The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15

to intellects, which by culture and expe-
ence are suited for so high and delicate
trust. We no longer ought to expect to
witness in our legislative halls, the humil-
isting spectacle of our Territorial ex-
perience, when ignorance and corruption
too often conspired to enact the most
crude and unnecessary, or to dis6gure and
distort the wisest and most wholesome of
laws. We then could not reasonably
hope, that some whisky-drinking, card
playing half breed, who had been SNUG.
gled into the legislative assembly for the
sole purpose Of swelling the majority vote
on some sinister measure, should UNDER
stand, or act, with any sense of dignity,
the unsuitable part he had assumed. Like
considerations applied, with equal force,
to the conduct and character of many
others, whose only recommendations to
such an Office, were their impudence and
persistent intrigue, for some strictly local
or selfish concern.
1t may be that similar disgraceful in
stances, Of corruption and ignorance, can
be found among the somewhat miscella-
neous body of gentlemen who will occupy
the Capitol for that somewhat talismanie
period Of "the next sixty days." but we
sincerely hope, for the credit and honor
of the State, that Minnesota has at last
achieved the triumph of possessing one
legislative assembly, the majority ofwhose
members have at least honesty and intel
ligence enough to be willing to legislate
for somebody else than themselves, and to
know how to read the laws which they
may enact.
The Constitution has wisely limited the
legislative sessions to a period of two
months, upon the sound principle that
wise assembly can enact all necessary
laws within a shorter time, and that, in
the other alternative, the destructive folly
Of demagogues and fools should end as
soon as possible, by the expiration of their
power.
Gould We find so large body of men
exclusively devoted to the veal of the
State and their constituents, we should,
perhaps, see the present legislative assem-
bly, seconding, in the most appropriate
and profitable manner, this principle of
the Constitution, by voluntary adjourn
ment SO soon as the absolutely necessary
business of the session shall be transacted.
But the age of miracles has passed, and
we cannot expect that these, or any other
body of officers, will consent to anything
short of the last day and the last dime OF
their allotted term and pay.
Yet we DO invoke them, in the name of
honor and by the ties of common interest,
which we all should have in the welfare
and integrity of our young Stately the
fear of shame, which the disgraceful e1-
ample of their predecessors should teach
them-that they, without any knowledge
or just appreciation of the consequences,
will not fall to amending, interpolating,
tinkering and cobbling up the general
statutes.
The condition which this meddling in
reference, by ignorance and presumption,
has left many of the general laws of the
State, is not only disgusting and shameful,
but is actually curious, as historic mark
of country vandalism, which too often
delights in rendering loose and vulgar, what
time, experience and learning have united
to polish and perfect. The various laws
concerning mechanics liens, township laws,
laws for the collection of taxes and many,
if not most of the various amendments of
the statute concerning the practice and
proceedings in courts that have from time
to time resulted as the fulfllment of some
pet hobby Of some member from the bush,
or as the special pettifogging scheme of
some interested attorney, are all marks of
this obnoxious feature of Minnesota legis-
lation.
1t was said by most superior legal
mind that it is better to have permanent
evil laws than 1auctuating good ones; yet,
laws have been so often and inconsiderately
amended, in this State, that in many cases
it has been impossible for the courts to
publish their construction of a statute
before such law itself was swept away by
substitution or amendment; while rights,
under such laws, were as uncertain az
were the ancient dispensations of eouity.
which SELDEN said, chad no more uniform
rules of administration than existed in
measurement and sizes of the different
Chancellor's feet"
To such as may still insist on gratifying
some penchant, they may nurse to
fire the Ephesian Dome, for the sake of