Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-05-27
CT IA r X SvIILE.
Friday, May 81, 1859.
DR.. Menees and the Pass Law.


As We propose in this, and subsequent numbers |
10 review some of the leading points in the Sena-
torial record of Dr. Menecs, we shall commence by
showing that the defence he sets up is totally worth
less, In the first place, he says the Legislature
authorised Messrs. Meigs and Cooper to prepare
what is called the new Code of Tennessee, and that
in voting for the laws of which it is constituted he
has the sanction of their legal ability and their APP
proyal. glance at the factS will detect the weak
mess Of this plea The above named gentlemen were
appointed committee to compile collect together
the laws of the State and report to the Legislature
the result of their lnbors They had no authority
to repeal, modify or amend solitary law-they
were not clothed with legislative functions, and are
no more responsible for the wisdom of the laws
than Eastman and CO., who printed them. Again,
DR.. Menees intimates in his defence, that it could
not be expected they would examine each law as it
came up for re-enactment, after having passed the
ordeal of the known ability Of Mcssrs. Megs and
Cooper, and stood the test of time. That he did
expect to examine each law and to vote for OF
against it, upon its merits, is clear from the follow
ing resolution, offered 10y himself and adopted by
plea Of ignorance:
"By leave, Mr.. Menccs offered resolution
No. 81
Making it the duty of the Chairman of the Com
mittee on the revised Code or in his absence of
some other member of said Committee, during each
reading of the Code in the Senate to point cut any
change, or changes that may have been made in
existing laws, and explain the nature and extent Of
such chance or chances See Senate Journal mare
2f9.
Having shown that MessTs. Meigs and Cooper had
no more to do with making the laws than the clerk
who Transcribed them, and that DIR. Mences had all
the facilities for investigating their merits which he
himself asked for, it follows that his votes are the
true opponents of his Judgment and Statcsmanship
Of which We proceed to give aspecimen. On Iages
1890, of the Code, the following sections may be
found
"l7lO, A person is guilty of misbehayor who
having no apparent means OF subsistence, ncglccts
10 apply himself to some honest calling; or who
saunters about neglectng his business or who tries
TO maintain himself by gaming, other undue
means; who exhibits the gaming table common
ly called b c. or n faro bank or any other gaming
cloth, table, or bank, of the same or like kind,
der any denomination whatever
III. Such person may be required to find
sScurctics Of good behavior To that end, any
Justice of the Peace of any County where the of
fender may be found, SHALL ON due proof made issue
Il warrant, and cause him to be brought before him,
and, on conviction, demand of him sureteS for his
good behavior; and in case of his refusal neglect
10 give the same, may commit him TO the jail of the
county for not exceeding five days, at the expirf-
ton Of which Imprisonment he shall he set at
liberty if nothing criminal appear against him, he
paying all charges arising IRON said imprison-
mcnt.
l7l2. II such convict repeat the offence within
thirty days after his discharge, hc shall he deemed
aNaGranL and bc subject To one months imwisou-
mcnL and 10 the payment Of all costs accruiug
thereon; and if lac neglect refuse In pay said
costs, he may be continued in prison until the next
Circuit or Criminal Court, which shall proceed Ia
Try the offender and if he he found guilty by a
jury, the court may cause him 10 ne imprisoned in
the county jail not exceeding thirty days
Now VIC ask the reader to anolyzc thc foregoing
provisions smockng strongly of the Spanish In
QUESTION, and say TO what wrongs they muy lead
who is to he the judge whether man In. mean,
OF subsistence, or is ucglcctng his business Or if
he do neglect his husin~s-as thousands are con-
stanty dcing--whu,c business is IL but his OWL? p
II a man 20 mo q county, where he is n stranger,
and on private business which he docs not wish
shall be known must he carry with him the capital
On the interest Of which he lives or his land and
negroes that It may o., seen ne has apparent means
at subsistence llut 10 make the matter clearer.
suppose our uciglhor were To go into Robertson
county for the puIusc Of organizing tire dcmoorrc,
in the several civil DruicS-uot wishing his husi-
ucss To he kuowp-lnd one of thc Big Jane Jury.
in q spirit OF revenge were 10 make oath Uc.orc q
Magistrate that hc had "no apparent means Of sub.
'cncc," or vas Runtoring about "nc-lo,,mg hl-
business, what might follow lie might be inn
rrsorpd for five days 'Und If nothing criminal
aupouvA o,sust him, lac might be- set at liberty
provided b, wlid all the costs of his imprisonment
Aud the ,Ho. hing might happen 70 "a, were W,
10 go TO Ni'v.rl on similar mission II is
mNmo 'NNt man Is pre- uncd to he muoccn
ntil the CONTRARY proven but pr Mcnoos reverse,
the maxim and p umcs q man TO be guilty unit
his innocepce il established and under this rule
ana these pso'siont an uo0cnsye man may b,
imrriaonel on the OATH or au enemy and only SET
atibeFly, AZ the c2pirai cot FIVE days, provided
en0lklng criminal appeal a.uu,t him, and proyid
" ,ted he pays the costs in''wr 10y the wrong OF
which he is n, victim Sui tyranny may do ia
the Latitude Of Russia bat in l,, land Of freedom
public seathnsni Viii tolerate 10 law which so com
a, ,,,t', ,a.hce a. wicket with T'wov 'owroug thu