Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-10
Rku.ROA

f RAILROADS.
 T The general Railroad Commissioners report that there has been no addition to the lines of railroad during the past year; that the whole length of the road within the State is six hund- red and two miles, and the total cost S29, ,66l,- 532. The gross income has been $3,527 ,9O3 79
 which is an increase of $409,921 GA. The net
 income has been $i ,22l 797 5l, or four per cent.
 on the cost, showing an increase of $l75,39
 59.
 The Commissioners report the roads as hay
 ing been conducted with increased economy,
 with convenience to the public and without the
 loss of the life of a single passenger. These facts, taken in connection with the attention
 which has been given to the road-beds-the re-
 newal of rails and the repairs and recOnstrnc-
 tion of bridges, show a gradual improvement in the roads and their management. Many who
 engaged in the building of these railroads sus-
 talled great personal losses yet the roads are
 of almost incalculable benefit and importance to
 the public, and could not now be dispensed
 with. They have been constructed with prl,.
 vate capital, aided by grants from the State Of
 the franchises embraced in their several char
 ters The stockholders naturally desire 8 remu-
 neration for their investment, while the State
 aims to promote the convenience, and increase
 the business of the people. These objects are
 highly proper-are consistent with the interests
 of ali parties-and may be, in great measure secured by harmonious action. While it is the Legislature to lend it influence to secure favor able results to the stockholders it is also it's du- ty to confne the action of these corporations within the channels of a legitimate business, and to guard against combinations inconsistent with public policy.
 | The general condition of our Banking nsti- tutions varies but little from that of last year.
 Some have not fully recovered from the embar- rassments of 1857. Yet, as far as the public is interested, they are in sound condition their currency is promptly redeemed at their own counters and at the two great centres of com merce and they are able to furnish all necessary banking facilities, for the business of the State
 The able report of the Bank Commissioners shows very clearly that the evils which have re- suited from the management of these institu- tions have been caused by cvading the require ments of law, or by turning aside from regu- lar and systematic course of legitimate business. With clear perception of these evils they have suggested remedies which are worthy of your attention.
 There are in the State seventy-three Banks, With an aggregate capital of. S21 ,626 l6S circulation of. f................... 6.7O3. .996 Deposits amounting tO............ 5 463. $40 Specie amounting to............... $50, 138 Specie funds deposited in Boston and
 New York for the redemption of
 their bills ...... ..... 2935. .O54
 There are also thirty-seven Savings Banks, and twenty-seven Savings and Building Associ- tions, with deposits amounting to $l8,l32,S20 32, being an increase for the year of S2,2l2,l29. Under the influence of the law relating to Sa- wings and Building Associations, passed in 1858, all but five of these Associations are clos Ing up their business without anticipating loss to depositors.
 AGRICULTURE.
 The State Agricultural Society is communi- eating valuable information to the public rela- ting to improvements in agriculture and in the mechanic arts, by reason of which the farmer and artisan are stimulated to more intelligent, systematic, and profitable prosecution of the | various branches of business through which the wealth of the State is augmented. For this ard other reasons, it may be wise to increase the ap- propriation for the benefit of the Society to tho amount formerly made
 In connection with this subject, would call your attention to the existence of contagious disease among cattle near the borders of this State, the spreading of which is causing great alarm among intelligent agricultursts and cattle breeders No remedy has yet been discovered for the disease. The legislature of Massachu- setts has adopted measures to arrest its further progress, but it cannot now be fully determined whether these will be successful. Its spread among the cattle of this State would cause im- mense loss and it is left with you to judge whether or not the subject demands legislative action.
 STATE RIGHTs-sLAvERY.
 Nho >.aLx tains to the Federal Union, as one of the con- stituent members of the Government-affected as it is by that relation in it's prosperity and it's furnishes the only apology which l shall offer for referring, briefly, to single topic of national policy.
 The settlement of questions appertaining to he powers of the General Government Over slavery, so as to produce tranquility throughout the nation, has hitherto battleu the efforts o1 our wlsest patriots and ablest statesmen. However desirable such settlement may be, it can never be accomplished 50 long as the exercise of those powers interferes with the sovereignty of the otates or conflicts with the wei establlshed views of right and justice entertained by the people.
 up to the time of the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the States were severaIly lndepend- ent each possessed supreme power uut passing i through the exciting period uf the revolution, had taught them that dangers were ,o De apprehendeu lrvm rivalry, from jealousy, md from the conflicting interests likely to ulc- ate and control their policy. They had also earned that their individual resources were ln- adequate for protection agalust commun and powerful enemies. For the purpose, therefore, ,f guarding against such dangers, and of forming more perfect unlon establishing justice, and St. ;urng the blessings of liberty to themselves and nelr chIidren, each State parted with a specified portion vf It's sovereignty, and p,aced It Tn the lands ot the general governmental be exercised ,nly as dehned ln the teueral Constitution. 1 hat instrument, which consecrated this nation ,o treeuom, was scrupuiousiy guarded from the lse of the wor,ls, slave or Slavery and when nen are referred to otherwise than as treemen, .hey are called persons" And as such they ! are represented and taxed, and delivered up, ow- ng service. The testimony is abundant that thls compact was made With the idea that Sla- very was an evil to be tolerated, until the efforts anu wisdom of man should cooperate with Di- vine Providence to open way tor its termina- tion. Slavery was regarded then as subject over which the general government had no con trol, except far as the Constitution authorized the rendltlon of tugitlves from service or labor, the regulation of commerce between the States, and the prohibition of the migration, or importa- ton, (after the year l8O8,) of such persons as the states then thought proper to admit. All the power granted was prOhibtOry and was early l