The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-01-19

Of law, the traditions of this occasion re-
quire the G~overnor-elect at this time to
deliver an Inaugural Address, and en-
body therein the general policies he
stands for, and which he hopes to have
erystalized into law by the aid OF the
legislative department OF the state.
Party Harmony.
Before entering upon the discussion OF
The problem of government, and before
submitting for your consideration sug-
Restions for heir solution, a moment
may be given for a plea to harmony and
good will, without transgressing the CA
mons of good faith, and with the hope
that the speaker will escape the charge
OF attempting to play the role of teacher
or mentor.
1t is easy to forecast that the Gov
srnor whose term of office begins today,
by reason of the unique conditions which
brought about his unanimous selection
as the standard bearer OF his party, Will
have trouble all his own during the en-
suing four years. On the other hand, it
seems clear also, that he occupies such
relations to the several factions within
his party that an imperative duty Is
thereby imposed upon him to make an
honest and courageous effort to restore
party harmony, especially while we are
all engaged in the transaction OF the
business of the whole people However
~thankless this task may be, and however
liable to minsconstruction and criticism,
out of a sense of duty | have decided
nevertheless to essay the role OF peace
maker.
Standing at the very summit OF my
ambition and moved by a fixed purpose
to use every legitimate effort to advance
and conserve the moral and material
welfare of the State, and 10 give every
moment OF my time and thought Tor the
next four years to the interest OF the
people, it is surely not amiss for me to
claim the cooperation, sympathy and
support of every department OF the
State government, so long as my official
conduct gives evidence of a desire to
accomplish something for the prosperity
and glory OF the Commonwealth.
Ia order that we may serve the people
best, we must first have peace and har-
mony; the passions and animosities en-
gcndered and inlamed by the white heat
OF political combat must be forgotten.
II there are those who must indulge in
examinations and recriminations, let it
be postponed until election years. when
they can al least offer as an excuse for
using such questionable methods the
degenerate practices of later day politi-
cal warfare.
Believing this, and being inspired by
no motive other than the good of my
State. l earnestly summon my co-labor-
ers to put aside all thought OF faction,
or schism, and let us enter upon our
duties with a fixed purpose to welcome
the counsel and aid of all who may have
anything to offer which promises to ben
eft the people whose interest we have
been chosen to represent.
Reformation of Criminal Law and Pro-
cedure.
The common law of England is the
law OF NJ Mississippi. except where changed
by statute, and therefore the courts OF
our State are bound to archaic princi-
plies, wise enough when made. but often
entirely untitled to modern conditions.
The safeguards thrown around per
Sons charged with violations of the Grim
inal law, by judicial construction, were
designed to soften the rigor OF the law
at a time when what would now be re-
garded as trivial misdemeanors were then
denounced as ~felonies and punishable
by death.
The judges of that period were more
humare than the laws they were called
upon to enforce; so it was that The
courts began to build barriers around
miserable and helpless victims of a bar
barous code Of laws for the purpose o.
rendering it more difficult to shed hu
man blood.
Miscarriages of justice are improperl,
attributed to the inefficiency of tn
courts and the parties charged with tn
duty of law enforcement. EXperienc
and an intimate acquaintance with tn
Judges who have presided over the court
of his State for the past twenty year
Justify the assertion that the fault doe
not lie in any degree at the doors o
judiciary; and only to a limited e,
tent are the other officers of the law II
sponsible for the lack of efficiency G
the machinery of the law.
The courts must be unshackled an
the paralayzing influence of the on
grown rule of practice and proceduI
must be brushed away by a general owe
hauling of our statute. The enforc
ment Of the law lies close to my hear
and l am convinced that nothing is {
greater Importance to the people an
their happiness and prosperity. We al
no better and no worse than the 9TH
states Of the Union, but it seems tn;
our faults are magniied and advertise
while other communities escape such u
desirable publicity. In order to free Il
courts and provide them with a model
code of procedure and practice, by Il
aid of which much can be ~accomplishe
the Governor should have the authorit
to employ a commission to recast al
modernize the practice in the Grimm
courts. Other States have laws far
advance of ours, and such a commissit
should examine the laws of all Il
States and the working thereof, and tn,
submit for your consideration the resul
of their labors; and, if necessary, cou
off a bill looking to an improvems
of our laws. The cost of the commissi,
would be small compared to the val
of the service, and the work could
done within a months time.
As an aid to the speedy and sure c
forcement of the law, the Legislatu
should limit the present unrestrict'
right of appeal from the judgments
the courts The right of appeal is nc
absolute.
Why should a blind tiger, for examp'
h. npprNi+tad 70 ANIMAL 10 fhroa a,rx