Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-10-21

the legislature, changed, by Ihe adoption Of
general banking law. sufficient length oftus
Ras moi elapsed, to afford evidence Of Its adans,
tionto the wants ofthe community lflt seallh
found sufficient to provide sound and safe Cur
reocy. for facilitating the business operations d
the state--it it shall prevent exiravagant lssaea
and the pervesion of banking facilities TO spec.
nations foreign to the business OF banking, iha
interests of the state will require its continuance
Oo the contrary, should it, ailera sufficient III.
Il fail in these particulars, it should be repealed.
sound discretion would suggest that no haSy
decision. adverse to the system, should be made,
until experience shall indicate necessity To-
abandoning IL.
II il highly creditablo to the chartered banks
IN oneraton in this state that during every finan.
cial crisis their credit has been sustained and At
The present time their mites are regarded by the
commercial community as among the safest IL
circulation. But while It s gratifying consider.
alton that nothing has TRANSFERRED to impair pub
lie confidence in the integrity and sound disere'
lion of those in the direction and management
of these institutions, no consideration should in.
duce the legislature 10 relax IN the enforcement
of the provisions made by law for constant 50.
Dervision Of their affairs,
The construction Of railroads, when mas been
prosecuted with such unparalleled energy and
perseverance, during the last few years, has
tended to develop the RESOURCES and capabilities
of the state, to al extent beyond the most san
gulne expectations Ofthe projectors OF these en-.
terprises, and the system may now be regarded
as among the greatest bepeiactlons OF the ago.
Thus far, however, the investments tor such
construction have not yielded fair income to
the stockholders many Of whom have been sub
iected 10 no little pecunlary embarrassment BY
The losses they have sustained but 1t ID believed
that the several railroads within the state are IN
a situation TO be operated with moro safety
and economy than was practicable while IN an
unfinished stale, aud II may be hoped that with
the increasing business, SO Clearly IN prospect,
better profits will be realized.
A digest Of laws, embracing general system
of provisions applicable to railroads corporations,
was carefully prepared by committee appointed
by the legislature, and, after mature consldera-
ton, adopted by the act of November, lo49.
1t s not supposed that any further general pro-
visions are needed, either in view OF the rights
of the corporations, Or the safety OF the public.
A digest of the laws Oh any subject, or sys-
tenn OF policy adopted alter mature deliberatlon,
should not be changed until experience has de-
yeloped its benefits and detects, and then not
by partial legislation, usually intended to RENEE
DIV some fanced inconvenience, which nay mar
the symmetry Of the whole system.
Exceptions to this general remark may OBJ
viously be entertained, for reasons clear and
tangible, and as such an exception, | would
recommend the single additional provision, that
in the future construction Of railroad bridges
except when the rail track is laid upon the top
OF the bridge-and Of all public and private
bridges, under which trains Ut cars are to piss,
the height Of the truss shall be at least seventeen
feet in the clear. The frequent occurrence Of
accidents, usual fatal, Occdsioned by bridges
being so low as to sweep from the top oil mer.
chandlse cars the conductors or brakemen who
happen incautiousy to be standing thereon,
suggests the duty Of providing by law for the
only sure preventive Of this class Of accidents.
The views OF the citizens of Vermont on
questions OF national interest are too well IN.
derstood to require on the present occasion q
specific enumeration. A modification of the
present tariff is most obviously demanded, as
essential to the prosperity and best interests Of
the American people. The principal element
which constitutes tho wealth Of the nation il
labor. The great body OF the people are direct.
ly employed IN productive industry That indus
try should be stimulated and its productions
protected by the Fastening hand of the general
government.
Without increasing the amount Of revenue
beyond what is required for defraying the ex.
pcnses of government, adequate protection may
be effGctually secured, by judicious dscrnina-
ton in favor Of articles of American growth
and American manufacture, in the assessment
Of specific duties on foreign importations The
encouragement OF domestic manufactures and
mechanical trades is essential to that division
Of labor which creates home market for the
surplus products of the soil, which in turn is
reclprocated by the home market existing for
the manufactured article; while q laudable
competition, open to all, is sure 10 bring the
price of every commodity to it's proper level,
and to regulate and control the prices of impor-
ted fabrics
The Importance of home market cannot be
too highly appreciated, especially by the pro-
ducing classes. 1t saves the friction and expense
OF transportation, cqualizes the circulating cur
rency, and by its consistency prevents in degree
those financial Tevnlsions consequent upon over.
trading with foreign nations. II promotes that
fraternaI intercourse between different communi.
ties OF the same state, and the citizens of DIFF
ielent states, which is essential to the perpetuity
OF the Union, and to that equality of station,
which Is the browning element in our repub-
can organization.
II is perhaps supererogatory to remind you of the
duty OF strict economy in the exercise of your
0ftclal functions. While parsimonous with
holding OF appropriations for objects identified
with the prosperity OF the state, and clearly with
IN the prescribed duties of the legislature, would
Ill accord with the spirit of the age, and the
well known wishes Of an intelligent constituent
cy--On the other hand, lavish expenditure in
the administration of government. supported BY
direct taxation, is inconsistent with proper re-.
gard for the interests Of the people. 1t is re.
spectfuliy suggested that in the absence of many
OF those exciting subjects which often occupy
the attention OF the legislature, the present ses-
sion can hardly fail to be of short duration, aSd
OF course less expensive than usual
II IS, gentlemen, with entire confidence in
your wisdom, ability, and integrity, that pledge
you my sincere Cooperation in the discharge Of
tne responsible dulles reciprocally devolving uD-
on the legislative and executive departments
during the term Of our official relations
ERASTUS lRBANKS.
MONTPELIER, October 10, 1852.
Fhe Governor and Senate Withdrew, when
Mr Mayo moved that the Governors message be
iald upon the the table, and eight hundred cop-
les printed. Mr Barrett Of Middebury moved
to add, 3" and that the clerk be directed to enter
the message upon the Journal Of the House. ~
4 ms was adopted, and the motion was agreed
to. Adjourned u $50. - So
SAD EFFECTS OF SPIRIT RAppISs Scarco.
" day passes but what we see records az
most Melancholy cases Of insanity produced be-
me splHt rapping deluson. The following ia
Out one OF many which we might copy:
CINCINNATI, aud the mother Of five children. was
IaEen 10 the insane asylum last week, in copse-
luence OF becoming deranged through the
sPlrit rapplnS delusons. 1t appears thai another
Iemale had pselended 10 have no,nD-,,.i