Washington telegraph., 1855-02-28
Some of Our Laws.

Some of Our Laws. .s,s-s-
The meeting of the last legislature was
looked forward to with more than ordinary
interest by the people of our State. because
of the steps it was expected to take upon
the very important subjects that would be
brought before it. Whether the favorable
anticipations of the people have been real
iEed, we are not yet fully prepared to say,
as the Legislature adjourned without making
any provision for the publication of their
acts, SO that the people might know what
had been DONE A few of the acts passed
by the legislature have reached the public
through the medium of the newspapers Pub
lished at the capital, and among them we
notice some which seem to hare been enact
ed with direct reference to the total destruc-
tioa of the credit of the State, already at
so low an ebb. s-
In proof of the correctness of this opin-
ion it i5only necessary to mention that an
act was passed directing and empowering
the attorney for the State. in al suits now
pending. or that may hereafter be broug ght
against the State. to interpose in all cases
where it would lie, the statute of limitations
"a plea that has been universally pro-
nounced disreputable in an individual debt
or, however desperate his pecuniary condi-
ton might be- In the same act. all the
property belonging to the State, of every
name. nature and description, is exempted
from judgment, attachment, execution or
garnishment. and every other legal coercion
that may be resorted to, to compel an indi-
vidual delinquent debtor to pay his just liza
bilities And to proven. those to whom the
State may be justly indebted from attempt
ing to coerce payment, they are denied the
benefit of every legal remedy, except a suit
at law in the Circuit Court of Pulaski
county. -, ,,,,sg.. .-...l
1t seems to us, that open and avowed re-
pudiation of the liabilities of the State in
famous as we regard it, would have been
more creditable and equally as honest. as
thus to embarrass their collection with so
many obstacles and difficulties, as to render
it impossible. If the people are willing to
appreciate enactments of this character, they
are fully prepared to sanction reputation
in its naked form. and to our mind, the lat
ter is the most creditable, because the most
open and candid Of the two.
The legislature. mot satisfied with sinking
the credit of the State still lower than
it had yet been. by taking from her credi-
tors all their legal rights in enforcing the
liquidation of their Just claims, must strike
still another blow at her moral honesty, by
enacting a law that willfully violates con-
tract We allude to the act which repeals
the fourteenth section of the act of January
9th 1851, relative to swamp and overfowed
lands. ,,
Although in the opinion Of Chancellor
Fairchild. who, We presume. is learned in
the law, the section exempting the swamp
lands from taxation for period of ten years,
or until they should be reclaimed. is regard
ed as boon. or gratuity on the part of the
State, to be Withdrawn at pleasure-we are
satisfied, that every member of the legisla-
ture of 1S50-'51. who voted for the pas
sage of that section. regarded it as an in
ducement held out to expedite the reclama-
ton of the swamp lands-as promise
made by the State. to be literally construed
and honestly complied with. We are also
satisfied that every contractor who under
took and constructed our levees, regarded
this promise as binding on the part of
the State. and looked upon the exemption Of
swamp lands from taxation for the period of
ten years, as very important item in the
anticipated profits upon his labor We
k''ov that it formed a very important ele-
Went in the calculations of many of our cit
liens who purchased scrip and located lands.
and it will be difficult to convince them that
it is either honest or equitable for the State
now to attempt to tax those lands, notwith-
standing an unqualified enactment, to legal,
minds. may appear only boon, or be call
ed in legal language. merely gratuity.
A RAILROAD SoLD.-The Rutland and
Burlington (Vt-) Railroad was sold at aue-
tion by the sheriff. at Bellows Falls recent
ly. for one mill a share. The capital was
$4,000. 900, and its floating debt 80 OOO,-
| 600, 1csIdcS ttIo joIt ~r e9. .ooO, 900 secur.