Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-11-09
From Walton's Daily Journal.
DEBATE N THE SENATE
On The Agricultural Bureau bill, en- Thurs2ag
p. NJ. Norsn7Jer la., 1860.

T. NJ, -NOreDl5er Isl, 1850.
Senator Woodward said lie was born in Yer
mont, had always, with the exception Of few
years while acquiring his education, lived IN Yer
mont. and had always been identified with her in
terests and though cducIted to 4 profession, he
had been interested all through life in the agri
cultural aflirs o: the St=ts.
He thought, though there had been very much
taIking-and good talking too-yet to some ex-
tent ii had beeA devoid Of faets-of those solid
facts and elements which should form the basis OF
a measure like this.
It has been said by Senators who have spoken
that Vermont is peculiar State, and this has
been ac-eded to By all. Peculiar in what Pecu-
Iiarly an agricultural State Is it more peculiar
" an arricultural State than the Western or
Southern states Of this contederaey 1t may be
somewhat pecuiaramong the New E1gitH1 suites,
for in all probability, there nay be less q com
merce. less Of manufactures, less Of numbering.
less Of the mechani3 arts, than IN these sister
States But the peculiarity Of all the New Eng
land States Is that they arc farming States-aSri-
cultural States.
But it is said that fer the last ten years Yer
mont Las been decorating in population. This
has been assigned TO different causes. One Senator
attributes 1t to our emigration TO the West ac-
count Of the exhaustion Of our SOIL through tho
noor manner in which it has blen cultivIfe1-
Whea such reasons as this are assigned, certainly
We mus; DO hard pushed for a basis for Al asri-
cultural bureau. The Senator from Addison, VIC
supported this bill, discarded this idea, AMI said
"einigra-ion was the blood Of New Lrsland.'
There IS problem which would need some 57-
linton if heab1ve reason Is correct. II our PEG
ule 20 out from Vermont because the soils are go
poorly cultivated, why is It fact that during t-c
last ten years the population has held good N tle
other New England states, while contessediy they
are behind Vermont "a agricultural Interests =
The fact is that the other States are in greater
measure given 20 commerce, 70 manufactures, O.
10 numbering. AID this produces a division o.
labor and retains more Of the population
But it is argued that this agricultural board
would caecI, this emigration. Without stopping
10 ask whether this emigration IS an evil in
state or national view. 1t might be asked If Jhis
Agricultural bureau viii do for the agricultural
interests what the railroads have done for iC du-
ring the past ten years. Through these railroads
our lands have been increased IN Ta!ue and our
products have had more ready market. And 50,
through this period in which this depletion IS
complained Of there has been every interest -
work 70 keep the people Of Vermont at home.
lie discarded tie notion that the farmers were
asking for a bill Of this kind. He gloried IN the
idea that the farmers Of Vermont iudep ndeD',
are wealthy, that they come not 70 the Legislature
asking for any such bill. There should come a
voice Of the people demanding l5 before we pass
anv such measure. This Legislature is, in very
large degree. composed of farmers. And the other
House which Is pre-eniuently composed OF ilrn-
e1s gave very summary Judgment on the SUD
iect vheu u first came before them.
1t has al-o been argued that there are srsa; de-
fscs in agriculture in the mode Of cultivatlng the
lands Of Vermont, and We would enable the iarr-
ers to cultivate their lands better than they ha-
done. But. tn ugh the land might be cultivated.
better than il is vet in 10 State the lands bet
ter cultivated than in Vermont. 1t has been sa.o
that agricultural bureaus arc working we'll II
other states but if this IS So where are the iacts
Whv do not some II them reach US 1Eey are
certainly making but Little noise.
But IL Is said tue experiment viii cost bus lit
tIa Il viii cos: the state only about $1,000
vs,r aud this is a small matter. It row costs the
STATE NOT small SUN to carry on its operatsous-
II now costs the state over $40, coo annually and
while this Is the fact we must not forget t5at this
i1dcueudent and WclltLy state NJ Nerm2ut IA nov
n lso in debt. 20 the amount Of SlIo,COu- WIZ
:, ate House lust built ~ a cost OF 10000 more
II addition T. this we are constructing monuments.
