Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-10-18

borrower, IN the agony of his necessity, is will
ling should be concealed Does not consstcn-
cy OF legislation suggest the propricty OF esther
repeating the law IN question. or authorizing its
enforcement by process suited to the case,
aud Indispensable to give the law effect To
do this by the process suggested would seem
TO he liable to no valid objection
This is SUBJECT OF much general importance.
The manifest tendency OF the practice Of exact
ing unlawful interest Is, in the first place, to be-
get coEtcnipt Of the law, and sharpe irgcnu
ity for lis evasion, the general tendency OF winch
is extremely pcrnlclous, but, in the second
place. and mainly, to increase existing lneqnal'
tiles in the condition of the people,-to make
the rich richer, aud the poor poorer ; to leave
the neceSsiious to become the victims OF the
temptation to borrow on long credit, upon an
interest which sci iom fails to complete their
ruin. Notwithstanding the facilities for bank
accommodations a mode OF borrowing which
bcgets habits OF promptncss, and chershcs a
sense of hon II highly useful to the community
it is believed that the practice OF loaning upon
unlawful interest, prevails TO an extent, and
produces results, which may well claim the ear
nest consideration of the Legislature.
The subject of The licenses for the sale Of in
,oxcating liquors, has come to occupy so much
of the public attention, and involves question
Of such deep interest to the community, that ]
cannot deem my duty discharged without nv
ting your attention 10 it.
1t is a principle fundamental in our govern
men'. that it is instituted " for the common ben
eft, protection and security of the people, The
correctness of this principle, asserted IN our bill
of rights, will, OF course, be conceded by all In
regard, therefore, to the act OF the government
in licensing the traffic in Intoxicating liquors,
,,,,u1I 4, no vlni hor
such traffic is "fir the common benefit" This
question Is, NJ present, III effect submitted 10 the
decision OF the courts, in the several counties
through whom alone licenses can be granted
There seems, however, to he a prevailing son
tmcnt that the power Of license should not re-
main in the courts. but that il should, in some
way, be brought nearer to the people. in this
sentiment concur. The people are the source
OF power. They know whether the traffic in
question is for their benefit, and are fully COM
petent to decide the question for themselves,
without the intervention of the judicial trbu.
mails. 1t is submitted 10 you, therefore, whether
it be not practicable 10 make some satisfactory
provision by law, for sending The question of liz
conscs directly to them, and thus relieve the
courts and the legislature from further trouble
on the subject Whether any. and what provis-
ion shall be made. your wisdom will determine.
Ii We would avail ourselves Of the benefits Of
experience, which it is always useful to consult,
which il may be wise to consider. The expert
mcnt of committing the whole subject to Com
missioners, appointed by the people IN the sew
eral counties. with authority to grant licenses
to such extent as they may deem the public
good to require, seems to have given genera!
satisfaction in that state. Should this be deem.
ed an appropriate mode OF removing the elections
Of Commissioners in TIE several counties as far
IL ~
~ politics, to have them holden on day devo-
ted solely 10 that object, and as far removed, in
point OF time, from every other election as the
question itself ought 10 he separated from, and
elevated above, the party contests of the day.
There is another question connected with
this subject which seems TO demand attention.
1t has been decided by the Supreme Court tina
justices of the peace have not jurisdiction OF
Offences against the license laws. County
courts have, therefore, exclusive jurisdiction
and the result is, that, in practice, prosecutions
for such offences are instituted but once in
each year-grand JurleS being usually no of.
tener summoned. aud States allornieS, | believe.
seldom. If ever, IN such cases, filing informal
tons. The obvious Ii'icuIiy of reaching, by
such an ANIMAL process, all the violations of
the license laws, connected with the fact that
the MAXIMUM Of the penalty is hut ten dollars,
wonld seem 10 suggest the propriety of either
giving the jurisdiction 10 iu-lces Of The peace
OF of making provision that they may bind
over offenders with the witnesses, 10 The coun.
" courts. rs often rs the offence, shall be COM
mited. II we are to have laws ON this suhec,
they should he enforced Every good citizen
must desire this, whatever may he his opinions
ON the question OF tempe ,ance. Better, far bet
ter, 10 have no laws, than 10 permit them tc
stand on the statute hook nntVecuted. since
there is thus added to the prohibited, and sci
permitted evil that other great evil of prac-
teal denial Of the righilu supremacy OF law
have been furnished in advance with COP.
les of the eighth annual reports of the Trustee,
and Superintendent of the Vermont Asylum fo
the Insane. From these reports it appears tina
during the past year 232 patients have enjoye,
the benefits "I the Asylum that 90 have beer
admitted To il, and II discharged and that las
remain OF the discharged who had been in
sane not exceeding six months, 80 per cent
have recovered while OF those whose insani
~ had been OF longer duration, the proportion
OF the restored has been but 81 per cent
showing, what should he universally known
the great Importance of early eff IRIS 10 secure
for the insane the benefits of the institution -
The reports show that invctera,e cases, snppo
be very greatly ameliorated. Several touchin,
examples of these aIe given in the report of tn
Trustees, in which persons have, after de
rangement of from - To 60 years, been taken
in conditions Of horrible wretchc lnes>, from
cages and cells, their chains knocked off, an
within few weeks from their entrance int
the Asylum, have been persuaded TO enjoy III
luxury Of comfortable beds, and with safe,
admitted 10 receive their food with knives an
forks al a common table.
am happy t, lean that since the last re
port, additions to the buildings have been con
pleted, so as in the opinon OF the Trustees.
furnish accommodations fully adequate to tn
wants Of the State, 1t appears also, that a +,
duction has been made in the terms of ADM
sion, by reason Of the means which addition
buildings have furn shed for the accommod
ton of "A greater number of patients, wilho
the necessity OF increasing the number of of
GERS Of the Asylum.
tits an exceedingly fitting and Important a
rangement in the institution, that facilities a
furnished for the employment of the inmal
in the occupations to which they have been q