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

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should be enjoyed by cur own citizens
Ii i worthy q serious ooussieraiiop.
whether some means saey not b ds,is.
"a. Is which The resources q the state
mar Re developed auj put 70 use with
in our own limits. whether by " ss and
judicious encouragement q the yArions
forms Of manufacturing and mechanical
industry, capital may not be induced to
flow into tie state for investment, aud
the capital within the state be retained
for investment at bone Possibly
modification Of the interest Jaws to
certain extent. or the absolute exemp-
ton from taxation. for limited ttme,
Of capital invested in new manutaciur
ing or mechanical establishments. in
stead Of leaving il, as At present, to the
uncertain actions d towns, might have
a tendency TO promote this result, and
other modes Of accomplishing the pur-
pose may suggest themselves to the
wisdom Of the Legislature Il is sub
ject deserving Of careful consideration,
and the example set by other states may
DO studied to good purpose.
LEGISLATION
Legislative law ike Judicial Law, de-
rires ia chief element Of value FROM STA
bility. A judicial body, which should
annually modify, or override. lite pre-
vious decisions, would DO regarded as
unsettling tie course Of business and
would cease to command respect Ey-
cry reason, which requires that the
course Of Judicial decisions should only
! be varied for the most cogent reasons,
which has made stare deeiSis' one Of
the maxims Of the law, applies with
eyual force to general Legislative enact
mcnts involving the rights and relations
OF persons and Of communities. Yet it
is well understood that while courts
change their decisions, when once made,
1 only with extreme reluctance and as
the result OF the most deliberate exam
ination, legislative bodies feel them
selves governed by no such rule, but
yearly repeal, modify and essentially
change laws, both Legislative and judi
cial, previously existing,
This constant change IN the course OF
legislative enactments is fraught with
mischief; for SO that law be not posi-
lively mischievous, it is Of full Us much
Importance, that itsbe thoroughly and
generally understood what the law is,
as that it should be in all its details the
most perfect system that can be devils
ed. A wise conservatism of the laws as
they exist so far as is consistent with a
due regard to the progress Of the age
and the changing course Of business re-
lations would go far to make the gen
eral body OF the law better understo cd
and respected, to place upon firm
foundation the interests of the state and
CT individuals, and at tho same time be
promotive Of sound economy by dimin-
ishing the amount Of business transact
ed by the General Assembly, and thus
shortening the length OF its sessions.
Much time is consumed annuall6 in
the consideration and enactment Of billie
for the formation Of private corpora
tions. BY chapters eighty-six and nine
ty Of the geaeral statutes provision ID
made for tho voluntary association OF
individuals, with fall corporate powers,
for the various purpoafs therein ennm-
Grated and carefully prepared and
well guarded system provided for their
control and management. Yet OF the
whole number of charters Of private
corporations, enacted III the years 1864
to 1868, Inclusive, sixty per cent. are
for corporations which might equally
MS well have been formed under the
general laws without coming before
and consuming the time OF the Genor-
al Assembly
Due regard to wise economy in the
expenses Of the state requires, that
your session should be limited to the
shortest time which may be consistent
with proper transaction Of the bust
ness which may come before you. A
iudicious dissemination. decisiyely man
Tested, to adopt any proposed change
OF existing laws or any general legiaia-
ton for special cases, without the clear
est conviction Of their utility, aud re-
quirement, that ali persons, desiroua Of
being incorporated .or any OF the pur-
poses, for which provision for associa,
ton with corporate powers is made BY
the general laws, should form their as
ISOLATION under those laws, or that a
bill for such purpose ehould only be en-
i tertained upon prepayment to tho
treasurer o. specified sum Of money
for the use Of the state, would have
great effect in producing this most do
sirable resdlt by diminishing to a con.
siderable extent the amount of busi.
ness which otherwise may claim your
attention.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.