We have al educational system . support, and
we ave Geological report 20 publish, at IN ex-
pense, of from $1,000 TO s. 600. And tais, tco,
accrues to the benefit Of the agricultural class
The -guueat that it costs bat httle' Is tle aTgC-
rncat -hich makes so many baEkrupt-etates as
we'll as Individuals.
But bat does the bin propose to do In the
frs. Mace il proposes 20 appoint board OF eight
directors II makes provision for the choice o.
Secretary At salary 0f not less than $500 Il
the CDL-L-LlJu o. i1tA-1 dt4 -e--4
ran annual report 20 the Legislature. But does 10
axe any r-a vision FOR these facts 70 be scattered
abroad aurre- the people Very few Of these
rrrrrts would Ind their way among the people
IL provides that The Board may procure actresses
70 be delivered III publications % be disseutna-
ted as they may cea m useful. lt may nave m
s-itutes AID lectures ar ll5J the course provided
the STATIC viii pay l.T t-lu. Yet II l. sll4 t1a,
this B-lri viii 1o- c-s- thousand dollars but
tic expenses provided t9r in tho bill will NOS III
short of 81 -J0, and t1is, too, VITA no pFoFl-loh
for publishing tue report e The cost Of tAis l4-c-
when we get through ifh t.. instead e icing
thousand dollars, VIII usa A-9Fo ti'9 t1iis6Hd Io'-
lars.
lie cared nothing about tas p-ovision for tic
appointment Of this Board, ye. he would deIs- O.
tue General Assembly the az 70. ytnent now given
to the state -ricuI ural Society HI thought the
Legislature should pause before topping a meas
ure Of this kind. The matter shout re discussed
more generally throughout the state.
Senator Brock proposed q amend the Dill So mat
three persons should be appointed By E. We General
Assembly instead OF tlc stale Agriculture society
The amendment was opFNsed By Senate Am
strong and zUnF1rie. ty S5dlt1r W heeler ID 7-as
finally adopted.
Senator Robbins said If he coul be satisfied Ia
the bill could be improved uu;I il would ben 8,
the people Of Vermont, he would vote for H.
There statistics to be collected IN the state %
Vermont. Who IS @ provide the Secretary with
these statistics? Nhl- are they TO be The NUM-
Der o. cattle rGl5et the amount cf wheat corn.
oats, Gc, produced The collection Of these is all
left 70 the secretary Of the board. de would pre-
fer to see the bill made so that the board should
know how they were 20 collect these statistics. Wa
have oAcers who could collect them lust as well
the board CT listers, for example. lie thou-lt
no additional oEcsrs need be male . increase tle
benefit Of the farmer.
Senator Armstrong said the principle qgss:i,-
~
on the ground OF the deterioration Of oar sol, 9TH
ers on the ground that ourpopulation is constant
ly decreasing. All this proves that our sgr!c-.-
ture Is not what L might be. u Is not, 90 the
present day. what tie agrieUlture Of our forefat1
ers was. Then he that had the best resolution
in clearing the new soil snd puttiug N the cro9
mad the greatest success. But now intellig5lcc.
rather thsa muscle is required il order 70 success
in agriculture. The farmers arc isolated. They
do not come together as professional men Dc. BU-
they are intelligent, and If aroused. probably zs
sron5 minded men, though not 50 literally elE-
Gated, as any class.
The purpose Of this board Of agriculture IS r,-
TO build new railroads or create new markets. b-r
to cali public attention and arouse the farmers O.
re position which they ought 70 oecupy.
From this board there WIS not 50 much 70 be ex-
pec-,d as from the efhoient action Of good Score
tary. This is not entirely an experiment al
though it may be II this department In our
board Of edHc2tiOn We have had a Secretary wh1
has travelled over the State and held Institutes,
ali be could testify 20 the interest in education
which had been awakened. We expect such A.
ton from the Secretary Of the board Of agricui-
ture. If such an experiment has been successful
q. other departments why not IN this,
The rsaiing portion Of the agricultural con-
nlu1i;y have undoubtedly rscsivci great benefit
from the'reports Of the Massachusetts, Board Of
4 gricuitnre. There was no reason WY board CT
agriculture should rot work oat as great results
4 this State.