Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-10
The Revised and Consolidated Statutes
Of the United States.

We desire to call attention to the compile
ton of this important work, the most i'm
portant probably of any of the numerous
acts of Congress for many years. IL com
bincs IN single statute, all the existing
statutes of the nation in force on the first
day of December, a. d. 1878. It embraces
the acts of Congress for eighty-fiVe years,
which before were comprised in seventeen
large volumes, now reduced to one, not
much exceeding n thousand pages, careful
ly revised and systematically arranged, so
that the existing law, upon any subject,
may be seen in the shortest possible time,
arranged in the most lucid and satisfactory
manner. Before, the law on any subject
consisted of successive enactmeuts, made
from time to time, through period Of
nearly century, and scattered through so
many volumes that it became next TO i'm
possible to find the entire legislation upon
any topic, short of the search of days or
weeks even, and then resulting in no alb
solute certainty. since the successive enact
ments were found under heads bearing no
connection or analogy to the main subject.
This mode of attaching general Legislation
to every kind Of log rolling scheme, not
excepting the appropriation bills, while it
has become most fragrant scandal to the
national legislation, has also rendered 1t
next to impossible to know what the
national statutes upon any subject were,
short of reading the whole seventeen vol
umes in which they were contained, from
beginning to end. In this almost chaotic
r. H., To-
Poland Of Vermont, while member Of the
Senate, nearly eight years since, conceived
the idea of eHecting the present result of
revision and consolidation.
The first movement in the discouraging
undertaking resulted in the passage Of an
act under which the first Commission of
Revision was appointed, with distin-
guished jurist at its head, but which really
resulted in accomplishing almost nothing
toward the completion of the work. When
this Commission threw up the undertake
ing it left the whole matter in a state OF
more hopeless confusion, uncertainty and
distrust than before anything was attempt
ed. One of less power Of will, or determi-
nation OF action, than Judge Poland would
did not abandon it. Being then in the
House of Representatives, he applied his
best energies and talents to its rcsuscla-
tion, and secured the appointment of a new
Commission OF Revision, of more leisure,
and consequently of more work ing capaci-
ty. Mr.. Poland, being Chairman of the
Committee in the House having charge of
the entire subject, has labored with the
most indefatigable industry and perscver-
ance through successive years, in concur
renee with the final Commission, TO bring
about the present most satisfactory result
The entire responsibility of the work has
devolved upon the Committee, and largely
upon lis Chairman, Judge Poland, and il is
but justice 10 him to declare that he met ii
at every point in the most satisfactory man
ner, labOring night aud day, at all hours,
with degree of skill aud judgment scarce
ly ever equaled in any great undertaking,
for the benefit of the nation aud especially
the administration OF justice. We speak
but the common sentiment of the profess
sion in saying that the work is one of un-
surpassed merit, done in the most careful
faithful and satisfactory manner.
We shall soon have the completed work,
with its index and preliminary and margi-
nal notes, which will save the courts and
the bar, as well a. business men, an amount
of labor and perplexity absolutely incalcu-
liable, and for which we are largely, If not
exclusively, in lis primary movement and
speedy accomplishment, indebted TO Judge
Poland. If ho had done nothing else dur
ing his long Congressional service, he
would deserve perpetual and grateful re-
membrane for this alone. Boston Journal