Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-10-19


a dereliction of duty, and disregard to the
prosperity and best Interests of the people
OF our State, to postpone the incipient
measures OF some system of internal i'm
Lrovement; whether this legislature will
not cause surveys 10 be made, at the pub
lie expense, of some of the leading routes,
with particular and accurate estimates of
the expense, and the probable business
which may be done upon them. l am
not so visionary as to suppose, that with
the present resources of our government,
this state will undertake, like some Of her
sister states, any gigantic system Of In
ternal Improvement but after thor
ough examination of the several projects,
with careful estimates oftheir expense and
probable income, is it unreasonable to be-
lleve that some of these routes may be
found feasible, and afford fair prospects Of
profit, and that the energies of our own
citizens may thus be aroused to attempt
and accomplish some of them. To one,
who has attentive y marked the march
OF improvement, among our sister states,
who has seen Canals and Railroads form
ed as if by magic, while no attempt has
been made to improve the facilities of COM
munication in our own state, the cause Of
the daily drain of wealth, and What is of
!ncaIculably greater importance, to any
community, the unprecedented emigra-
ton of our best and most enterprising cit
izens is not predetermined
By the provisions Of the act of Congress
of the last session, entitled IAN act regu-
lating the deposites of the public money"
it will become the duty OF the Legislature
to provide by law, some means to enable
the Treasurer 10 receive, on deposite, the
amount which by the terms ofthe act may
be received by this state. 1t is the money
of the people, and it is hardly to be sup
posed that, when once distributed to the
several states, the exigcEcies of the Gen
eral Government will soon if erer demand
its repayment. The provisions of this
act are deemed wise and salutary. The
unexpected and rapid accumulation OF
money in our National Treasury, the
evil of placing under the control of gov
eminent too much of the wealth of the
nation, combine to render such distrl0u-
ton necessary. [ would not be under
stood as being DESTROYS or willing, to place
the principal ofthis fund beyond the con-
troll of the Legislature: 1t should be kept,
so long as it remains at the disposal of
this state, as an inviolable fund. The in
come only, which to all intents isthe prop
erty of the people, should be annually ap-
piled for the support Of common schools,
as in that application and in that only can
the beneficial effects resulting from the dis
trlbution be so fully and equally realized
BY the whole people.
am not disposed to remark upon the
various projects which will probably be
presented for your consideration, but
would simpl y suggest plan which con-
slider liable to the least objection. The
several towns in the state might be made
the repositories ofsuch share Of the whole
amount received, as by their population
they would be entitled and be made
accountable to the state in the same man.
ner that the state is to The General Gov
eminent. The selectren of the several
towns, abroad, already, by the laws en-.
trusted with the prudential affairs of the
same, might manage such share as such
town should receive, and cause the in.
come to be tdivided among the several
school districts in such manner as nigh
be provided by law.
1t is believed that the fund might be
managed, the income applied and the ad
vantages more impartieIly distributed il
this manner, than in any other.
During the recess Of the Legislature
communications have been made to me by
the executive of the states of Pennsylva
MIA, North Carolina, Alabama, kentucky
Ohio, Mississippi, Virginia, Maine, Con
necticut, South Carolina, and New Y ork
enclosing resolutions Of the Legislature
r ofthose states upon various Subjects AM
containing requests that they may be com
| municated to the Legislature Of this state
which will be laid before you at an earl,
day.
? The vacancy occasioned by the dealt
J of the Hon. Timothy Merrill, late Score
tary of State, was supplied by the appoint
r ment of Farrand F. Merrill, who ha
J held the Office Of deputy secretary unde
Y the late incumbent. a..
$ The recent adoption of the amendment
0 to our constitution will necessarily ca
: your attention to an alteration, in the Sc
veral acts relating to the passing Of law
e to meet the present organizati- n of tn
g Legislature
! l have, as deemed it my duty, thu
j. frankly submitted to you my views upo
|, the subject alluded to in this communIca
}, ton, relying upon your wisdom and gene
J. raj knowledge of the wants of our stat
n for such legislative action, as will advanc
e the virtue and happiness of our citizen
J. and secure, in their purity, our free inst
j. tutions.
j. IshouId do injustice to my own feeling
n should omit on this occasion, to expre