The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-12-20

4
\ population of the stale.
1 9th To provide ior the repeal Of tht
existing law relative to- agriculture.
That the agricultural interest &c
serves the first and paramount atten
tion Of the Legislature of the state, ana
a share in The appropriations from the
treasury, may he illustrated by 4 VA.
riety of considerations. The law
making power is vested in the Legis
alure, to be exercised for the genera
welfare ofthe whole people; and when
| fourffths of the people Of the st. te
ask for small appropriation, not for
their special benefit only, but Tor the
good of the whole people. their appii-
cation comes with u force and sanction
which should not be passed by for
slight reasons. 1t can be easily shown
that four-fths Of the population Of the
state are actually engaged, or immedi-
ateIy interested in the cultivation OF
the soil and also that four-Gfths OF the
taxes are paid by farmers, based upon
the soil and its products.
Hitherto, the farmers, or the a5ri-
CULTURAL interest Of the state, have not
received that fostering care and aid,
from the government which their I'M
portarce dema nds. 1t is true, they
havcbeen indirectly benefited by means
of enactments and expenditures for
the public works, and for other pur-
poses. But the very fact of the con
structon of the public works; has rem
dered the aid which is now asked, Of
doubly pressing Importance.
1t is freely admitted that it is neces-
sary and expedient to observe rigid
economy in the expenditures Of the
government. and that the faith of the
state should be preserved unsullied, at
all hazards, snd that The public debt
should not be increased except for pur-
poses of general benefit, the proprlety
of which shall be very apparent. This
board, however, deem the small appro-
priation asked for, IN the sixth resolu-
ton of the convention, of $1,000 per
annum, as an expenditure which will
result in increasing the revenues Of the
state to a very great extent--more
than ten fold the amount Of the appro-
prmtion.
The state has constructed with her
own means, exclusively, 82I miles of
canal and slack-water Improvements,
besides having JOINT interest in about
loco miles OF turnpike roads, and an
interest in 26O miles Of railroad; the
proceeds Of which are almost en-
trely derived flom the transportation
Of the surplus products OF the soil OF
the state, and the commodities for
which the cilizcns exchange their asri-
cultural products. The products Of all
these public works 60 into the state
treasury, and are pledged to our credit
ors abroad for the payment of the in
terest on the money borrowed for their
construction, which now amounts to
about Sl,oOo,ooo annually. The pro-
ceeds OF all these improvements yield
upwards Of 100000, towards the pay
ment of the interest, and the Auditor
Is required by law to levy upon taxa
blc property Of the state, tax each
year of sufficient amount to make up
ihe deficiency for the payment of the
interest, whatever it may be. 1t is
clear, then, that for every additional
pound of surplus products our farms
are made to yield by an improved ag-
rculture, we increase the amount trans
ported on the public works. both in
their shipment abroad, and by the mer-
chandise &c., for which they are ex
changed; and by thus increasing the
revenues of the public works, we re-
duce in like proportion the taxes, and
the same time we increase the abill-
ty of the farmers to pay this reduced
amount Of taxes.
But the benefits of an improved hus-
bandry, do not stop with an addition
to the revenues Of the canals and pub.
lie works. They add largely to the
general wealth Of the state, by increas-
ing the amount of individual wealth;
and adding so much more to the list of
taxable property on the grand levy.
And likewise, in proportion as agrl-
culture is prosperous, so do the man
and commercial interests
prosper. These latter Interests are
derived from agriculture, and they can
not exist without the other. By en-
couraging agriculture, therefore, we at
the same time encourage every other
interest.
We are well pursuaded that now is
the proper time for the farmers Of Ohio
to persevere in the efforts which they
have so enthusiastically commenced;
and that if they make united and en-