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[Governors Message]

ding Legislatures, it will not probably be deemed necessary at the present time to make many material alterations. - Great and frequent changes in the laws of a community serve rather to embarrass than relieve those on whom such laws are to operate, For all known defects the Legislature should indeed provide a speedy and an effectual remedy; but the application of such remedy should never be attempted, unless the defect be fully understood. The people have a right to expect that the laws will be certain plain and intelligible, as well as equal and just in their operation. In such laws faithfully and uprightly administered, all honest citizens most willingly acquiesce. As under our government, laws are rules which individuals by their representatives, prescribe for the regulation of their own conduct toward each other and the community, such rules should be well defined, and as far as practicable, within the comprehension of every citizen - By frequent changes, statutes upon the same subject are multiplied, old statues are partially repealed, doubts arise as to the construction of additional acts requires judicial decisions by reason of some unintentional ambiguity, until this rule, intended as a general guide, can be understood by few only, except those whose professional duty it is to expound its obligation. Such was the situation of some of our statutes previous to the late revision.

It is observable that within a few years, propositions to amend the national constitution have become much more frequent than during the first twenty years of its existence Scarce as session passes but the Legislature is requested to give its assent to some amendments proposed by a sister State. It is however a proof of