Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-16

to test the operation Of the various mod
icatOns and amendments therein introduced, and
the necessity Of an immediate alteration will doubt
less be obvious and plain before you will DO called upon
to make it.
Our revenue, derived almost entirely from direct
tax On the people presents constant edmonton 70 |
frugay and economy in expenditure, and should lead
to frequent inquiry into the operation Of system of
taxation. This system is based mainly income |
and it is due 10 those who deray the expenses of gov
ernmcnt that all productive property, and profitable
pursuits, should bear their relative proportion Of the
public burdens.
From frequent application to me for the remission Of
small fines, imposed by the county courts for assault
and battery and other breaches Of the peace, have
been led to the inquiry whether an alteration in the
law on that subject might not save considerable sums
to the state, without weakening the claims of justice or
lessenng. public security. Judging of the character
of the offence by the amount of fines imposed, the
presumption is strong that respondents in some cases
have been bound to the comfy court by justices
OF the peace, more on account OF the inability OF the
offender to pay fine and costs, where the town in
which the offence was committed might have had an
interest," than by reason of the enormy of the offence
In majority Of cases. presented for the exercise of
executive clemcncy, the fine has been five or ten dol
lars with varying from fifteen to sixty. Nor is
the payment of enormous bills of cost, the whole
charge to the state. Respondents, in cases of this
character being usually irresponsible and unable to
procure ball. are consequently confined in JAIL and
tiiG WIFI tneE support as Sluc
crs, On conviction, sentence to pay fine of few
dollars and costs OF prOsecuton operates as severely
as sentence of perpetual imprisonment, to the Of
FENDER and perpetual charge on the state for his
support unless relieved by executive interference. If
no other alteration should he deemed cxpcdicn it
would better accord with the humane spirit Of our
laws TO provide that the sentence in such cases, should
be in the alternative, either fine, or Imprisonment for
limited time, when the fineis not paid. But would
respectfully suggest worthy of inquiry; whether
a remedy might not be found, by providing that, on
conviction Of certain inferior offences and misdemea
nors the fine should be paid into the town treasury
and whether 1t might not be expcdlen to enlarge the
jurisdiction of justices of the pence for their trial.
by salutnry provision in the constitution Of the
United States, any person committing crime IN one
state and escaping into another, SHALL demand Of
the executive of the state having jurisdiction of the
case be removed there for trial This provision should
be carried into effect in good faith. Some of the
states have made the act of procuring goods under
false preenccs, an ndictablc offence. Cases be-
| cvcd to have occurred where men, smnrting under
the loss of property have been led to make oath to
facts, at an er parte hearing which fully justified the
| commencement OF public prosecution for crime,
where the real object was evidently to effect com
promise with debtor or extort money from his friends
| in satisfaction of a prccarious debt The exclusive
warrant when obtained, is used not to bring public
offender to justice, but for individual benefit The
evil complained of might perhaps be prevented, were
it made an ndlcablc offence to compromise with, and
permit to 90 at large, any person arrested ex-
ecutve warrant, issued at the request of the Cover
nor CT the Statc, Wnerc the charged nave
| been committed.
| The condition of our common schools and scmina
ries of learning, always deserving your careful at
tcntion. In my last annual message, urged the ap
plcation of the income Of the state school fund tc
purpo Of education, and beg leave to refer 10 the
| suggestions there made.
We are practically an agricultural people. To the
successful prosecution of this pursuit, our citizens
principally indebted for the necessares, and many o
the luxuties of civilized life. Although an interest o
such vast importance to the prosperity of the State
it has heretofore received but little encouragement from
the action of the government Great improvements
have been made, within the last half century, III tins
impor tant branch of industry, owing, mainly to thu
successful application of science in the development
OF the properties of various SOILS and conseqen
adaptation Of the to the different products Of az
rculture This is a matter interesting not only Il
the philosopher in his inquiries into cause and effect
but also furnishes object Of intense interest to tn
legislator and political economist. feel justified il
again urging upon the favorable consideration of tn
General Assembly, this prOprlety of geological sur
vcy of the state. Much valuable information on thi
subject may be found embodied in the reports made t.
three last sessions of the Legislature.
The difficulties which have besct the business tran
sacons of the country since 1885, are by a large ma
ory of the people of this State, considered as havln
grown out Of the mprovdent measures Of the genera
government. Many of our most enlightened and sa
gacous statesmen clearly fOrcsaw and predicted tn
result a majority of the community, Notwithstanding
deceived by the plausible reasoning and specous prom
scs Ofnerested and designing men, and by the appa
rent prosperity and success with which most kinds
business were then pursued, were led for season,
give them their support The people, however, ar
now engaged in fearful strife to remove from the I'd
mnstration Of the federal government those who, i
the discharge Of their official trusts they believe, hav
wantonly disregardcd the best interests of their cor
sttucn's As the struggle progresses, the final rcsu
appears less and less doubtful. The recent ectior
indicate with a certainty almost unerring that IN
great mass of our population, whose only interest
government is, to have it wisely and frugay admir-
istered, are becoming convinced Of the rnous tender
cy Of some of the leading measures Of the admnstr;
ton. This result is the more TO be priced, atordnl
it does ndubtable evidence of that honesty fpu
pose md purity of intention, which have ever charat
terizcd the great body of the American people 1t ca
hardly be otherwise, while the interest of the gre;
majority Of each Of tho political parties into whic
the country is at present divided, is the same ii
greatest good of the greatest number 1t furnishes
sure guarantee for the durability of our institution
and serious admonon to our rulers, that they WI
always receive rebukc at the hands of the pcopl
whenever they make the success of partzan measure
an object paramount to the general good.
The subject Of the currency will, doubtless, claim
share Of your attention. The hostility to banks an
apapcr medium, for the transaction Of the business
. the country, has been carried in an unrclentin
} and in some instances yindictve spirit. While som
openly assal and would at abolish them, there
by compelling resort TO an exclusive specie currenc
: others, with pretended conviction of their utility al
necessity, covertly attempting their destruction,
u advocating and principles which, if sustain
: ed and adopted, would ultimately effect their ruin,
y taking from them all their ability for usefulnes
Among other charges it has been sad, that the ope
: atoms of banks have induced high prices. Has II
farmer, the nrtzan, the merchant, suffered IN col
3 sequence! High prices and ready sale are gre
encouragcments to individual industry and enterpris
l. Low prices operate to the reverse. 1t is alledgo
that they have given fictitious value topropery
is under this state Of things and during their ext
tence, immense Indebtedness and Liabilities have bee
incurred, in the purchase of property, in invcsmcn
c in manufacturing establishments and machinery al
in permanent and valuable improvements in the col
- don of the country Would it be just, or human
~ honorable, for the government, which autho
lied the establishment of banks aud gave them pow
10 this influence the business of the
nifty, by encouraging liberal discounts in aid of the
enterprises at once to annhilate these institutions, O
u what is equivalent to dscredit their issues and tn,
bring the property Of the country to what is elaine
Of to belts real specie valur? While thus unscttlng Il
value of property, and the relative condition of o.
T. whole population it must be remembered, that ndcb
edness cannot be reduced, but the contrary will
increased in the ratio in which the price of pro
tv is reduced, and the means for payment cssene
y The control of the whole property of the countl
,e would thus be placed in the hands of capitals
l, and money lenders.
d ! would not be understood as being an advocate
nm irresponsible or unsafe banking system. But b
A., IL, C,,; III 4