The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-10-24
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens Of the Senate and


state, aud a nation for the of health
joyed by the people of this commonwealth, and for
the abundant productions the earth; and ask wig
dom from above, that we may fiily perform the du-
ties for which assembled.
Tho legislation of this state has generally been
characterized by much prudence and intelligence.
that any advice or caution by me, Of general
;ure, would be quite super1ucus.
The condition Of the Inhabitants of this state is
upon the whole, probably good that Of any other
people. We are an intelligent, moral and Iaw-abid-
ing people; have Institutions. securing the liberty
and rights or the citizens; we have a fertile SOIL
heal,hfu and invigorating climate, and industrious
habits which enable to supass any other in
the Union, according to population, in the value
Of our agricultural productions
The subject of Education, in all its branches, is Of
such vital Importance 10 free people, so intimately
connected with the individual welfare ofthe members
of state, and so Indispensable to the very existence
of the blessings flowing from free institutions and
representative governments, that it is surprising
that should annually have attracted the attention Of
both the Legislative and Executive departments
Common school education is perhaps generally
dhused, among all classes of people in this staie az
among any other community in the United stutes or
elsewhere; yet the system in operation is FAR
from realizing all the advantages which ought to bs
expected from it, 1t doubtless susceptible of great
improvements; and the efforts which have been made
in several of our sister states, within few years,
investigate and obviae evils and 10 intro
duce greater degree OF uniformity and more eficicn-
cy in common school instruction, have not been with
out their beneficial influence. Let us profit by the
example Of others.
Valuable suggestions this subject arc contained
in successive reports, made by legislative committees,
during the two past years. Our higher institutions
Of learning, connected intimately, they are with
our common schools, and exeriing an immense inAu-
upon the intellectual condition of our citizens
ought also to receive the fostering of the Legs-
nture. No system would be perfect which should
exclude these from consideration. Whether the GRE
alton Of Board OF Educaton, with powers and du-
ties contemplated in the legislative report orast year,
will prepare the way for the introduction Of great
improvements, is submitted for your mature consid-
Grafton
The Militia without which there would be no safe
ty to our government or country, too apt to re-
ceive annual compliment and then be neglected.
Whether the law Cor the improvement OF their con-
dition which had been prepared with great care and
passed at the last session. win prove useful and sat-
isfacory to that and patriotic body of citi-
soldiers, for whose regulation and benefit it was
made, am not able at present to determine; and
perhaps there has not been sufficient time, since tho
passage OF the act, to test its utility.
BY passed the last session, relating to Cap
i,a punishment is directed that if any person shall
commit any crime. which by the law Of this state il
punishable with death, such person shall be sentence
ed to solitary confinement in the states prison. until
the punishment of death shall be inflicted; and Also
if any person shall hereafter be convicted of any
crime punishable by death. such person shall in like
manner be sentenced solitary confinement until the
sentence of death shall be inflicted by the act j, is
further provided that sentence of death shall be
executed until after year from the time Of passing
of such sentence, until the whole record of the
proceedings in such shall be certified to the Gov
ernor: until a warrant shall be issued, by the
Governor under the seal Of the state, with the record
annexed thereto, directed TO the Sheriff of the county
where the states prison situaed, commanding said
Sheriff execution 10 be done upon the per-
son, upon whom sentence had been passed. 1t is un
derstood that there has been conviction and SEN
tence under this law, which it will be my reluctant
duty to pass upon as the law appears to be OBJ
jectonable.
aonnot believe for moment that it the in
tention of the Legislature, by this act, prepare the
way for the total adjustment of capital punishment,
even in cases of murder; for such measure, in my
opinion, would be fraught with evils Of most dire
fuf knd:-but this law which changes in some meas
ure our long established mode Of administering crimi-
nal JUSTICE may give occasion for belief in the pub
Tic mind that after conviction there will be less
tainty of punishment
Although this statute may be open to other
objections, that part Of it which relates the issuing
of death-warrunt by the Governor, is perhaps the
most 1t is not sufficiently explicit, to show dis
tinctly, whether il discretionary power, that
he may or may exercise, after examining the rec
ord of conviction, duty TO be performed a min
isteria officer. If the first, it is in effect
power to pardon commute, which is not given him
by the Constitution and be conferred by the
legislature. If it means the last, why impose this
ungracious duty upon the Chief Magistrate, who in
most governments, and in this to certain extent, ia
with the priyieoe of releasing from punish