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

"tSt Hn pOA'o~S 1IoI 'I1o"
fountain should be kept pure. The safety
and permanently Of our free institutions de-
pend solely upon the public virtue and gen
eral intelligence Of the people. Hence
the necessity of that guardianship which |
the laws assume over the one, and the in
dlsPensable duty Of the government to Sc
cure and etfectually to provide for the 9TH
er. Genius is as often found under the
humbIest roof as in thedwelIings of the
attiuent. 1t is public property and pro-
vision should be made to educate at the
public expense, every child in the state,
whose parents are unable to do it.
would earnestly recommend to the
consideration ofthe Legislature, an exam
lnatlon of the acts relating to the support
| OF common schools. 1t is feared they are
radically defective, inasmuch as they do
not sufficient y provide for the EN- lov-
ment OF teachers in the education of our
children of suitable attainments and quail |
fcations. The public monies, arising
from rents, income of loans, and the three
cent school tax, are now divided among
the several districts in each town accord
ing to the number of children between
tour and eighteen years of age. | have
no doubt, that the great interests OF educa-
tlea would be better promoted, by divid-
ing one third, or some certain share fixed
by law, of the public money accruing in
each town, equally among the several dis
tricts In the same, and the residue in pro-
portion to the number of scholars in each
district, as now provided by law Such
provision would seem to equalize the ben
ehts resulting from the public aid afforded
to common schools, enabling the smaller
districts to procure the services of better
qualified teachers and to continue their
schools for longer period, and Iessening
the tendency to extravaganza and waste,
which it is feared may exist in some of
the larger districts.
In connection with this subject permit
me to suggest, that, although our schools
are in many places, able to avail them
selves of competent teachers from our
Colleges and Academies, still it is believ-
ed that in the State there is a want of we'll
qualified teachers, and it is worthy of in
quiry whether it would not comport with,
and be the Legitimate duty of the legisla-
ture, to provide for and patronise some
= suitable institutions for the education of
teachers. Public opinion seems to call
; for some measure of this kind. An op-
j. portunity is now afforded through the
means of the surplus revenue, soon to be
; placed at the disposition of our state, of
making, probably, an efectual and per-
manent provision for the support of our
primary schools, and for the encourage
> ment OF other institutions of earning, and
also to enable the towns to diminish, what
is considered by some, the onerous bur.
then OF the three cent school tax
A revision of the entire code of our mi
litia laws is earnestly called for. Repeat
> ed additions and alterations have so OBJ
' scured theTmeaning, and diminished their
effect, that they are known in many in
stances to have failed in the accomplish
ment of the objects for which they were
enacted. They are expensive and une-
quail in their operation, and perfectly in.
efficient so far as subordination and disci-
pllne are concerned. A we'll Disciplined
militia has ever been considered the sures,
safeguard in free government, and well
deserves all the commentator which has
been bestowed upon it. 1t is earnestly
hoped that the legislature will be disposed
to give to this subject that consideration
which it's importance demands
In the progress of the session your at
tention may be called to the consideration
e of the laws relating to imprisonment foI
y debt. Within few years they have beer
10 shorn of much Of their severity. Should
the legislature however, deem it expedi
ent to abolish or change our present sys
w. tenn, rigorous measures ought to be adopt
Ie ed for the prevention Of fraud and while
the rights ofthe really poor debtor are pro
t. vided for by the humane policy of GU
laws, the rights Of the honest, and in ma
ny cases, poor creditor, should be secure,
by the terrors of criminal punishment.
The pursuits of our people are, at pres
ent essentially agricultural, and bein
such, we must in some measure, remain
dependant for many Of the necesslries an
luxuries of life, as we'll as for market 70
the surplus products ofour soil. But from
the enterprsng spirit manifested by man
- of our citizens for few years past, it
~ very'apparent, that we are destined at n
ea distant period to become also a manufat
OF turing people. The facilities afforde
10 for propelling machinery in the immens
waite power every where aboundin
ne throughout our territory, the inexhaust
bic mineral wealth of our mountains, t.
of gether with the cheapness of living, will
unless discouraged by narrow and Till
eral course of Legislation, present such il
ducements to our Citizens, and to foreig
capitalists as will lead them to increas
their investments in manufacturing estal
Of Iishments, and thereby secure - the cult
vator of the soil more certain and un
form reward for his industry. Althouo