The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-10-19

MILITIA
Tie present condition .. the militia
Is shown BY the fq,oft u the Adjutant
ard Inspector General. which viii Be-
before you A positive requirement.
thai the companies composing the sew.
sral aegimests shall be brought IN com
petition viii each other year by year
by regimental parade, would very great
IS promote lis drill discipline, general
efficiency, AMI consequent value ior the
purpose Tor which il is maintained, and
would tend greatly to the completion
Of the organization ROW authorized. by
stimulating the formation, By voluntary
enlistment, 81 The additional companies
required ior that purpose
ANNUAL uaForrs
The remaining annual reports, to
which have not alluded. will be laid
before you for your consideration ]
haye not yet had opportunity 10 give
to them that careful examination which
their Importance requires. Should l
find it necessary to do 50, / viii call
your attention to them during your
session.
LAW REGULATING RATE or INTEREST
Tbeie is oie matter Of existing legis
lation, which / regard as OF sufficient
Importance in its present bearings to
Justify my ealing to it your special at
tention. The certainty that an exist
ing positive las cannot Be violated With
i'm punity-t that transgression, if known
win surely be followed by punishment,
hne as much influence in promoting
respect for the law and preventing its
violation, rs the example of visible nc
tual punishment Aud the continued
existence upon The statute book Of q
positive law, which has become so far
obsolete as to b. wholly disrogarded
aud openly violated with entire impu-
nifty has q tendency to weaken respect
Tor all law TIE law of this state pre-
scribing the legal rate OF interest for
money loaned. and positively prohibit
ing the talking, either directly or in
directly. of a greater rate Of interest
than prescribed is now in this condi-
ton. 1t is dailv and openly violated
by banks and by individuals, and its vi
olation is entirely disregarded. 1t
serves only as check upon those, whJ
are too conscientious to knowingly dis
regard any positive law, and operates
as an lnducement TO them to send their
capital abroad for Investment, instead
OF Investing it in the state for the pro-
motion of its Industrial, manufacturing
and mechanical interests. 1t is thus q
direct element of moral and practical
mischief. The only remedy for its en-
forcement is given to those, who con
sent to borrow money at rate exceed
ing the lawful rate, and involves the
necessity of their bringing suit to re-
cover back money which they have
paid in pursuance of their voluntary
agreement. 1t thus operates mischiev-
ously both ways. II allowed to be vic.
lated with impunity, it weakens re-
opoot for all Law; and remedy for its
violation can only be obtained by
sanctioning the violation of the prom
SO. in relianco upon which the loan
was affected
RECOMMEND that the subject be care
fully considered, and that the law be
essentially modified, or ample proyis
ion made for its enforcement by the or
binary officers of the law, OF by some
person not party to its violation, --and
this without reference to any supposed
interest Of either borrower or lender,
but only for the promotion of sound
morality and respect for law. If the
State is willing that there shall be no
power to enforce penalty Tor viola
ton Of the positive prohibition, if the
parties agree that it shall not be en-
forced, that II both arc asserting par
ties to the violation without punish
ment, then such violation is legitimate
and cannot be punished, lit is better
to legalize such agreement BY positive
legislation; and If the violation of the
prohibition is contrary TO the moral
sense Of the Legislature, then effective
provision should be made for the pun
Iishment Of such violation.
DEVELOPMENT on RESOURCES.
The people Of this State and must
necessarily ever remain essentially an
agricultural community, although the
progress made in the development Of
the mineral resources the State, the
marble, slate and iron, found in almost
inexhaustible quantities, has TO con-
siderable degree modified the original
character Of the State in this respect. =
Tue result is that large numbers Of our
young men, trained 10 depend for their
livelihood upon the fruits Of patient
toll upon the farm, attracted by the
rich soil, easy cultivation and iagre re-
turns Of the alluvial regions Of the West
ern states, leave the state yearly, there
l. j A IL.