The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-02-19
REVISED CODE OF LAWS.
(From the Nashville Daily Nevs.)

REVISED CODE OF LAWS.
(Prom the Nashville Daily Nevs)
The revision and codihcaiion Of the Statu-
tory enactments of the State of Tennessee
is, without question, the great work before
the Legislature. In importance it overshad'
ows every other measure which has or will
be brought before the present session Of the
General Assembly. If nothing else be done
by which good can accrue to the people Of
the State, by this Legislature, they will be
amply repaid for the large expenditure in
money and time, by the passage Of the Re-
vised Code.
There are, doubtless, some persons in the
State who do not fully appreciate the ne
cessity of this measure, and hence we hear of
occasional murmurings in reference TO the
length of the present session Of the Legisla-
ture, but the great mass Of the people are
aware of its Importance, as we firmly believe'
from present Indications, ne well as from past
Legislation upon the subject The condition
Of the statutory provisions Of the State 10
their present shape, is confusion worse con-
founded" The trouble, vexation, delay, end
less litigation, and unnecessary expense
which attends the legal practice in Tennessee
the legitimate result Of conflicting statutes,
the misinterpretation Of Others of vague and
indefinite meaning, and an absence of a
knowledge Of the existence Of many more
has long since convinced her citizens that the
statutes to which they look for the protection
of their rights, should be revised, condensed,
modified, and codified. Looking to this great
object, six years ago they took the initiative
to bring it about by appointing, through their
representatives in the General Assembly, two
gentlemen, learned in the law, us Commits
sioners TO perform so much Of the work as
came within the scope of their instructions.
The work was one of great magnitude, and
IL was not until the present session of the
Legislature that the Commissioners were able
to present the entire result of their labors for
the consideration Of the peoples agents.
The Legislature raised Select Committee,
composed of members of the two Houses
gentlemen em,nently qualified for the posi-
tion-to whom the Code was referred. To
that Commit is confded the labor, the
drudgery, if we may so speak, Of considering,
investigating, discussing, and passing upon
this measure preparatory to submitting il for
the action of the Legislature. To do this,
requires the most patient investigation and
scrutiny, the most uniiring and laborious np-
plicaii0n, and the exercise of the clearest
Judgment in matters of law. We desire TO
say rs simple act of justice to that Commit
tee, that the Legislature ard the State are
peculiarly fortunate in their selection. Most
of them are men Of large experience and smi-
nent requirements in matters Of legal juris-
prudence. They are interchangeable in the dis
charge of the onerous, yet highly important
duty assigned them. Every proposition in.
volving doub. or requiring modification re-
ceives the fullest investigation. So complete
is their work that as each title of the Code
leaves their hands, so, in most instances, il
passes the two Houses Of the General As
semby. When completed, the State Of Ten.
nessee will possess code of laws which will,
we opine, in all particulars compare favorably
with that of any State in the Union-"a con-
summation most devoutly wished for" The
Committee, to expedite its completion, have
given up all other business, and are applying
themselves exclusively to its consideration.
1t will yet require some thirty FIVE days to
complete the work. In the meantime the
Legislature will have to address themselves
with renewed diligence to the other business
of the session now before them, 90 as TO dis
pose OF 1t within that period.