The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-26

Upon the adjournment of the Legislature, we
briefly noticed the miserable chickering's and profess
discussions in which the session had been mostly
consumed and stated our conviction that the people
of the State had derived benefit thereron at all
commensurate with the price they had to pay for it.
We also regretted that amid the manifold attempts
to explain or introduce new systems, the efforts to
harmonize or improve those already established
should have been so few and feeble. The results of
these legislative lators now before us in the
shape ola ponderous volume of 1853 pages, glance
at whose contents will amply justify the low
estimate we then placed upon them. We retract,
however, any expression of disappointment at the
neglect of the Legislature to revise the weightier
matters ofthe law" and in place thereof record our
thankfuness that they went no farther, so satisfied
are we thai, in such case, we should have tiared
worse" Capacity and honest industry must both
be brought to bear upon the entangled mass into
which countless statutes have resolved themselves,
and the work before us affords evidence of
the existence Of the quality in the late Legisla
ture than the journals of its session gave proof ofthe
other. Out OF four hundred and thirty-two acts,
more than four hundred wholly private or local
in purpose and effect. Of the few affecting the State
at large the most prominent ale those providing
for the Constitutional Convention, and the issuing
of certain licenses. The former has been made IA
miar through repeated discussions, and the latter
we understand, presents several salient points to
the legal mind upon which many illegally -minded
persons about to entrench themselves forthwith
In framing this law the country members have evil
w ha6 10 Tho of iEu,ip inn
for by section 5, it will be seen, that no tavern
keeper beyond the limits of this city can obtain
license for his bar unless he also makes adequate
provision for six and five horses. The old signs
WILL therefore continue to announce E!entertain-
ment for man and beast" The other ten or twenty
general acts relate mostly to the form rather than
the substance Of things. Deeds which have never
been properly acknowledged, are made valid in
sweeping terms; and in equal measure, is the same
favor extended TO those, which in not being duly
recorded have failed to meet the requirements of
law passed two years since.
The authority of the Clerks of the County, and
the appointments of special Judges are further
regulated, and, beyond this, these general laws
are of slight interest or utility. But speci-
mems of every variety of local legislation are here
exhibited. The erection of Corporations seems to
to have been a favorite employment. Seventy
four Acts create or enlarge as many Companies
that frequently differ widely in their objects, as do
the 'BEL-AIR AND FRoGTowN'' and the PARTICULAR
BAPTIST GUNpowDER' Associations, in their titles
Public officers and their surees have been gener-
onsly released from their liabilities. Agents of
every description have been literally rewarded -
In all parts of the State benefcent power has been
largely and, we trust benefcially, exeu ned The
hunters of Allegheny have been stimulated to
additional activity by an increase of the bounty on
ION scalps. The coach-makers of Dorchester have
been encouraged by prohibition of all sales ''on
commission or otherwise of gigs and buggy
wagons, made out of the State, except upon the
annual payment of forty dollars for q license
Ample provision has been also made for the speedy
payment of their dues to the Crers and Bailifs of
Carroll County Court, by two Acts, identical in
language, but differing in the arrangement of the
capital letters and punctuation marks, a wise pre-
caution that should have been prudently adopted
with most of the other Acts in the volume
Even admitting all these enactments to be useful
and proper yet cannot believe that they were of
sufficient moment to have engrossed the two
months session of the Assembled wisdom" to
which we are indebted for them. There must have
been more important subject matter within the
special departments of the leading Committees, from
which they might have wrought out something of
essential service to the whole community. 1t is
difficult to understand how Judiciary Committee,
for instance, possessed of even limited amount
of legal knowledge, could be content to offer rs the
chief result of its labors on the public law the two
Acts-to ''Amend the Law of Mandamus Cases -
and to ''Nodify the Punishment of Free Negroes
But after ALL perhaps, we have only ourselves to
blame, for the recognized ncompetency of ''public
servants, " in these latter days Wehave followed
too faithfully the motto "prnciples-not men,
which has so long been inscribed upon political
banners. The choice of the men to whose keeping
principles are to be entrusted ought now, at least.
to be of serious and vital concern Youthful ambi
ton and middle-aged stupidity have too long been
gratified with place and power ut the public ex-
pense. The greatest reformation now to be effected
by the people in regard to the character of their
representatives. As soon as practical honest. and
really competent men selected for office instead
OF the reckless partizans who have, principally,
sought and found it. for some years past it will be
found that four hundred and thirty-two laws will
not be passed. every two years. to regulate the dis
Jointed machinery of the State.