The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-02-24


Mr.. CANFIELD, who, we believe, halls
from the county of Medina, has introduced
into the legislature, ofwhich he is a mem
Der, a bill providing for survey of Ohio,
ito embrace a complete exhibit of its geo
logical, botanical, geological and entomo-
logical characteristics that is to say,to
learn all that several gentlemen can col
lect and compile, in respect to the rocks,
weeds, beasts and bugs by which the
State is inhabited or infested
There is a sort of people, who, laboring
under the delusion that statistics is learn
ing, want the figures upon everything. If
by census we could ascertain the number
Of blue bottles Or copper-heads in the State,
and acquire the means to estimate the an
nual increase or diminution of those inter
esting orders of our fellow beings, they
wsuld not fail to consider the knowledge
a vast addition to the learningof the world.
We do not, of course, desire to underyalue
this species of information. 1t has its
place and its proprieties; and all who have
the taste have the right to pursue it but
it may be seriously asked, if society is not
safe to leave these things to the enterprise,
or the interest, or the curiosity of private
individuals. States have, indeed, made
these sur Veys The State of New York
the type of all that is unwholesome in
civil ecDnomy-has done so; and, with
many in the absence of all othcrs-this
is reason enough. But the business of
government-and the sole business-is to
provide for the security of life, liberty
and property; and it is, to say the least,
rational to inquire, what has such a sur
vey to do with either? Now we take it
upon ourselves to say that the cause of
real science never made single step in
advance as the result Of all these official
investigations, from the day they came
into fashion.
There are those who, confOunding the
process of writing books and pamphlets in
respect to the capabilities Of the State for
improvement, with 'the developement of
its resources" talk very solemnly, and
begging their pardon-very stupidity upon
that head. The followingparagraph from
an editorial article of the Ohio State Jour
nal of Saturday, is an excellent type Of
that species of dissertation:
''We hold, and we are not singular in
this view, that if it is incumbent upon the
State to furnish funds for the develope-
ment of the intellectual faculties of the
inhabitants of the State, it is equally in
cumbent upon her to develop her mineral
and agricultural resources. The survey
will amply repay all the cost and if it is
expected for the present generation to
liquidate the debt of the State, the best
method possible is to place before the in
habitants all the knowledge by which
crops may be increased, and the treasures
of the bowels of the earth be brou hit into
requisition." ...|
Now we cannot deny that if it is in
cumbent upon the State to furnish funds
for the developement of the intellectual
faculties of its inhabitants, it is equally SC
to do the same to develope the agricultural
and mineral resources which, while they
are called Thers," are as much private
property as the intellectual faculties
which she cultivates The doctrine wher
once accepted is very broad and if it in
cludes every mind, there is no reason why
it should not include every boulder. Here
the writer stands strong; and, his pre-
misses being admitted, his conclusion il
irresistible. But this doctrine is too dan
gerous to admit for carry it out in all it
results, and government would come t,
an end, as the only mode to avoid ever
worse consequences. Having remove'
entirely from its province, it would ceas
to be government, and fall of course
The organic fallacy of the writer, an
those who think with him, is the assumr
ton that the State is an entity indepenC
ent of the people, having rights, interests
objects, ambitions, and wealth Of its owl
and that therefore it may do, and expent
with view to its own several honor an
: glory, irrespective Of the people. 1t
not necessary to show the unsoundness {
J this idea; for no one, in full view Of il
! enormity when standing as distinctprol
! osition, would venture upon its affirmation
:; But it nevertheless forms the basis Of tn
most of our legislative action, State an