the interests of the people will at the same time be better subserved. A similar abridgement of expense might also be expected to occur in the session for 1845, so that more than four times the cost of the revision would be thus saved to the state.

There is still another important consideration connected with this subject. The editions of the session laws for the year 1837-8, and of 1840, are entirely exhausted, and by the time when a revision of the statutes could be completed, the published edition of the revised statutes, and the remaining editions of the session laws, from 1837 to 1843, inclusive, will be nearly, or quite exhausted, and a re-publication more expensive than that of a new revised code, would thus become necessary.

In every light in which we have considered this subject, it appears evident to the committee, that all those high considerations of public good which should direct and control the action of a legislature in the performance of its responsible duties, concur in calling upon us to make immediate provision by law, for a thorough revision of our general laws, embracing such alterations, additions and improvements, as experience has shown to be necessary, with a methodical arrangement, under appropriate heads, titles, chapters, &c., and the attainment of an object of primary and most essential importance, that of making the laws concise, plain, and intelligible.

The committee are of opinion, that no revision ought to be submitted to the legislature for its action upon it, without every part of it having been passed upon by at least three men of such legal learning and practical knowledge and ability, as to command the respect, both of the legislature and the communlty; for unless the work can be rendered so nearly perfect and satisfactory, as not to require numerous alterations and amendments by the legislature before its adoption, its permanency will be endangered, and its value greatly diminished. We therefore recommend the passage of a law for the appointment of a commissioner, learned in the law, and possessing such practical knowledge and ability, and such habits of industry as are necessary to qualify him for the task; which commissioner, with the chancellor and the presiding judge of the first circuit, or two of the other judicial officers of the state to be designated, shall constitute the council of revision, under the direction and supervision of whom such com

The committee on agriculture in pursuance of a resolution adopted on the tenth instant for the encouragement of agriculture, would respectfully submit the following report:

That it is deemed the bounden duty of a sovereign state to take measures for its own preservation, and it will not be denied that every sovereign state is under a like obligation to increase its riches and power by all justifiable means; the more any state abounds with vigorous inhabitants, and with the necessaries and convenience of life, the greater is its capacity to defend itself against foreign aggression and to maintain its maratime rights. Nothing, perhaps has a tendency to increase a hardy and vigorous race of inhabitants, and supply a state abundantly with all the necessaries and comforts of life, more than a judicious and industrious cultivation of a fertile soil.

In proportion, as agriculture is improved, a greater population can be supported on the same given space, and a larger surplus product realized. It is agriculture which is to supply the hands of manufacturers with materials, and their mouths with bread, and it is this which is to freight the ships of the merchant.

And in proportion as the knowledge and practice of this important art progresses, a state will be able to maintain when necessary larger armies and fleets for its protection and defence.

That the cultivation of the earth is the primary and most certain source of natural supply, as the immediate and chief source of those materials which constitute the nutriment of other kinds of labor as including a state most favorable to the freedom and independence of the human mind, and are perhaps more conducive to the multiplication of the human species, has intrinsically a strong claim to permanence over every other kind of industry. But although so many advantages seem to be the natural consequences of agriculture, the earth

must be solicited by the hands of skilful and judicious husbandmen before she will yield her increase.

Agriculture is a scientific art, the practice of which is of all others the most conducive to human happiness, and is entitled therefore to the aid and encouragement of every government which proposes to itself as an end, the happiness of its citizens. When the state of agriculture in this country is compared with the state of agriculture in France and England, or our own state compared with her sister states in this regard, great room for improvements will be apparent and the wonder will be why hitherto so little has been done to encourage the extension and improvement of this great resource of national wealth. Here permit your committee to treat generally, as well as specially, upon this subject.

The general government ever since its organization has been continually consulting, and protecting the interests of commerce; our merchants have been encouraged with long and generous credits, upon the duties payable upon their imported articles, by which they have derived all the benefits of a pecuniary loan from the national treasury, and above all the nation has supplied them with a gallant navy to protect their enterprize and to maintain the security and respectability of their flag, in doing these things for commerce the federal government has consulted the true interests and dignity of the nation. But, although the national legislature has done so much for commerce, the state government, whose peculiar duty it is to superintend the interests of agriculture have done little or nothing for its encouragement.

Colleges and schools have been liberally endowed and supported by the state governments and the arts and sciences have been cherished with an honorable and enlighted zeal, but in the meantime agriculture which is an art so important, a science so interesting has been for the most part left to struggle itself. And this will seem the more surprising if it is considered that every dollar expended by a government for the support and encouragement of agriculture will be reimbursed a thousand times over, in the increased productions of the soil.

Notwithstanding all the objections which may be urged against an appropriation made by the state to advance this great pursuit, consequent upon the financial condition of its resources, yet the returns of

an appropriation would as it is firmly believed be doubly realized and repaid through the medium of increased wealth, and multiplied improvents under these considerations, however favorable.

It is thought advisable not to call on the state for aid in a pecuniary point of view, but to pass an act authorizing the supervisors in the counties of this state, where agricultural societies are now or may hereafter be established with a discretionary power to raise a certain sum to be applied as premiums for the encouragement and advancement of this honorable calling.

For illustration, suppose the state of Michigan should offer a premium of five hundred dollars to the individual within the state, who should raise the most wheat off of ten acres of land; it is believed an offer of this kind would produce one thousand competitors for the prize who would of course cultivate ten thousand acres of land with wheat. The extra pains and attention which would be bestowed on these ten thousand acres, would as it is fair to suppose make them yield at least six bushels per acre more than an average of ordinary crops and thus sixty thousand bushels of wheat, extraordinary, would be raised within the state, and should it be sold at the ordinary low prices at present paid, yet it would amount to some forty thousand dollars. In like manner similar results might be expected from other crops, from similar excitements, and should the same system of excitement as that supposed to be adopted by all the states, it might be difficult to calculate the vast accession of national wealth, which would be the result.

But a bare increase of crops would be the least advantage which would be derived from a judicious encouragement of agriculture, great improvements would be the consequence of them, the benefits would be lasting. Men would be led step by step to the discovery of those treasures which a skilful and industrious cultivation of the earth is capable of eliciting, and in a short time the fields of our beautiful peninsula would vie with the fairest portions of Europe, in the excellence of their culture, and in the exuberance of their crops. Yes, she might well be pronounced the Italy of America. Upon the whole it would seem the path of duty, in respect to the encouragement of agriculture is plain before the legislature since the promotion of this interesting occupation has a tendency to preserve the basis of the government itself, while it adds to the number of our population, and to the strength and riches of our state.

J. SHEARER.