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

ut tho same tine were cOnfcrrng an equal bencht
upon the community, among whom a bank may be
located, by atiordng facilities for loans, ut a
able rate to such as take the property of the neigh
borlood to market and furnish it with merchantmen in
return, or to such as add labor to the raw MATERIAL
and thus render the property of the country more
valuable as well as more marketable commodity.
Entertaining these views should this subject come
under your consideration, it might naturally be cxpcc-
ted that should ask for them a candid and dlspas-
sionae examination. In the absence of oil party
feeling and every improper bias, the inquiry should be-
does the active business Of any particular section ask
ing for the establishing of a bank, need its
mediation? Are there capitalists, who will make in |
vestments of the stock
If the affirmative be true still we shall have made
but proftess improvement: Of the example of our
predecessors and ncghbors, if when adopt such |
salutary restrictions as will ecc,uolly The pub
lie from loss we should impose such unreasonable and
excessive restraints shall prevent that public from
enjoying the benefits Of the system
Copies of resolutions passed by the Legislatures OF
several of our sister States, upon various subjects
have been received by me since the adjournment OF
the General Assembly. In compliance with requests
by which they were accompanied, they will be laid be-
fore you.
No subject embraced in them is of so grave an i'm
port or involves principles alarming in their char
acter, as those from the state of New Jersey One
OF the sovereign states Of the Union has been deprived
of her constitutional rights. Her Representatives,
presenting the ever before undsputed and legal EVIL
dcnce OF their election have been refused seats in
Congress. Not from any failure on the part of the
freemen to elects not from any fraud neglect of tho
Executive of the state furnish the usual and legal
evidence of the result of such ee ciion; not through
the omission of those holding that evidence to present
the same TO Congress- not in obedience any law or
precedent which has heretofore been considered bind
ing in like cases. but in startling violation of all law
| and constitutional right and u reckless disregard CT
all precedent.
Of the majority in Congress this question: still, in
history of the times il will be difficult consider it
apart from the fact that the matter was prcmuturely
and for the time being settled, during the tendency
OF favOrite, executive and partisan measure; a mea
sure, which all parties admit is to exercise an lmpo-
tant and rolling if not destructive influence on
| the pursuits and prosperity of the country.
This INVASION of the constitutional rights OF State
is the more dangerous, from the fact that it was per-
peraed by body. over whom the injured party can
have control, and before whom it can neither make
known Its wrongs nor seek redress, except by suticr
ance.
From the practice, in regard to contested elections,
which has prevailed from the foundation of the gov
eminent until the last session of Congress, little dan
| could be apprehcnded For there is no occasion to
fear that any permanent wrong, either public or pri-
vate grow out of any fraudulent or unlawful act
of the state authorities, in cases of this character as
the actors by our frequent elections so of often
brought before tribunal from which there is no ap-
peal and whose rcproof few would be willing to
counter. Our present form Of government has moro
to fear from undue assumption of power by the sever
al branches OF the General Government, than from
any other source. 1t behooves the States, therefore,
as they prize liberties, to regard with watchlul
vigilance every approach to the usurpaton and exer
else Of power not delegated by the constitution.
Through the potcness of the Trustees of the Yer
mont Asylum for the Insane" copy of their fourth
annual report has been placed in my hands. A
lasting debt of gratitude is due to the philanthropc
individual, whose liberal bequest laid the foundation
tons for admission show the wisdom of the lcglsla-
ture making the appropriations which enabled 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 usefulness and they will
ever have occasion TO revere the memory and beraty
of their benefactor, well as the enlightened policy
which opened this comtorta retreat Sound policy
and humanity alike require that the establishment be
enlarged, whenever It's present accommodations sha Il
befound insufficient to meet the wants Of the whole
, of this unfortunate class Of our fellow men.
The report of the Superintendent Of the State Pr-
son. and the report of the committee, appointed by
the last General Assembly to make a contract in be
half of the state for the labor of the convlcs have beer
furnished me- and will be laid before vow at carly
day. 1t will be perceived that the committee failed ,c
accomplish the object Of their appointment The Su
perncndcnt, on the expiration OF the contract witt
Mr. Hubbard in March last, found himself unex
pectedly obliged to make immediate provision fo
t the support and employment of the convcts.-
This was done, and the report shows that for abou
six months, ending the first day of October lnstan
there has been actual income to the State of Si99,
w. after paying all expenses on account OF the prison
including the sum of S36S94 for repairs neatly n!
: OF which were for improvements of permanent char
t ncter This result, 'atterlnG as il Is to Suprrnten
$ dent certainly appears to exhibit the praetlcably o
having the affairs of the prison managed by It's mnc
date officers, without mourning pecuninIy loss.
= the legislature should be satisfied that the prcsen
prosperous condition OF its affairs be maintained
i II would certainly appear more consonant with tn
:, dignity OF the state, to keep the Management OF III
: prison concerns under the immediate control of tn
: officers of this institution, than to pursue the pol
n icy of farming il out bv contract proposed by tn
It law Of last session. The subject OF improvement il
the prison buildings, has been repeatedly brought