The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-10-20


ma rk etable COMMODITY -, ,hia subiect
oome under your consideration, II might sdd
be expected that should ASK TOT IT, ahsence OF
and dispsssionate examination In tue aos. =;
nil nartv feeIpg and every Improper oias' "'c -,
oniry should be, doee the actiSe ous'nesH -
particular section, asking Tor tns es'n",s''
hank ne ed Its accommodation: are .''e'. eap
80, ',h,, ,v;i make in vestmects of the stock.
NJ tho affirmative be true, still we sha'' "ayo
- h,, n worthless Improvement of the example
of our predecessors and nelghoors, H' WEI OF "" H.
dom such sanitary restrictions az WIZ eneo'a
secure the public from loss, we shohld impose suo
unreasonable and excessive restraints as sna'i prs
vent that public from enjoying the oone"'S " '''
system. ,hI .a;sI.mres
several of our sister Suites, upon various SUBJECTS
have been received by mo since the aoJou..""e
of The General Assembly. In compliance WI" III ~
quests by which they were aceo"'P""'''' Ivy
be laid before you. -;
No subec, embraced in them is of no grave I'M
Dort or involves principles so alarming IN ths,r
character as those from the state oi new Jersey
Ono Of Inc sovereign states Of the Union mas peeh
donrivsd of he constitutional rights Her Repre-,
senta,iyes presenting the ever before undsPuteo
and legal evidence OF their election, nave pee" e
fused seats in Congress Not rom any 'i,luie va
The mart of the freemen to elect; rot rom any
fraud or neglect OF the Executive ct the state 10 TUT
nsb the usual and legal evidence OF the result. OF
such election; not through the omission OF tnse
holding that evidence present the same to Con
press; not in obedience to any law or preceoent'
which has heretofore been considered bindinS IN
like cases but in startling violation of all law ana
constitutional right, and reckless disregard CT all
precedent. , A.. =,
Whatever motive may have Influenced the de-
cision Of the mai or1y in Congress ON this question,
stiii in history of the times, It Will be dlihcut 10
consider apart from the iact that mo matter WINS
prematurely, and for the time being, settled. our
ing the pendency Of Tavorite, executive and par
tisap measure; measure, which all parties ADMIT,
is TO exercise important and controlling II not
destructive, influence on the pursuits and prosper
" of the country.
This invasion of The constitutional rights OF a
State is the more dangerous, from The fact, that IT
was perpetr ated by BODY, over whom the INJURED
party can have control and before whom 1t can
neither make known tie wrongs nor seek redress,
except by suferance.
From the practice, in regard to contested elec-
tons, which has prevailed from the foundation OF
the government until the last session OF Congress,
little danger could be apprehended. For there is
no. occasion TO fear that any permanent wrong, ell
Their public private can grow out OF any raudu-
lent unlawful act of the state authorities, In cas-
of this character, the actors, by our frequent
elections, often brought before TRIBUNAL
from which there is no appeal and whose reprooi
few would bo willing to encounter Our present
form of government has moro to Tear from undue
assumption OF power by the several branches of the
General Government, than from auy other source.
It behooves the States, therefore as hey prize our
liberties, TO regard with watchful vigilance every
approach to the usurpa,ion and exercise of power
not delegated by the constitution.
Through tho poiiteness Of the Trussees Of the
"Vermont Asy lam for the insans, copy of their
fourth annual report has been placed in my hands.
lasting debt Of gratitude is due 70 the philanthrop
ic ind ritual, whose liberal bequest laid the foun-
dation this humane institution. The numerous
aapplicn ms for admission show the wisdom OF tho
Legislature making the appropriations which ena-
bled the trustees to open their asylum with the
least possible delay
Many of the patients have been already restored
to reason, to their families and to usefulness, and
they will ever have occasion TO revere the memo
~ and liberalty of their beneactor, we'll AZ the
Heightened policy which opened this comfortable
retreat. Sound policy and humanity alike require
that tho establishment be enlarged, whenever its
present accommodations shall he found insufficient
to meet the wants of the whole OF this unfortunate
class of our fellow men.
The report of the Supsrn tendent OF the State
Prison, and the report of the committee, appointed
by the last General Assembly 10 make con tract
on behalf of Tile state for the labor of the convcs,
have been furnished me, and will be laid BIO
fore you Mt an early day 1t will be perceived
that the committee failed to accomplish the object
of their appointment. TheSuper. on the expiration
Of the contract thMrHubbard in March last, found
himself unexpectedly obliged to make immediate
provision for the support and employment of the
convicts. This was done, and the report shows,
that for about six months, ending on the first day
OF October instan there has been actual income
to the State ct $4,000, after paying all expenses
on accoSnt of the prison, including tho sum of
1865 "a for repairs, nearly all Of which were for
improvements Of permanent character. This re.
suit hatteiing as 1t IL TO the Superintendent Ger
tainly appears to exhibit the practicability Of hav
ing the affairs of tho prison managed by its immc
date officers, without incnrrng Pecunary loss
II the legislature should be satisfied that the pres
ent prosperous condition OF its affairs he ma in
tanned, it would certainly appear more consonant
with tho dignity oGthe state, to keep the manage
melt of its prison concerns under tho immediate
control Of tile officers Of this institution, than to
pursue the policy Of farming it out by contract as
proposed by the law of last session. The subject
Of improvement in tho prison buildings, has been
repeatedly brought to the notice Of the legislature
by rhe Superintendent, and, since this institution
must probably remain us an appendage 10 Grim
inal jurisprudence, SO long as crime is found
mong us, any additional buildings, repairs upon
those already erected, if within the bounds of ne
cessity and frugaiy, could hardly be regarded us
waste of funds.
The report ofihe moral condition Of the prison
is alike gratifying 10 humanity, and honorable
to those who have the immediate charge OF The in
sti,ntIen.
The annual reports of the several state officers,
which required by law to be made to mo, will
be laid before you early possible. Any other
subjects, which may BIZ necessary communicate
10 you, during the present session, will DO present
ed in special message.
That distinguished feature in democratic govern
ments rotations in Office, has always been esteem
ed Of tho most efficient safeguards OF the purity
Of our FREQ institutions. Having long entertained