Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-10-20

lshes to economy m our public, and indus
try and frugalty IN our private affairs.
No community, Exclusively of an agricul
t1ral character, can maintain that indie
pendence and high standing. which are
essential to the enjoyment Of happiness.
A dependence upon foreign nations for he
necessaries Of life, is derogatory to n free
aud intelligent people; and wihal has. in
times vi nation difficulties, demrrallzng
tendency, which by the wise and provldent
| legislator will be fpreseen and guarded
against. Considerations Of this character
fully justify the policy heretofore pursued
by our national government IN promoting
and encouraging, while in iis infancy, the
mechanical and manufacturing SKI of our
country, and continue to demand ITS foster
ing care. Efficient protection and enccur
agemcnt 1t Is tue, belong to the general
government; still as frcemen, as members
Of the great national family. it is our right,
our duty to express cur convictions on the
subject.
1t will be recollec,ed that revision Of
our militia laws was earnestly urged upon
the consideration of the last Legislature.
Another years experience must have
served to convince, If anything were wan.
ting, oil whose attention has been drawn
to the subject OF their utter incfficency to
secure the objects they were designed to
accomplish. Although | am gra'fied in
beng able To say that there are some hon
orable exceptions; yet upon the whole. it
il believed, subnrdnation and discipline
have been upon the retrograde for several
years past. Are not our militia avs
| ID : 4
beneiacIoTs who laid the foundations for
our free institutions were not mistaken
when they said. "A well regulated militia
Is necessary TO the security of a free state,
no good reason can be urged why the bur
thenS and expense Of the system should
not reach every individual. by whom the
benefits of the system are enjoyed.
The exemption of The polls Of those en-.
rolled in The militia from portion Of the
annual taxes. is scarcely an equva lent fo'
, Keeping IN their possession and IN repair
he arms and equipments required by law,
consequently all the time spent in obtain.
ing that instruction and organization
necessary to render he militia efficient i.
an unjns, tax levied npon those ,ndv;d.
uaS who cannot. through favorirism OF
enrolment. The effect of this manifest in.
justice IN the operation Of our laws, ha:
been greatly to increase the number o
exempts, and to render those who coult
not obtain discharges, impatient and dis
en',c6cd under he restraints and burthen
to which they were subjected.
Anothor EVIL which is deemed subver.
sIvs OF discipline and good order among
, onr militia. Is the manner now provided by
r Jaw tor the enforcement Of the rules arc
! regulations governing he same. and the
, collection of fines for delluquences.
, Should all questions of this nature DE re
ferred to a board composed Of commission.
, ed otticers, detailed tor that service f-rn
| each regiment or brigade, to whom al
. delinqucnces should be reported by the
severn commandanis of companies, i
would secure an uniformity in decisions
, VIII CHI is very desirable
The law of the last session authorship
the executive to procure he mounting o
, several pieces Of ordnance. for d;slrlbur or
a TO newly organized companies of artillery
has not been complied with. |, was ascer
Y tanned That two companies, to whom can.
non and apparatus were distributed unde
{ tho law of 1927 had sometime since bee!
r dlSbanded, and consequently, the pieces an,
apparatus were liable 10 90 to decay, no
= beng IN the care or custody Of any person
feeling an interest 10 their preservation
p Orders have been gwen to the companie
, recently raised in Stow and Morrls,own, I,
Z tax" possession OF those pieces.
n Information has been received from ,h,
officer in command at the United State
. Arsenal at Vergennes, that the arms be
longing to this state, deposited there. ar
5 in bad condI'on,and beginning o corrode
. That beng the case, ECONOMY would die
= tate small appropriation to enable tn
. Quarter Master General to have them ex
l.. amned, cleaned, and put in good stat,
:, for preservation
In compliance with a resolution of tn
e Senate, passed at ITS last session, request
IS ing me to procure an estimate of the prob
J. able expense Of geological and opograph
lca survey Of the state. ! have addresse
c several scientific gentleman upon the sub
ect, the result of which correspondence
d will be laid before you at proper time.
- Accident and the unaded enterprise G
!, individuals. have developed many source
Of wealth, in the mineral treasures of on
n mountains
g From wha, has been already brough, t
o light by these means, we are fully warrant
d ed IN presum'ng, that, if the aids of scienc
!, should be brough, to bear upon the subject
p under the patronage Of the state, and
u thorough examination were had, with
o view to It's pract'ca utility, important dis
y coveres would be made, highly benefic ia
a TO The state. A spirll of scientific rescarc
i would take the place of pretended knowl
G edge in the art of searching for vaIuabl
5 mineral substances, and our citizens save
II Ernu The FINN lnss ndli ura L.C L..