Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-07-26

'srm TOO old don't kiss boys
How Laws are Made No 6.
In my last spoke Of the necessity
Of experience and practical knowl-
edge in a legislator, and promised
that in my next article / would speak
something on the principles to be
observed In law making. Many
cares have occupied my time and
the readers have forgotten the prom
ise made so long ago, fear
But as the subject is one of impor-
lance / trust it will be carefully con-
sidered by the voters. In this
country where we have a written
constitution, and the people can
speak only through representatives,
the first subject to be considered is
the method Of selecting those rep
resentatives. Assuming the con-
stitHtion to be made and adopted, it.
provides for the three great branches
OF government; law making body,
agovernor to execute the laws, and
courts TO expound the laws, as we'll
as the administrative machinery by
which the three branches carry the
laws into effect.
In order to live In a social state the
right 10 acquire and hold property
must be recognized and each must
be protected In his property a. well
as his person. That cannot be done
without government and government
cannot be had without means to pay
the expenses. As soon as the right
Of property Is recognized, there can
be no limit to Individual accumula-
ton. and government should protect
al alike In their rights. SsAsfst
Peace and order must reign, and
the rich and wise being able to rule
the poor snd ignorant provisions
must be made for equal protection to
AL, in all relations Of life. There
mnst b records Of titles, and Offices
for keeping public accounss, Offices
70 keep and disburse the public reve-
nues: highwsys. and schools and
revenues to keep them in operation;
courts and their officers, prisons and
rsformatories, benevolent
nd town and city governments;
private corporations and associations,
manufacturing and transportation
combinations. and general and local
subdivisions for the purposes OF
government and the selections Of
Representatives of the people In the
different departments, from fence
viewer to governor and supreme
judge; and revenues must be pro-
vided to pay the expenses.
The general s,rovisions for these |
things are provided for In the con-
stitution; the details for Carrying
them into practice are provided for
by leeislation, and the FIRST principle
TO be observed is that all laws must
be within the limits Of power con-
ferred by the constitution. ALI laws
should be general, and no local or
special legislation should be permit
ted. Fort Wayne should have no
privileges which any other city or
town may not have on the same
terms and conditions.
Indianapolis should not be per-
niftsd to do what my other city is
not permitted to do under the same
but 1t is an evil of
great and growing magnitude to
pass Curative and Ieealizings stat
utes, for every town, and association
and corporate body, which has done
contrary to law. or with
out authority Of Law, and the con-
stitution Is grossly violated In this
respect
The second principle Is, that the
fewer the laws are. the more simple,
plain, and direct In their provisions,
u bsftsr for the people who are
governed by them; and when they
arr ennetsd, they should be- made
because they are necessary, and
than they should be enforced be-
cause Of their necessity.
The third principle is, when once
enacted because necessary, they
should stand; for stability is the test
OF wise laws, and they alone make
good government. Il
: The fourth principle ia, that the
laws should bear equally on all, and
no law should be made to protect
one class. that viii not equally pro-
lect ell; and no rights or privileges
should be given to one or a few
which on the same terms may not be
exercised by all. In other words.
class Legislation should not be toIera-
ted
10 AAA-AA RAAAcsPiC 10, tudt no Oil
should ever become law until It has
bad full and careful consideration in
Al its relations to the laws already
u force and to the rights Of the peo-
pie, by q majority of the law makers;
no hasty legislation should be toler
Atsd. sz <@s4k4 lst1
4
In providing revenue, two kinds of
faxation-direct and indirect are re-
sorted to. Direct taxation Is the
only true way, and then every man !
Knows how much hs pays.
The revenue arising fr,m special
taxation 10 uncertain as to amount .
but certain az to collection. What II.
are commonly called special taxes are
not so in reality; they are general.
but the rovonua In mad for n anoofo1