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Of Resolutions

A written resolution is the formal record of opinion upon one or more subjects, expressed by a body of men. As in almost every species of written composition, the language should be simple, terse and forcible.

A resolution may or may not be prefaced by a preamble. If it be so constructed, the preamble should set forth briefly the cause of the resolution which is to follow. This preamble is usually commenced with the word " Whereas." After this comes the resolution or resolutions—which commence with the word "Resolved."

A good resolution-one that is pithy and forcible-requires some care in its composition. Unless the writer be a very experienced one, he had better avoid all figures of rhetoric, and confine himself to a plain statement of the opinion he wishes to convey.

As example is always useful, we will take a subject, and show the preferable form of a preamble and resolution upon it.

We will suppose that a party majority in the legislature passes a registry law, which is not approved by the opposite party, and a public meeting of the members of the latter desire to condemn it. The following preamble and resolutions may be suggested: "Whereas, It is proper for the people, in their public assemblages, to express their views of the conduct of those in office, and to award to the latter their approval or censure; and "Whereas, The late legislature of this State have passed an oppressive registry bill, odious in its principles, and burdensome in its details; therefore, "Resolved, That the act referred to meets our unqualified disapproval and decided condemnation; that we will spare no efforts to promote its abrogation; and that we will vote for no candidate for senate or assembly who is not pledged to its speedy repeal."

Now, the above is not more wordy than such resolutions usually are, yet it can be easily simplified It is unnecessary to aver that it is proper for the people to express their views on official conduct, "in their public assemblages," since it is their right to do that also in other places. The rest of the first paragraph is a mere repetition. And, finally, the whole is a matter generally admitted, and, therefore, not the subject of affirmation. The preamble had better begin with the second paragraph. But that contains useless words also. Any thing which is oppressive is apt to be odious in its principles and burdensome in its details, and vice versa.

The resolution itself contains superfluous matter in its phrases" decided condemnation" or "unqualified disapproval" should be stricken out, and the remainder of the paragraph condensed. Again: the statements of the preamble may be as fully expressed in the body of the resolution itself, and may be properly omitted. Following these hints, the resolution would read as follows: "Resolved, That we are opposed to the present oppressive registry law, and that we will vote for no candidate for either house of the legislature who is not pledged to its speedy repeal."

With these remarks upon composition, we proceed to lay before the reader a series of resolutions upon various ordinary subjects, which may possibly afford him hints, or serve for the nucleus of others.