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Spirituous Liquors. The act, passed April 19, 1838, to regulate the sale of spirituous liquors, is repealed. Chap. 1.

Apprehension of Criminals. The selectmen of towns and the mayor and aldermen of cities are authorized, when, in their opinion, the public good may require it, to offer a suitable reward to be paid by the town or city, not exceeding two hundred dollars, for the securing of any person charged with any capital or other high crime or misdemeanor committed therein. Chap. 75.

Passenger Carriers. In case of the loss of the life of any person, being a passenger, by reason of the negligence or carelessness of the proprietor or proprietors of any railroad, steamboat, stage coach, or of common carriers of passengers, or by the unfitness or gross negligence or carelessness of their servants or agents, such proprietors and carriers are made liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand nor less than five hundred dollars, to be recovered by indictment, to the use of the executor or administrator of the deceased person, for the benefit of his widow and heirs. Chap. 80.

Evidence of Marriage. Whenever, on hearing of any application for divorce, the fact of marriage is required or offered to be proved, evidence of admission of said fact by the party against whom the process is instituted, or of general repute, or of cohabitation as married persons, or any other circumstantial or presumptive evidence, from which said fact may be inferred, shall be received as competent evidence for consideration, whether the marriage to be proved was contracted in this state or elsewhere. Chap. 84.

Fire from locomotive engines. In the case of injury done to a building or other property, by fire communicated by a locomotive engine of any railroad corporation, the corporation is made liable in damages to the party injured. It may insure property along its route on its own behalf, Chap. 85.

GEORGIA. Among the acts of the general assembly of the state of Georgia, passed at the annual session in November and December, 1839, we find but very few of any interest to the citizens of other states.

Attachments and Garnishments. Affidavits upon which attachments or garnishments may issue may be made by the nonresident creditor before the commissioner of the state of Georgia to take acknowledgments of deeds, or before any judge or judicial officers. authorized to administer oaths, or before any notary public. Dec. 21, 1839.

SOUTH CAROLINA. The general assembly of this state, in December, 1839, passed thirty-two acts, many of which are of considerable length and much local importance, viz., chap. 7, concerning the office and duties of magistrates; chap. 9, concerning the office, duties and liabilities of sheriffs; chap. 10, concerning the office and duties of ordinary; chap. 11, concerning the office, duties and liabilities of coroner; chap. 12, to regulate the office of constable; and, chap. 18, concerning the office and duties of clerks, registers of mesne conveyances, and commissioners of locations. We find but few of any general interest.

Executors and Administrators. Executors, &c., are authorized to become purchasers at the sales of the property of their testators, &c., under whatsoever authority the same may be made, but shall be liable to the parties interested, for the actual value of the property at the time of sale, in cases where it may be sold at an under price. Chap. 14.

ALABAMA. The general assembly of the state of Alabama, at the annual session thereof, which commenced on the first Monday in December, 1839, passed one hundred and two public and general acts, one hundred and sixty-seven private and special, and sundry joint resolutions.

Depositions. Whenever the testimony of any female witness may be necessary, in any civil case, it shall be taken by deposition, whether the witness live in the county where the cause is pending or not. No. 15.

Witnesses. Commissioners authorized to examine witnesses are empowered to issue subpoenas to compel their attendance. No. 38. Bills of Exchange. In the case of suits by the bank of Ala

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bama or any of its branches, on bills of exchange and promissory notes, it is made the duty of the attorney to include in the writ or notice the names of all the parties liable, and to issue as many writs or notices as there may be counties in which the parties reside. No. 58, § 1.

If no defence is interposed in such suit, one judgment is to be rendered against all the parties who are legally before the court, and against whom a recovery may be had; except that a separate judgment is to be rendered against the acceptor of a bill, where he is liable in a different sum from the other parties. § 2.

If any defence is made, and the plaintiff, or any of the parties, demand a severance, the proceedings are to be the same as if the parties had been severally sued. § 3.

Disturbance of Religious Meetings. The wilful interruption or disturbance of any assembly of people met for religious worship, either by making a noise, or by rude or indecent behavior, at or so near the place of worship as to disturb the order and solemnity of such meeting, is punishable by a fine of not less than five nor more than fifty dollars. No. 50,

Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court. The office of reporter is abolished, and its duties imposed upon the judges, with an increase of salary. No. 75.

Administrators. The judges of the county courts are authorized to appoint suitable persons in their respective counties, to take charge of the estates of deceased persons, in cases where no other person will administer on the same. No. 86, § 1.

They are also authorized to appoint guardians, in cases where no one will act as such, § 2,

CRITICAL NOTICES.

1.-Manual of Political Ethics; designed chiefly for the Use of Colleges and Students at Law. Part II. Political Ethics Proper. By FRANCIS LIEBER. Boston: C. C. Little and James Brown.

1839.

THE first part of this work was reviewed in the forty-first number of our journal (April, 1839), and the second part brings this elaborate work to a conclusion. The second part is more extended than the first, and is divided into five books, and it will be found an equally important and valuable gift to the politician and the states

man.

The third book (which is the first book of the second part, the first part having been comprised in two books) commences with some observations on the importance of a thorough acquaintance with our ethic relations in politics, derived from a consideration of the character of our race, the spirit of the age in which we live, and the direction which has been given to political studies. Private morality is of the highest importance to the well-being of the state, for the best laws will be inoperative without a corresponding sense of duty and virtue. "There are certain virtues, as well as vices, which are of peculiar importance to the state, because they either prompt more frequently to public acts, or come more often than others into play in political life." These form a proper subject of discussion, before proceeding to consider those important situations, in which the citizen is called upon conscientiously to act, although not guided by any law.

After these preliminary observations, the remaining portion of the first chapter of the third book is devoted to the virtue of justice, a most indispensable one to the state, and even constituting its very essence. In connection with this portion of his subject, the author treats of the question, Whether a citizen is in conscience allowed to do all that the laws permit; which he decides in the negative.

The second chapter treats of the kindred virtues of fortitude, perseverance, calmness, firmness, and consistency. "That the citizen be," says Mr. Lieber, "honestly and firmly persevering, requires that his purpose be good, his cause just, that he adapt his means to the purpose, and his purpose to his means; that he concentrate his means for the one great object in view, that he be ever mindful that repeated and uninterrupted action may compensate for the absence of great power, and that in cases of the greatest trial, when the struggle comes at the last between nearly balanced powers, a trifle must decide." In connection with these virtues, he also treats of the want of calmness, in four effects, namely, fretfulness, discontent, inconsistency, and obstinacy, the counterfeit of perseverance. He remarks upon the obvious injustice of accusing a statesman of inconsistency, on account of a single act or measure,

"It will appear evident, from the meaning which we have attached to the word consistency, which is not to be judged of by the form or sign of the action, but by its spirit, that to be truly consistent, the minor consideration must give way to the greater, and finally all considerations to the ultimate end of all government, the welfare of the people; so that a citizen may with perfect consistency and conscientiousness adopt, support, or defend a measure today, which he strenuously opposed at an earlier period, if circumstances have essentially changed, not to speak of an improved insight into the subject. Lord Wellington and Sir Robert Peel long opposed catholic emancipation; let us suppose both to have been honest in doing so; if so, they cannot be charged with inconsistency for having carried that measure, in 1829, if the duke, then at the head of the administration, was equally honest in declaring, on that occasion, that he must choose between emancipation and civil war of the worst description."

The third chapter discusses the virtues of moderation, freedom from excitement, passion, and the impulse of revenge, and the evils

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