evident that no foreign nation can impart it to us. And equally evident that scholastic establishments in our own country would only create a set of drones, who, from their imperfect education, would not be capable of practically instructing others, even if they possessed sufficient industry to make the attempt. In the opinion of the committee, our farmers might, with great propriety, say to us as did the citizens of Paris to the great Colbert, when he asked them " what he could do to better their condition ?” “Let us alone." The committee are entirely satisfied that it is best to leave the manner of improving their condition, (as we have that of the other classes of our population,) to the acute sagacity and penetration of our practical farmers. Their talents and knowledge are fully adequate to the task, unless by overweening legislative tenderness, in attempting to aid them, we paralyze their genius and enterprize and thereby lead them into a speculative course of unprofitable experiments, instead of pursuing the certain and profitable modes of culture, from which experience has demonstrated that the most rapid and unexampled improvements have resulted. Aside from the foregoing considerations, the embarrassed state of our financial concerns would render it necessary to resort to loans or direct taxation, to obtain funds for the establishment of a school or schools. The committee deem a resort to loans, for this purpose to be altogether objectionable. Believing it to be a most unwise and ruinous course to run in debt for the purpose of trying experiments which do not afford promise of the least utility. It is not supposed that the most ardent friends of the plan would recommend the levy of a direct tax for the purpose. If they did, the committee are quite certain it would not meet with the approbation of our practical agriculturists, nor indeed of any other class of our citizens. Being of the opinion that legislative action would be inexpedient and unwise, and that therefore the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted, the committee ask to be discharged from the No. 111. IN SENATE, March 24, 1834. REPORT Of the select committee, on the bill from the Ag sembly entitled “An act to incorporate the Or. leans hydraulic company." Mr. Cary, from the select committee, consisting of the Senators from the 8th Senate district, to which was referred the bill from the Assembly entitled " An act to incorporate the Orleans hydraulic company,” REPORTED: The object of the said company is to erect a dam at the mouth of the Oak Orchard creek, in the town of Carlton, and to create hydraulic privileges for manufacturing purposes, which dam will obstruct the navigation of the said creek, (which for more than thirty years has been public,) and overflow lands belonging to individuals who have no connexion with the company. The bill provides a special tribunal to ascertain and assess the damages of the owners of such lands. In every point of view in which the bill presents itself it seems to the committee to be objectionable. 1st. The dam would be an unnecessary obstruction of navigable waters. 2d. Individuals would be compulsorily deprived of the occupancy of their lands. 3d. No adequate public advantage is promised as a justification of the measure. A petition asking for similar powers was before the Assembly in 1833, and very properly rejected. The grounds of the rejection are set forth in the report of the committee of the Assembly; Assembly Documents 1833, No. 253. The committee report against the passage of the bill. IN SENATE, March 28, 1834. REPORT Of the select committee on the petition of James Geery and others. Mr. Sudam, from the select committee, to which was referred the petition of James Geery and others, in behalf of the Second Associate church in the city of New-York, REPORTED: That in considering the reasons presented by the petitioners, they are satisfied that the aid of the Legislature is necessary, to carry into effect the benevolent intentions of the founders of this church. They desire, that the election of the trustees shall be by persons in full communion; and the power to mortgage their real estate, as an indemnity to the original founders of the church, for money actually expended and laid out by some individuals of that church, so that the lien shall be authorized by the minister and trustees, and not by a general vote of the whole congregation; the trustees being chosen by those in full communion. The object in view is laudable, the end moral, and the necessity of the provision apparent from such powers not being delegated by the Revised Statutes. The committee report by bill. |