The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-10-20

requires.
BY existing laws, however, it is made the
duty Of the Auditor OF Accounts to report
annually 'any notifications which experience
shall prove to be necessary or expedient in
order 10 procure faithful accounting for all
public funds; and the report of this officer.
which will in due time be Land before you, will
give your inquiries, if 10 his opinion there
should Re occasion for any notifications a
more definite direction than is here attempted
or deemed necessary,
The practice Of taking excessive interest is
a wrong against which no adequate remedy
has been provided, although the attention OF
the legislature has been repeatedly invited
and given TO the subject. Measures have been
proposed for remedving the evil, but none so
satisfactory as to have received the legisla-
tive sanction. But deem the subject one of
sufficient importance renewedly to claim vour
attention, although | can suggest no better
mode Of guarding against the wrong or Of OBJ
tanning redress under it, than that of a chan
Gerry process. In case. however, this remedy
or any other should be fixed upon, | would
respectfully suggest the proprieiy Of making
it prospective Only in its operation. Ii is true
that provision for a new and more efiectual
mode Of recovering back usurious interest,
inasmuch as law was violated in taking it,
could not strictly be regarded as attaching any
new penalty to an offence after it had been
committed, But il is ever desirable to avoid
disturbing past transactions entered into with
due regard to the estimate which the law.
either expressly or implicitly. has placed upon
them, And as in this case the statute seems
almost TO sanction the taking of usurious in
terest by the after inadequacy Of its provisions
for preventing the PRACTICE, contracts. made
under the law as il is, might be regarded as
having received guarantee almost equiva-
lent to pledge OF public faith, that they
should never be called in question. Wheth-
er this view Of the subject, however. he ten
able or not, it is believed that remedy look
lns only TO the future would be more likely
TO be received with favor, because awakening
no apprehension that transactions supposed
TO be completed were TO be brought into con-
troversy. Ifths wrongs of the past are net
redressed under this plan. it will still be no
small attainment TO guard against like wrongs
for the future.
1t is matter ofjust qualification TO be able
to say that The Geological Survey of the
State has been progressing during the past
season with good degree of rapidity, and
that it appears 10 be accomplishing ali those
useful results which were anticipated from it
by the most ardent friends Of the measure
The ends proposed to be attained by This
survey may justly be regarded as Of no insig-
nifcant importance. The great object con
tempaed was to present TO the people of the
State as much practical and available infor-
nation as possible, in regard TO our rocks
soils, and mineral products, with view TO the
Immediate benefits which would flow to the
great interests Of agriculture aud manufaciur-
ers-more especially The Formerly way OF
diyeitins labor from projects and enterprises
that would end in disappointment and loss,
aud directing it into proper and profitable
channels, This correction. too, of niudicions
modes Of cultivation, tending to gradual de-
terioratiOn and ultimate exhaustion Of the
soil, and the substitution for them of practices
and methods If management calculated stead
lily to fertilize ard improve it, while il should,
al the same time, he yielding to the la
borer a present reward-was one of the
modes in which it was believed the benz
fits Of the survey would he realizct
And these benefits will continue 10 diffuse
themselves, and reach far beyond the period
when the expenditure which secured them
shall cease 10 be needed, because they resi-
nupo the only sure foundation Of all solid and
permanent improvement that of increased
knowledge. They operate not merely by
urging industry TO more vigorous efforts but
by guiding il in such direction as 10 make |
lis efforts most awaiting, with the least ex-
penditure of sweat and toll.
That agriculture is inirinsica!ly an impor- |
tant interest and worthy OF legislative en-
couragemenI. so far as this may he neces-
sary TO sustain iLcan scarcely be questioned.
Il is the first step in the progress of society
TO civilization, and as an employment, it
must lie at the foundation of all others thai
go 10 form tue fabric OF national greatness
and prosperity. vitality important then as
the employment in question is 10 the welfare
of humanity, and intimately blended as its
interests are with all the great interss' OF an
elevated and advanced civilization, we might
hope that under the conjoined aid of theory
and practice, il would in due time be enabled
TO pariake Of the certainty Of the exact eel
ences, as well rs be ranked among the most
elevated and honorable ofhuman pursuits.
And while this interest is conlessedly one
of such vast general importance, it certainly
cannot be doubted that II is essential 10 the
prosperity Of Vermont. And perhaps in no
state in The Union is it more prominently
important that the cultivation OF The soil
should be conducted in accordance with
sound principles in agricultural science
The prairie and many other alluvial soils
which abound in many of the States, being
richly charged with all those various mineral
elements which enter into dilferet vegetable
products, may, even if no correct principles
of science are applied in their cultivation.
continue to yield abundant harvesis for
long series of years-although doubtless liza
BILE TO be ultimately exhausted. But the
soils Of Vermont, chiefly primitive in their
character. less deep and less Astounding in
those ingredients essential to prolonged
spontaneous fertility, require that correct
practical principles be brought TO bear upon
their cultivation. if we would secure then in
creased productiveness. or even save them
from deterioration. What nature. however:
has not done for our State, science can do
Let its light then be diflused,a and its guidance |
be followed, and. under an adequa'e system
Of protection 10 this interest in connection I
with others. Vermont has nothing to fear
for her continued and increasing prosperity
Her valleys and plains will TEEN with unsur-