The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-03

But there is still another consider
alton, not to be overlooked, aside
from the beneficial effects of good
10 the COMMUNITIES where
they are published. The newspaper |
goes abroad. If its general appear
ance is respectable and its reading |
matter good, every issue is testimony
in favor of the responsibility and en-
terprise of the region where it is pub
lished. BY it the character of the
soil, the mineral wealth, and all other
Industrial and commercial advanta-
ges are made known. and it becomes
q standing invitation and inducement
to immigration and the Investment of
capital.
May we not then claim without OBJ
lection that the State should aid an
agency that produces such beneficial
results, so far at least as the publica-
ton of its own laws to the people.
The State presumes, IN the execu-
ton of its laws, that all the people
are acquainted with them. It ought
surely, then, afford the people the
best facilities o make themselves ia
miliar with them. 1t can not be
doubted or denied that there is now
a lamentable want of information
among the people concerning the
simplest laws upon the statute book.
The farmer must frequently fee a
lawyer to tell him his rights on the
question of fences. He must take
advice when damaged by his neigh
boris stock. A long course of litiga-
ton looms up in the distance If the
| damming up of a stream is involved,
/ and suit for debt before a magistIa ate
is an undertaking altogether too for
midable to think of without securing
the assistance of member ofthe le-
gal fraternity. The Statute Laws
provide against all this unnecessary
expense, if the people were only
made acquainted with their plain and
simple provisions, expressly devised
for their instruction and information.
But these laws are not in the hands OF
the people. They can not noW be
| procured except at great expense, and
they will continue to be unknown as
| long as they are published only in the
present form. It is, therefore, plain.
" the duty of the State to place be.
tore the people the law by which they
are to be governed, and by which they
are to know their rights and duties
as good citizens.
But we do not rest the arRumen
here Ia the duty Of the State alone
but will proceed to show that it is thu
interest of the State, even in a pecu
mary point Of view, to place in thu
hands of the citizen, through til,
columns of his daily or weekly paper
every law that is enacted that has ref
erence to the rights and duties of cit
liens in general, and all laws tina
have particular local interest to them
IF it were understood in advanc
that the laws were to be published a
the expense of the State, those VIII
submit the laws for adoption to tn
General Assembly would be more care
full 10 prepare them In a more simpl
aud concise form: plain, explicit, ant
easy to be understood. There woult
two fold advantage In this. TIL
people understanding the laws woult
be careful not to violate them; anC
thousands of cases, that now burden
and render expensive to the Stat
the vast machinery of the courts
would not be found upon the dockets
Would it not be much better for the
State to spend a portion of the vas
expense of the courts In informing the
people what they may and may not do
as good law-abidiDg citizens, than Il
spend the same amount In Furnishing
them for what they now do, in many
cases, ignorantly. The expense of the
trial, conviction, and punishment Of
criminals 10 this State is very large
1t may be safely predicted that
one third of those who are
convicted, to say nothing of those who
escape through the lenieney of juries
to this very plea, were ignorant Of
their violation of law when their Of
lenses were committed; not being
principals ia the crime, but through
ignorance, taking such subordinate
parts in the ofense as appeared t.
them in no way 70 endanger their lib
erty. The jurors themselves. being
now made judges of the law as we'll Of
the facts in any given case, renders
it of still greater importance that the
law be read and known by the people
Perhaps ten men out of every jury Of
twelve never read the laws upon
upon which they are constituted
judges on entering the jury room
We find here most pointed reason
why the laws should be published to
the people. In ali these cases, wheth-
er acquittal or conviction be the re-
suit, the State is involved in the ex-
pense.
Three fourths. perhaps, of law suits
in civil cases would not be prosecut-
ed if the litigants were acquainted
with the law In the premises. Many
laws are now placed upon the statute
books that seem to be conceived for
the express purpose of creating liti-
CATION. 1t is safe to presume that all
such legislation would cease, if the
laws as enacted were spread before the
people. Common sense people will
not approve of much of that sort OF
legislation that requires the decision
of the Supreme Court to unfold its
meaning. The people ought to be
able to understand the laws that are
to govern them Being made sim
pie and plain, and facilities being af-
forded of knowing what they are,
much litigation would be avoided.
The State would save large portion
of the expense now incurred In sus
tanning the courts, the citizens them
selves would save the expene of all
unnecessary litigation, and the peace,
harmony, and good feeling in neigh
| borhoods and communities would be
greatly enhanced. The result of the
whole matter would be that no greater
expense would have to be borne by
the State than now, while every citi-
zen might become acquainted with
the laws, and thus make better cit
liens.
The above would not be the only
substantial advantages, The publi.