118 KOMOLOGY. 



vesting Chancery powers in a Chancellor, in the Senate, or other 

 high authorities. The Civil Code of Louisiana, which was di- 

 gested from all the heterogeneous pre-existing laws, chiefly, we be- 

 lieve, by the labors of Mr. Livingston, and promulgated in 1824, 

 has been highly praised as a model of its kind, and a specimen of the 

 benefits of a judicious codification. 



We proceed to treat of Municipal Law, on points which are com- 

 mon to most of the states, under the heads of Laws of Persons ; 

 Laws of Property ; Laws of Crimes ; and Laws of Procedure. 



1. The Laws of Persons, or, as they are termed by Blackstone, 

 the Rights of Persons, arise from their relations to the government, or 

 to each other ; and hence are either official or private. Of official 

 rights and duties, we have already spoken, as far as we had room, 

 under the branch of Constitutional Law. In their private rights, per- 

 sons are regarded as either citizens, or aliens ; males or females ; 

 adults or minors ; sane or insane ; masters or servants ; principals or 

 agents ; and as either natural or artificial persons ; the latter mean- 

 ing corporations or partnerships. We shall first speak of the laws 

 concerning domestic relations ; or those of husband and wife ; 

 parent and child ; guardian and ward ; and master and servant : and 

 afterwards treat of business relations, which are more public in their 

 character. 



Females, in this country, have no political rights, as of voting, or 

 holding public offices ; but, while single, they have the same legal 

 rights as males. By marriage, their legal rights pass mostly to the 

 husband ; who, with his wife, is considered as one legal person. 

 He can dispose of her personal, but not of her real property, or 

 land, without her voluntary consent ; and he becomes liable for her 

 support, and for her debts, whether contracted before or after mar- 

 riage. Marriage is considered, in law, only as a civil contract ; but 

 as one of the highest importance and obligation. The marriage of 

 idiots, or lunatics, or of persons nearly related, is generally forbidden 

 by the civil law. Parents are the legal guardians of their children, 

 whom the law regards as their servants. Guardians of idiots or 

 insane persons are usually appointed over them ; but guardians of 

 orphan minors are more frequently chosen by themselves, to manage 

 their affairs, under proper restrictions. Apprentices are temporary 

 servants, bound to their masters for a certain term, by an indenture, 

 or form of law ; and held to faithful service, in return for the art 

 which they acquire. 



Artificial persons, are either corporations, or partnerships. A 

 corporation, is a body of men incorporated by statute or charter, for 

 certain express purposes ; as banking or manufacturing. It may 

 hold property, and be subject to obligations, like individuals. Cor- 

 porations are usually managed by responsible trustees or directors ; 

 and they are public or private, perpetual or temporary, according to 

 their objects and charters ; their seal, and the signatures of their 

 officers, being the evidence of their obligations. Partnerships, are 

 associations of two or more persons, by contract, for business or 

 other specified purposes. Each partner is a legal agent for the 

 whole firm, within its proper scope, and is liable for its debts and 



