Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-25
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

We are assembled in the character Of
Representatives of the people, TO consult
upon their interests, and to execute their
will. 1t becomes us, on entering upon our
duties, first of all to carry our minds up to
The author of our being to acknowledge
Him as the rightful source of our authority,
and to make his will the measure and the
motive of our duty. If, in all our ways, we
should acknowledge Him, we should es-
pecially do so, upon becoming invested with
powers, whose appropriate exercise requires,
eminently, the wisdom that comes from
above. Our responsibility is, Immediately,
to the people whose servants we are, but,
ultimately, to Him who will Judge both the
people and u.s.
We come together under circumstances
of peculiar favor. The season has been
crowned with blessing. Our fields have
yielded an abundant harvest, and our people
have been exempted from wasting disease.
Labor has been protected and rewarded !;
and peace reigns within our borders. We
are blessed with the steady and impartial
administration Of justice, and continue to
enjoy the invaluable privilege of selecting,
by our free suffrages, those who shall make
and execute our laws.
Among the first duties you are called on
to perform, is that of selecting men to fulfil
the judicial and executive Offices of the
government, which the constitution has
wisely committed TO your hands. From
among such people as this, there can be
no difficulty in selecting men Of upright
minds, of pure morals, of tried integrity and
of sound intelligence, to fill the various Of
fees within your gift. The power of Office,
and the power of personal example and in
nuence, can never be separated; and he
bears the sword of justice in vain, who
counteracts by the one, what he endeavors
to enforce by the other.
But your principal labor lies in the broad
field of legislation. We are selected and
sent here, from among the people; with
whose wishes and interests we ought to be
thoroughly acquainted, and whose welfare
should be the end and aim of our legisla-
ton. The government which, by their suf-
frages, has been committed to us, is their
instituted" in the language
of our bill of rights, "for the common bene-
fit, protection and security of the people,
and not for the particular emolument or adj
vantage of any single man, family, or set OF
men," The highest good OF the people, and
OF all the PooP'S, 'ho'Sio'e, IL 10 Jul SiSa'
business to secure.
The establishment of justice, in the per-
feet protection of rights, is the primary end
of government, and, in its broad and COM
prehensve bearings, embraces very large
portion Of all appropriate legislation. But
there is field beyond this The beneficial
action of government may, and ought to be
felt in the promotion of virtue, in the sup.
preston of vice, 10 the diffusion of intelli-
gence, in the development of mind in the
encouragement of industry, and in the draw.
ing forth from the earth, which God has
given for our temporary habitation, its
teeming riches, to make them subservient
TO the purposes Of their gift, in the wisdom
and goodness of their great Author In
short, it is the duty of government TO per-
feet by wise, discreet and timely action, the
great purposes of the social organization.
In surveying the field of our duties, there
would seem to be no subject claiming high
err attention than that of Education. The
subject has been repeatedly brought to the
notice of the Legislature by my predeces
sors, and several legislative reports have
been made upon It. The result of report
made in the year 1841, was, the appointment
by the Governor, of committee, who pre-
scented to the legislature, at the following
session, an elaborate and able report, con
tanning facts and suggestions of great i'm
portance | commend that report to YOU
consideration.
Improvement is the great law of our in
dividual and social existence. The means
of it are furnished, in greater or less de
gree, TO all; and all, whether individuals o.
communities, are accountable flor the RICH
improvement of them This accountable,
rests, with peculiar weight upon us, in con
nexion with the subject of education--vital
" connected, as it is, not only with our in
diyidual well being, but with the preserva
ton and perpetuity of the institutions w
are permitted to enjoy, and required t.
transmit to our children. These institution
will inevitably, take the character of tn
people, whatever that character may be-
The best constitutions of government cal
snterpose but feeble barrier TO the cor
rupting influences Of ignorance and mora
debasement Their beautiful and soli'
structures will sink and crumble, when the
shall cease TO rest on the foundations o
public and private virtue and universal in
telligence.
This obvious truth is full of instruction
to those upon whom rests the responsibility
of making laws. Their duty is but hal
performed when they have made laws t
gopern the people. 1t is higher and NOR
difficult duty to adopt system oflegislatiol
which shall have the effect of making tn
people law, and good and safe law, t
themselves. The most efficient laws ar
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