Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-01
Legislature of Vermont.
Friday. Oct. 26.


SENArE--BHls introduced. BY Senator Need
ham, providing for one shiretown in Bennington
county and making Arlington that shiretown
By Senator Hubbard, relating to tho settlement
of paupcrs; BY Senator Beecher, constituting
town clerks notares public; By Senator Hin
man, relating to salaries and fees of county
clerks; BY Senator Wheeler, creating court
for the trial OF suits within the jurisdiction OF
justices of the Peace
The bill providing for the formation of an
agricultural board was taken up and the ques-
ton being shall it be read the third time, Mr..
Hubbard hoped that the Senate would order the
engrossment and third reading OF the bill. The
part of the community, and most essentially
affects the well being of the State.
In the first place there can be very little OBJ
lection to it. The only objection is on the
ground OF expense But the expense can be
only about $1,000 year. This may be some
thing of an objection, but there is nothing en-
pirical in the bill. There is nothing in it which
looks like promoting the interests of one part
of the people in opposition to another 1t an
ticipates the promotion of an interest where
now none exists. 1t is the creation of wealth
and not of expense, and 1t is the bringing in of
income where now there is no income. We have
an adago on this point, that he who makes two
spears Of grass to grow where one only grew
before, is public benefactor. And the object
of this bill is to give every man such informa-
ton as will enable him to quadruple the pro-
ductivenoss of his land. The land is capable Of
this, aud all that is necessary is that there should
be suitable legislative encouragement. 1t IS
we'll known that certain parts Of the land of the
70 iniob in vain tbay Ii
minishing in fertility, and the question arises,
shall ANYTHING be done to arrest this deteriora-
ton? We have other signs of deterioration of
the State We must obyiate this by increasing
it's fertility. | say from personal knowledge
that there is a wide spread expectation that the
Legislature will this year do something in this
matter. The formation of agricultural boards
in Massachusetts,, New York and Maine, and
the progress which the interests of agriculture
are making under their auspices, show that this
is indeed step in the right direction. But the
great benefit Of the bill does not consist in its
mere lsing the productiveness of the State. 1t
consists in its educating power over the minds
of the people. In the freedom that we enjoy
from prejudice, in the almost perfect education
of the people 50 far as it snecessary to complete
good intellectual and moral character, there
has been almost boundless expense to affect 1t
and the question is shall it be enjoyed by al
most double the population that now occupies
this land?
Senator Willard moved to amend by striking
out that the first word in the bill, which
was agreed to, and it was then moued to amen:
further by striking out all after the word " re
port " in the fifth section ia provision that tn
, Board shall make " suggestions to the LAgis
loL,, | Il oun1 h,,S
ard, Peck and Woodbridge. Pending this dis
cussion, on motion of Senator Wheeler the bill
f was laid on the table and made the special or
der for next Tuesday morning at 10 IL o'clock
The report of the trustces.of the State Libra
nv was taken up and referred to committee OF
the library.
The bill, providing for public examination
of school teachers on the second Tuesdays o.
+ May and November was on motion of Senator
Needham indefinitely postponed Adjourned.
HOUSEHOLDS miroduced-By Mr. Pingry 0
Weathersfeld, 10 amend chap. 20 C s, relating
. to school taxes also, bill relating to witness
, es BY Mr., Baker of Newport, to incorporate
the Mcmphrcmagog Steamboat Co. By Mr.
wilkins of Mendon, amending sections S and
of an act approved Nov. 23d, 1850, relating tt
district schools; By Mr. Waterhouse Of Bright
, on, to incorporate the Eastern Railroad Co.
Resolution. By Mr.. Pingry of Weathersfeld
directing the Clerk to make up the Grand Lis
j on the appraisal of 1855.
/ The House then took up the bill organizing
+ Bureau of Agriculture.
Mr. Field of Newfane remarked that whel
he took the bill in his hands he thought h
would amend it in those parts that he believed
-. were faulty but q more careful examination
;nlu kO oh -
pose the passage Of this bill. Now he coulc
do no better than state his objections. In tn
= first place, he believed that the method of ap
| pointmont of the Bureau-by the Executiv
and'Senate-was contrary to the entire prac
tice ofour State, TO the spirit Gifts constitution
and was one that tended to impeach the Genera
= Assembly; he deemed this seriously obiec
tiOnabe feature in the bill. In the secon
: place, he believed that it would be attende
with considerable expense in its practical opera
. ton, He reviewed the history Of the Board q
G Education, showing how its expenses had ru
e up, and prophesied the same results in the even
: Of the organization CT this Board. Finally tn
farmers of Vermont did not need it; it wa
merely fancy Institution, which would prov
to be of no practical utility. lie Instituted
e comparison between Vermont and its Bureau
o and Massachusetts with its Board of Agrcul
: ture, to show that in quantity and quality q
Agricultural production Vermont surpassed tn
= latter State. He believed that it was the gen
d eral and pervading sentiment of tho farmers @
a the State that the best thing to be done 70
- them was simply TO let them alone.
Mr.. Thomas Of West Fairlee moved that tn
: bill be dismissed, which was carried almos
: unanimously. Adjourned
= AFTERNOON.
SENATE.-Reports.-By Senator Peck, for ju
dietary COM, against bill in relation to suits il
= county courts ; also against bill in amedndmen
of an act establishing the salaries of judges an
9 registers of probate courts, and the third read
i ing of both bills was refused
I.l..aA.nnl Dr- Gur,ntn,. AN.An.l III