The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-10-25
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Feilop Citizens OF The Senate and
Of The House of Representatires

FIRST of all. as it becomes the agents Of
religious people, let US publicly acknowl.
edge the Divine goodness in continuing un.
to US our liberties. as a state, and as a
nation for the good measure of health en-.
joyed by the people of this commonwealth,
and for the abundant productions of the
earth and ask wisdom from above, that
we may fifty perform the duties for which
we are assembled.
The legislation of this state has generally
been characterized by so much prudence
and intelligence, that any advice or eau
ton by me, of general nature, would be
quite superHuous.
The condition of the inhabitants of this
state is. upon the whole, probably as good
as that of any other people. We are an in
telligent, moral and law. abiding people; we
have Institutions. securing the liberty and
rights of the citizens; we have fertile
soil. healthful and invigorating climate,
and industrious habits, which enable us to
ssrpass any other state in the Union, ac-
cordIng TO our population. in the value of
our agricultural productions.
The subject of Education. in all its
branches. is of such vital importance to n
free people, so intimately connected with
the individual welfare of the members of a
state, and so indispensable to the very ex.
istence of the blessings flowing from free
institutions and representative governments.
that 1t is not surprising that it should aunu-
ally have attracted the attention ofboth the
Legislative and Executive departments.
Common school education is perhaps as
generally diffused, among all classes of
people in this state. as among any other
community, in the United States or else.
where; yet the system now in operation is
far from realizing all the advantages which
ought to be expected from it 1t is doubts
less susceptible ofgrent improvements; and
the efforts which have been made in
several of our sister states, within a few
years, to investigate and obviate numerous
evils. and to introduce greater degree of
uniformity and more efficiency in common
school instruction, have not been without
their beneficial influence. Let US profit by
the example of others.
Valuable Suggestions on this subject are
contained in successive reports, made by
legislative committees, during the two past
years. Our higher institutions of learning.
connected intimately. as they are with our
common schools, and cxerting an immense
influence upon the intellectual condition of
our citizens, ought also TO receive the fos-
tering care of the Legislature. No system
would be perfect which should exclude these
from consideration. Whether the creation
of Board of Education, with the powers
aud duties contemplated in the Legislative
report of last year, will not prepare the way
for the introduction of great improvements
is submitted for your mature consideration.
The Militia, without which there would
be no safety to our government or country,
are too apt to receive an annual compliment
and then be neglected. Whether the law
for the improvement of their condition,
which had been prepared with great care,
and passed at the last session, will prove
useful and satisfactory to that numerous and
patriotic body of citizen soldiers, for whose
regulation and be Defit it was made. am
not able at present 10 determine and per-
haps there has not been sufficient time, since
the passage Of the act, to test its utility.
By an act passed at the last session, re-
lating to Capital Punishment, it is directed
that if any person shall commit any crime,
which by the law of this state is punishable
with death, such person shall be sentenced
to solitary confinement in the states prison,
until the punishment of death shall be in
flicted; and also. If any person shall here
after be convicted of any crime. punishable
by death, such person shall in like manner
be sentenced to solitary confinement. until
the sentence Of death shall be inflicted. By
the act it is further provided, that no sem
teBce of death shall be executed until after