LEGALIS HOMO. A person who stands rectus in curia, who possesses all his civil rights. A lawful¹ man. One who stands rectus in curia, not outlawed² nor infamous³. In this sense are the words probi et legates homines.

LEGANTINE CONSTITUTIONS. The name of a code of ecclesiastical laws, enacted⁴ in national synods under Pope Gregory IX., and Pope Clement⁵ IV., about the years from 1220 to 1230.

LEGATARY. One to whom anything is bequeathed; a legatee. This word is sometimes though seldom used to designate a legate or nuncio.

LEGATION. An embassy; a mission.

2. All persons attached to a foreign legation, lawfully⁶ acknowledged by the government of this country, whether they are ambassadors, envoys⁷, winisters, or attaches, are protected by the act of April 30, 1790, 1 Story's L. U. S. 83, from violence, arrest or molestation⁹. 1 Dall. 117; 1 W. C. C. R. 232; 11 Wheat. 467; 2 W. C. C. Rep. 435; 4 W. C. C. R. 531; 1 Miles, 366; 1 N & M. 217; 1 Bald. 240; Wheat. Int. Law, 167. Vide Ambassador; Envoy⁸; Minister.

LEGATORY, dead man's part or share. (q. v.) The third part of a freeman's personal estate, which by the custom of London, in case he had a wife and children, the freeman might always have disposed of by will. Bac. Ab. Customs of London, D 4.

LEGISLATIVE¹⁰ POWER. The authority under the constitution to make laws and to alter or repeal¹¹ them.

LEGISLATOR. One who makes laws.

2. In order to make good laws, it is necessary to understand those which are in force; the legislator ought therefore, to be thoroughly¹² imbued¹³ with a knowledge of the laws of his country, their advantages and defects; to legislate¹⁴ without this previous knowledge is to attempt to make a beautiful piece of machinery¹⁵ with one's eye shut. There is unfortunately too strong a propensity¹⁶ to multiply our laws and to change them. Laws must be yearly made, for the legislatures meet yearly but whether they are always for the better may be well questioned. A mutable legislation is always attended with evil. It renders the law uncertain, weakens its effects, hurts credit, lessens¹⁷ the value of property, and as they are made frequently, in consequence of some extraordinary case, laws sometimes operate very unequally. Vide 1 Kent, Com. 227 and Le Magazin Universel, tome ii. p. 227, for a good article against excessive legislation; Matter, De l'Influence des Lois sur les Moeurs, et de l'Influence des Moeurs sur les Lois.