Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-07

port on them, bur who under our pres
:; rena;rin to toll many days in the year
u repairing ROADS which are of little ar No nae To
them In view Of changing a. - - ~ US
ent system OF public roads 7 ~. - : " ~ -
ylte your attention to the systems s5o-..S :; tLa
states OF Ohio and pennsylvania wbers nroDertv
other taxes are levied for the purpose IF keep
+s me-" ", anu ,IeteOy es aohshng and carrying
out the principle that all persons Who dSriSs he
greatest benefit from their being Kent in -; "a
IN proper condition for the TRAVELLING - SaU
pay correspOndingly out of their means for tb Lsn
fits thus conferred All persons SHOULD eon,rib1ts
to the support Of the government under which thew
live, In proportion to the protection which tbsv
may receive from it. 1t is me physical power in a
government under the direction Of law which vives
security, protection and value to all the property
owned by the citizen. The owners Of property con-
stltute but very small portion who make up what
IS commonly denominated the physical power of the
government; the nOn-property holder constitutes
not less than three and perhaps fOurffths of those
who make the aggregate Of physical power. This
IS the population that is called upon time Of dan
ger and need TO suppress instruction at home or to
rePel invasion from abroad. 1t viii be perceived
though they are not property holders they cOnsti-
tute one OF the most important elements in the gov
eminent; hence the conclusion, against depressing
that portion Of the community which gives protec-
ton and security to all who property real and
personal Our present road system il must be con-
coded by all who are reasonable and lust operates
unequal and oppressive upon the great mass Of the
people, and it ought to undergo a radical and
thorough change. L therefore most respectfully re-
commend to your favorable constellation the pro-
prety and justice of changing or modifying our
road system as to conform it to the REQUIRE
ments of the public judgment and wants of the
country, and that it be done during the present se
sion of the Legislature.
LAW REFORM.
On two former occasions called the attention oI
the Legislature to this all gubiaet
deeply interesting to the people throughout the
State, and earnestly pressed the adoption of sys-
tenn which has been so Enthusiastically indicated by
the public judgment in the popular elections which
have recently taken place, and viii again refer the
General Assembly to my views then expressed
the subject, with the earnest hope that the Leg
slaIre will conform their action the popular will
in carrying it out at the earliest day practicable.
l advised that Messrs. Cooper and Meigs, who
have been appointed by the Legislature to prepare
Digest Of the Laws Of this State, have with great
and much labor performed that service and viii
at early day submit their Digest to your inspec-
tiOn and consideration.
If our system Of jurisprudence is so modified as
to conform the requirements of the public inter-
ests, during your present sitting am advised that
the Digest which has been prepared, can be suited
or adapted to the change which may be made in our
system Of Jurisprudence, with but little labor and
very slight alterations.
These are subjects that win merit your care aud
attention, which have doubt they will receive
at an early day Of your session.
AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
Under the act of 1854 establishing State Agri-
cultural Bureau, Charters have been granted te Ag
rcultural Societies in thirty-six counties viz: Six
in East Tennessee, fifteen in Middle Tennessee, and
fifteen in West Tennessee Of these, about twenty
five have complied with the law IN regard 70 annual
reports thus entitng themselves to the bounty pro-
vided by the act from the State Treasury Of two
hundred dollars each. Fairs held last year in
twenty-One counties, in addition TO the State and
Division Fairs. Reports Of these fairs, with speci-
fc statements Of the manner in which the bounty Of
the State has been applied, viii be laid before you
in the Biennial report Of the Secretary Of the Bu-
rsau.
| The opening of works of Internal improvements
in different sections Of the State, afOrding means
for the more rapid and cheap transportation OF the
products of the field to market and consequently
enhancing the price which the producer realizes for
| his investment of labor and capital has awakened
D new interest in improved modes Of cultivation and
in those labOr-saying machines by which harvests Of
large fields speedily gathered and prepared for
market as well as in improved and more valuable
/ breeds of domestic animals. A large portion Of
the soil of Tennessee is Of exhaustless fertility
when carefully and skillfully cultivated AssOcis-
tons like those contemplated in the act establishing
| the State Agricultural Bureau, when wisely
aged Of vast Importance to the State, by stimu-
lating competition aud constantly provoking COM
1 an satisfied that the bounty Of the State in this
direction has been wisely bestowed. Many Of the
Eisest practical agriCuturiss heartily engaged
in the scheme inaugurated by the Legislature Of
1854 and confidently look to constantly Increasing
benefits to the people of the State as a reward Of
their labors and a return for the appropriations
| made from the Treasury TO encourage them
| The development Of the mechanical and manu-
featuring resources Of the State an object alto
gether worthy Of your consideration, and should
engage the attention Of every citizen, and arouse the
energies Of every capitalist, and such assistance
ought to be given to aid in further Developments as
may be found consistent with judciOus legislation.
