The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-05-31

legisIauVe enactments are dressed IN the bar
barous, uncouth, meaningless, alb urd appa-
rel which they now wear, just so long none
will undertake to apprehend them, except
those whose station in the town, county, or
state in which the laws are enforced, requires
them to become acquainted with such enact
ments,-except those who are pecuniarily
recompensed for the assiduous study necessa-
ry to understand them Verify, it seems as
if our legislators strive their utmost to render
the import of their laws as difficult of com
comprehension, as possible that it will be
absolutely necessary to call in the aid of some
member of the legal profession, before thhc
meaning Of the enactment can be reached
Just let our laws be expressed in the simple
English language, and l doubt not they will
be generally perused, comprehended, remem-
bered and obeyed. AS it is, it matters little
how great the accumulation of direct evidence
is against an alleged criminal, if he can but
fee talented lawyer-one versed in legal
technicalities, less princpled the better,
--he will probably secure an acquittal. AS
a matter of course, such a probability does
anything but deter from the commission of
crime
But. supe,huity and ambiguity of express
sion are not the only objections which have
to urge against our laws they are partial and
unjust. Legal enactments are a provision of
society against the vicious they are designed
to protect the good, by furnishing the evil the
orderly need no law. Such enactments fail
to answer their proper emil, if they do not de-
ter the malefactor, or if they are not impair
tial Lave said that our laws are partial
Example: On page 3O2 of Derby's edition
for 1854 of Judge Swans revised statutes Of
Ohio, commences most rigid enactment
against certain immoral practices which are
there enumerated the first section of which
imposes fns of from one to yfVs dollars for
each violation of the first lay of the week,
commonly called Sunday.
''Surely," says the reader, "the enactors
Of that law were good, moral men, and pure
hearted legislators" But stop a moment
SuTpyse the transgressor possessed no prop
erty, by selling which, under an exception,
you can collect the fine; how will the law
then work ? In accordance with another
statute, a person may hold fire hundred dollars
worth of property exempt from sale by exc
cution This is certainly wise and good
law; for mans family are thus secured from
an obligation to cancel lis debts, or endure
privations on account of the existence of such
debts. But how does this circumstance af-
feet those who violate the law in regard to
the Sabbath? Why, in just this way if they
are willing to pay the fine, or il they have
liable property and can be compelled to
do so, well otherwise, not only do they
escape scot free, and continue TO break the
law with impunity, but the complainant must
foot the cost bill, in addition to deal of per-
secution because of his "fanatcism." Do5s
not this state of things call loudly for re
form?
lam neither lawyer, nor lawgiver's son;
and were you to ask me to suggest an amend
ment to the law respecting Sunday, 1 might
respectfully decline; for I do not pretend to be
competent to either frame or amend an enact
ment but should refer you to the legisla-
tors, to him whose employment is law
making or to the professed civilian, whose
business it is to expound the law. There are,
however, two o, three points concerning this
matter, viii h are to me quite plain. Those
who frequently violate law, are consumers,
rather than producers and they therefore,
very rarely possess over five hundred dollars
worth of property; but they usually have
money enough to liquidate light fine, rather
than lie long in jail. The object of fines,
though not to beggar and exasperate the
is to deter and reform from crimes.
1t is better, therefore, either to rely wholly
upon moral suasion, or to collect the fine
uithom fail An Attorney f.ly said, mot
the heayiness of the penalty, so much as the
of its infection. prevents crime"
A GOLD MINE IN NEW YoRK.-We have a
letter from Amsterdam, Montgomery Co
Ciyinp an account Of the accidental discovery