The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-03-07
A GOOD MOVE.


The Lake Erie Press Association at
their meeting few weeks ago, appoint
ed a Committee to prepare bill provi.
ding for the publication of the laws 10
every county in tho State, and to get
such bill enacted by the Legislature.
In pursuance of their authority the com.
mttee have prepared bill, a copy OF
which we have received. The lst sec
ton provides that certified copy of ev>
cry general law, except the General Ap-
preparation Rill, rs well as of every pri-
vato or local law specially relating to the
county or its citizens, shall as soon as
approved by the Governor, be sent by
the Secretary of the Commonwealth
to the Commissioners of each county.
The Cd section, makes it the duty
Of the County Commissioners as soon
as said laws are received by them
to cause them to be published in not
less than one newspaper CT each
of the two political parties if there be so
many published in the county, no. less
than twice.
The publication of the laws in this
manner mas been practiced for some time
in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and
many other States,and we are Inform ed,
with universal satisfaction to the people.
We believe their publication here an abb
solutc puJNc necessity. To infict pun
ishme.t for acts committed not in vio-
lation of any law when committed, but
cnly pronounced criminal by subsequent
legislation, would be so gross an injus~
tice as not to be thought of for mo-
ment. Public sentiment unhesitatiugly
approves the wisdom cf the Fathers as
expressed in that provision OF the Fed
eral Constitution which ior5ids the pas.
eage of an &c psSt tdcto laO. 1t is one
of the glories Of our laws, theoretically,
that they are prescribed. In fact, this
prescription Of our laws is mockery
and every day We violate the spirit OF
The provision against re post .fttcto (owS.
Our acts of Assembly usually take effect
from the date of their approval by the
Governor The pamphlet Laws do not
usually reach US until July. In the
meantime We are subject TO tie provis,
ions and liable to the pains aud penal
ties of laws we have no opportunity OF
knowing. Should we unwittingly be
guilty of an iufraction OF one OF them'
and be brought before a court Of justice
I?) to answer for our crime, and offer as
defence that we did not know Of the
law, and that we could not have known
of it, it will avail US nothing. The learn
ed Judge, will inform us that the pro-
found and concentrated wisdom Of ages
declares as an axiom, that Ignorance
of the law excuseth no one" Tor " every
man is presumed to know the law" aud
upon this very viOlent presumption We
will be convicted and punished. Oul
laws between the date of their publica
ton and the date of their circulation
are prescribed, in about as true sensC
a. were those of the Roman emperor
who had his laws written in very fine
hand and hung on the tops of high pill
lars, so that while he made public
show of them the people necessarily re
mained as ignorant of fheir provision
as before. The people have right t
know what laws are to govern them i'm
mcdiately upon their approval; suc'
knowledge is public necessity, whic'
the bill under consideration is very vel
calculated to supply.
Another consideration in favor OF thl
mode of publication is that the laws wi
come to the citizen in regular instalme2l
from week to week enabling him to rea
them all and carefully; and in his cour
ty paper he can preserve for future rel
.erenee the whole body Of general ant
local laws of each Year pertaining to hlI
and his county, Noao no man, has tn
nerve to undertake to read the ponder
ous volume of pamphlet laws which
sues yearly, and to hust for any partlc'
lar act, is almost like hunting tor me-
die in hay stack,
We believe as we have said that Il
bill is an absolute public necessity, an
we hope it will pass.
Schuyler CollaY has beeu re elect'