The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-10-26
Overnor' $ MESA ge.
FeliO,o Citizens Of The Senate and


House of Representatives.:
The people ofthis State havo reposed in our
hands for the ensuing year the powers of legisla.
ton and Government; and the first and most graf.
flying duty we have TO perform in their name, and
Us their representatives, is TO acknow ledge the con
tnued fnvors of Providence The earth has Weld
ed its annual increase, health, happiness and pros
perity smile upon land still enjoy the bes.
sings of free government, and peace is yet with.
in borders. So far as regards tie present con.
diion OF our State, at no period have we been cal.
fed upon for m ore unieigned expression of graft
tude 10 the Giver of all good.
The legislative provisions which yon will be.
called upon TO make for the people of tins State
will be, like their wants, few and simple. The
wisdom of your predecessors ill furnish you with
The safest guide and it has probably e(l few alter.
atoms TO be devised in domestic policy. Sill
it is your duty diligently consider any improve
ment which may be suggested, and to leave moth.
ing updone, which may promote The general well
fare.
Education is subjcc, which cannot fail to com.
mand your earnest attention. II is true that no
community can boast Of more widely and nniver.
sally diffused instruction than ours, and it NIGH,
therefore appear useless to urge this topic upon
your consideration. But we must continually
bear IN mind that ii is not the result of acciden,
that The People Of this State, with so few excep-
lions, can all read write, and have enjoyed the
benefit OF at least good English edscation. They
owe their happy and enviable condition, in this re-
spect, entirely TO the uDceasing solicude and wise
legislation of our forefathers. While our State
was almost wilderness, those who themselves
most felt the want Of education, were most careful
that their children should grow up in ignorance
and the efforts they made 10 establish and supper
common schools and seminaries for The highe
branches Of learning, must forever command ou
gratitude and admiration. Common schools have
always been within tn C immediate reach of ever,
child in the state and it has been the honorable
ambition of every parent to deny his children no
necessary opportunity for attending them. Nor
mas ihis been the limit of their ambition Many
generous father, while following the plough him
sell, has sent has children from home, that they
might, by having better means of education. quail.
~ themselves for more extensive usefulness
Ii is true that all this could not be ACCOMPLISHED
by legislation alone. But wise and wholesome
laws have laid the foundation of this, as they have
OF all other useful social institutions
If legislation presents the means and points I,
the benefits Of education there Is no reason TO D
prehend that they will not he gladly accepted Tn
example and encouragement which il is in GU
power to afford, necessary not only to suppor
and preserve our present system, but greatly TO e.
tend and improve it If our fathers have bestow
ed on US better education than they had In
means Of enjoying, shall we fall behind then, il
beDeYolen; cfrorts' Let Us iather emulate thri