
guardian of the lady, who announced to him
that the fortune was lost to him and his wife
forever, as by the terms of the will the mar
riage of the daughter gave the property to
another branch of the family. Maddtned by
the destruction of his hopes, the rascal de-
nounced his wife for deception, although she
had endeavored to make him understand the
real facts, and as she fell fainting, he left the
house and the village. Years afterwards the
abandoned bride received letter from her hus-
band, who had learned that she had become
possessed Of the property designed for her by
her father, on the annulment of the marriage,
and trusting to her retaining lingering afec-
ton for him, hoped that he might still gain the
prize he had coveted
She responded to the letter, offering to unite
her fate with his, and saying that she could now
give him the inheritance that had caused them