Litchfield enquirer., 1844-05-09

express declaration in the Ball OF ldghts IS that oil
providing an efectual remedy by due course Of law
for every injury, and Of taking care that right and
Justice are duly administered. It is worthy Of the
consideration Of the General Assembly, whether
our laws affecting the relation Of debtor and credi
tOr-a relation subssting between all classes Of
inhabitants-are such TO secure, on the one hand
the honestsbut insolvent debtor from oppression,
and the other, to furnish to the CREDITOR whose
MISPLACED confidence may have led him to entrust
l11Gproperty to a fraudulent debtor, the power of
ing a disclosure and surrender Of his means.
Ie no poor debtor should, under any circum-
stances, be exposed to Imprisonment on account Of
his inability, there can be no doubt thit the laws
ought to be so framed, that the obligation which
the government has assumed to administer Justice
to all, shall be fulfilled according to its spirit, and
at the same time as far as may be practicable, so
that by their silent operation, and general policy,
fraud and improvidence may be discouraged and re-
strained.
While many Of our sister states are deeply en-
barrassed in their financial concerns, and some of
them unhappily to such an extent as to render
them not only unmindful of their plighted faith,
but apparently insensble to the dshonor of its vo
lation, it affords Just Of congratuaton to the
people of Connecticut that we have no public debt
to provide for, and no claims on our Treasury
which it IS not, at all times, prepared to meet
Such it is to be hoped will continue to be the wise
policy of the State; and although we may fall short
ments we shall at least have the satisfaction Of re-
hecting that the character of our community is
preserved free from reproach, and our public faith
from aishonor. ~
Extensive works of internal Improvement can
seldom be prosecuted with the same economy by
States as by individual enterprise; and the antci-
patton of remunerating income has so often failed
to be realized, however plausible and apparently
well founded may have been the previous calcula-
ton that it ought to be relied on the only
resource for defraying their cost This is the fatal
error which has proved disastrous to the States
which have adopted it, and in its consequences has
inflicted 50 deep a wound on the credit of cur
country. ..-.. ...'-....
The same reasons which ordinarily render it in
expedent for States to involve themselves in debt
in the prosecution of enterprises of local improve
ment, apply with equal and perhaps greater force,
to the lesser communities into which the State is
divided for municipal purposes. From the con-
stantly operating motives of personal or local in
terest, in view of present or anticipated benefits
the temptation is always strong to engage rashly in
expenditures for public improvements, if the pay
ment can be left to be provided for by others, who
had no agency in imposing the burden. Some of
our cities have in this way become involved in debt
to their serious embarrassment and injury In
view of these evils it seems to be desirable that
some suitable provision should be made by law to
prevent their recurrence.
The Banks in this State are believed to be all in
sound and prosperous condition. As the bills
which they issue supply large portion of the cur
rency of the State, they are properly subjected, in
the management of their concerns, to the discreet
and enlightened supervision of the government =
But this supervision s only required for the pro-
lection of the public, ii should be exercised with
scrupulous regard to the rights of the stockholders
and the confidential relations of other citizens to
the banks / suggest for your consideration, whe-
ther some Of the provisions in the acts recently
passed, not calculated to embarras7 those insti
buttons, without aftordng to the public any add-
| tional protection; and whether it would not be
safer for the commanhy, and better harmonlze with
the principles of our government, if the judicial
| powers, now vested in the Bank Commissioners,
! were left to be exercised by the courts.
| In our consultations Tor the promotion of the
general interests of the community, we shall not, |
am persuaded, truly represent the generous senti-
ments of our constituents, il we suffer ourselves to
overlook the continued claims on oGr Justice and
humanity, of those unfortunate classes of fell
low citizens, who by the affecting dspensations of
Providence are deprived of the light of reason, or
bereft of the ordinary means OF its cultivation, and
thereby made dependent on the public benevolence
| for support.
OF these there are none so absolutely helpless as
the insane poor and none whose suferings-in the
condition in which they are too commonly found
when the public safety requires their confinement
appeal more touchinglv to our sNmpathies for
some more humane provision for their accommcda-
ton and relief, where the moral and medical treat
ment essential to their recovery, can be properly
applied. In all such cases l recommend to your
consideration the expediency of making suitable
provision for their support, either at the expense
of the State, of the towns to which they belong,
at the Retreat for the Insane, even if it shall be
found necessary to enlarge still more than the exis
ting appropriation will allow, its capacity for their
accommodation.
We live in period distinguished for benevolent
and ccesstul efforts to amelorate the condition of
our race. Missionaries of the cross have penetra-
ted the darkest abodes of ignorance and superst-
tioA. Benighted regions of heather barbarism have
been cheered ane enlightened by the teachings of
Christianity. Despotic governments of Europe
have made provision tor the universal education of
the poor. The letters of the slave have been burst
asunder, and noble triumph of liberty achieved
throughout the immense possessions of the British
Empire. BY one of the greatest and most success
full moral enterprises of the age, the desolatons of
intemperance have been stayed. Hundreds of thou
sands of valuable citizens long lost to society," have
been renovated and restored and millions have
been saved from impending ruin.
In our own State it is gratifying to know that
this glorious reformation, though retarded perhaps
by recent legislation, still maintains its onward
progress. Its fruits are every where apparent
Within the past year poverty and crime have sem
sibiy diminished The tears of the broken-hearted
have been dried up, and joy and gladness dhiused
through many family circle, to which they had
long been strangers.
| learn with regret that in some parts of the
State, painful reaction has commenced, under the
temptations of an unreguatsd traffic, formerly sup
pressed in many of our towns, by decisive ex-
preston of public sentiment, but now not subject
to its control Your attention will be called to the
eXpedency of further legislation on this interest
ing subject, by numerous petitions which recon-