The Ouachita telegraph., 1872-02-03
HOW TO REFORM THE PRINTING Law


General Assembly against certain re-
forms (:) proposed in the law relative
to printing.
We have no objection to saying there
shall be State printer. We do not
believe any thing can be gained by
the bidding or contract system. But
let the instructions to the State printer
bs full, exact and positive-so much
work to be done, ut so much.
The different departments ought to
be restricted in their printing privi-
ieges. Entirely too much printing is
done ostensfbly for the State by her
Officers, when favorites are alone to be
benefited. This can be prevented by
prescribing that the departments may
print and in what style and Mt what
cost; all other printing to he paid for
by them.
So much for State printing. When
1t comes to parochial, municipal and
legal printing, the best, faircst and
simplest law that can be framed is
that to be found in the Revised Stat
utes Of 1855, with the few subsequent
changes made before the war. These
laws left the police jurics free to pub
tisf their proceedings, or not, as they
saw proper.
In cases of seizure and sale, the de-
fendant had certain time allowed
him in which to select the paper in
which his property should be adver-
fiQR<f--f4stty of =;
secure the largest circulation after the
expiration of which time, he not selec-
ting, the plaintiffcould select, and upon
his failure it became the officers duty
to make the selection. This was fair
and just to all parties, but was particu-
1afly cominendable on account of the
mercy and favor shown to distressed
defendants whose property was to be
sold.
With curators, administrators, tu-
tors, and all parish officers rested the
right to select the organs for maxi
ing public their proceedings and wishes.
The proposition offered in tho Sen
ate by Mr.. Ray to give police jurics
the right to select ''of.icial journals is
only another way of establishing r
printing board. In fact, it multiplies
ono State board into hfty-six boards.
ono for each parish. What right has
The legislature to empower the Police
Jury to say in what paper Il defendant
shall have his property advertised :?
None whatever.
Coming down to plain constitutional
law, the General Assembly usrlrps
power when it undertakes to select,
or have selected, official journals in
which private individuals shall pub
iish their advertisements. Because a
man appeals to tho court for relief, it
in no way follows that tho General AS
sambiy has the power to say in what
paper his property shall be advertised,
ift is decreed to be sold. 1t is vested
right he t,as--an inaiicnnbIe right-to
have his property so sold Us to bring it's
.hll market value. Official journals,
1atfng mediums and, hence, property
advertised in them is not advertised
with the end in view of securing the
constitutional rights Of property. Any
law denying to the citizen the right to
enjoy his private propcrty-in which is
included, the right to dispose of it with
out tinti,tttiou--is II law invading his
absolute rights, and therefore nuil and
void. Blackstone pertincntly SAYS that
tho law "will not authorize the te<tst
violation of private property, not oven
for the general yoote or tic wtIotr~re,,,
munity." [Blackstone, chap l, Book 1.
The Constitution declares that a citi-
zen must not be deprived of his prop
erty, except by "due process of law ~
hor shall it & be taken for public Use,
withoutjttst compensation"
The General Assembly transccnds it's
powers in naming an organ for atlver-
tising private property. 1t may and
should select its own organ, because its
proceedings must hc made public; but
it cannot deprive one portion of the
press OF its legitimate patronage, and