We are possessed of natural elements. if properly
/ developed and successfully directed, which would
j give a commanding position among sister States,
| by supplying them with articles Of manufacture and
/ implements Of husbandry. Instead, however, OF
furnishing supplies the product Of natural re-
| sources TO the surrounding States, to-day
dependent them for the ordinary articles Of me-
chanism, required by the farmer the merchant, the
mechanic and hOusekeeper.
! The - Mechanics Institute Of Tennessee has
! done much, it is believed. by its annual Fairs, TO
stimulate the mechanical and manufacturing inter-
est Of the State and 10 develop much talent peculiar
to the successful prosecution of these branches Of
| industry. The leading principle upon which this
Institution is established, Is paramount in directing
| the mechanical genius Of the young men Of the
country, IN that branch of mechanism TO which it
is best adapted. In brief is designed stimulate
and bring the latent mechanical talent and ex-
cite q laudable ambition among mechanics. manu-
acUreTs, artzans and inventors TO excel 70 foster
and encourage the arts in every way, and ultimately
to establish a school of design for the benefit Of the
youth Of the State, whose opportunities lmiEed
for the want Of pecuniary means, otherwise The
institution is not established upon such basis as
desired by the Directors; though they have been
struggling against many difficulties, it is believed
they viii ultimately succeed IN its permanent estab-
lishment They desire 10 erect a hall suitable for
their institution and have leased a lot Of ground
convenient and favOraby located for the erection Of
suitable buildings.
The Legislature with great Hberality has aided
other important interests Of the State such Rail-
roads, and Agriculture. win it not therefore ex-
tend similar aid to manufacturers and mechanics,
and in 50 doing, place these great interests on an
equal footing with the other industrial pursuits Of
the country, and thereby exhonerate the Legislature
from the charge Of invidi0us and partial Legisla-
ton # you Lsgislats for one, legisLats for The
lghols.
II was made the duty Of the Governor. by an act
entitled 'An Act to purchase the Hermitage, pass
ed by the Legislature, to purchase for the State Of
Tennessee, five hundred Of the late residence
Of Andrew Jackson, deceased, including the Man
sion, Tomb and other improvements, known as the
Hermitage, and said act authorized him to issue six
per cent Coupon Bonds to the Of fOrty-eight
thousand dollars S4S OOO) in payment for the same.
In compliance with the law, the purchase has
Detl Iuuies tlc Hfe uuntEeu tGfes, luclutuug the
Mansion, Tomb, and other improvements known
the Hermitage, has been out and plated by a
competent and skillfUl surveyor, and a title unen-
numbered has been made to the State which title
has been registered in the Registers ofHce Of Da-
wilson county, and is on file in the Office Of the
Secretary Of State Ii also made by said act the
duty Of the Governor to tender the said property TO
the General Government Of the United States, up
the express condition that il be used site for
a branch Of the Military Academy at West Point.
This tender has been made by the Governor in per-
son to the Federal Government, through the Presi-
dent Of the United States; the President transmitted
the tender as made TO both branches Of Congress.
The subject there taksnup and referred to the
appropriate committees. In the Senate it was re-
ferred to the committee military affairs. which
committee after consideration made favorable re-
port, accompanied with BILL accepting of the five
hundred acres upon the terms and conditions auth
orHing the tender to be made The proposition at
the time, so far as 1t could be ascertained seemed
to be tavOraby entertained by both Houses Of Con-
gress. But 1t being the short session and much i'm
portant business remaining to be disposed Of Gen.
gress adjourned on the 4th Of March without having
any definite action upOu the pronosition anil IL IL