The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-16
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fellow G;izens o tte Senate

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their interests, and to execute their will. 1t
becomes us, on entering upon our duties,
Erst Of all to carry our minds up TO the Au-
thor of onr being; TO acknowledge him as
The rightflI source Of our authority, and to
make lIis will the measure and motive OF our
duty. If, 10 all our ways, we shonid acknowl-
edge Him, we should especially DO so, upon
becoming invested with powers, whose ap-
propriaie exercises requires, emineptis, the
wisdom that comes from above. Our respon-
sibility is, Immediately, to the people whose
servants we are, but, ultimately, TO Hin who
will Judge both the people and us.
We come together under circumstances OF
peculiar favor. The season has been crown
ed with blessing. Our fields have yielded an
abundant harvest. and our people have
been exempted from wasting disease
Labor has been protected and rewarded; aud
peace reigns within our borders. We are
blessed with the steady and impartial admin
istration Of Justice, and continue TO enjoy the
invaluable privilege of selecting, by our free
suifiages. those who shall make and execute
our laws.
Among the first duties you will be called on
TO perform, is that of selecting men to fill the
judicial and executive Offices of the govern
ment, which the constitution has wisely COM
Blittcd to your hands. From among such a
people as this, there can be 10 difficulty in Sc
leeting men of upright minds, of pnre NOR
ais, of tried integrity and of sound iutelli-
gence, TO Gil the various offices within your
gift. The power of office, and the power of
personal example and influence, can never be
separated; and he bears the sword of justice
in vain, who counteracts by the one, what he
endesvors to enforce by the other.
But your principal labor lies in the broad
field oflegislation. We are selected and seut
here, from among the people; with whose
wishes and interests we ought to be thorough
iy acquainted, and whose welfare should be
the end and aim ofour legislation. The gov
ernment which, by their sullragcs, has been
committed to us. is their govcrDment-"i i'll
stituted," in The language OF our bill Of rights,
"for the common benefit, protection and Sc
curity Of the people, and not for the partcu-
lar emolument oradyantage of any single man,
family, or set of men," The highest good
of the people, and Of all the people, there
fore, it is our great business TO secure.
The establishment OF justice, in the perfect
protection Ofrights, is the primary end Of gov
ernment, and, in lis broad and comprehensive
bearings, embraces very large portion of all
appropriate legislation. But there is field
beyond this. The benifcent action Of gov
eminent may, and ought to be felt in the pro-
motion Of virtue, in the suppression of vice, in
the diffusion Of intelligence, in the develope-
ment OF mind, in the encouragement of indus
try, and in the drawing forth from the earth,
which God has given for our temporary hab-
itation, its teeming riches, to make them sub
servient to the purposes of their gift, in the
wisdom and goodness of their great Author
In cbn H.
perfect by wise, discreet aud timely action,
the great purposes of social organization.
In surveying the field of our duties, there
would seem to be no subject claiming higher
attention than that of Education This sub
Ject has been repeatedly brought to the no.
tee OF the Legislature by Ay predecessors,
and legislative reports have been made upon
1t. The result of report made in 1871, was,
the appointment by the Governor, of a com
mittec, who presented to the legislature, at
the following session, all elaborate and able
report, containing facts and suggestions of
great importance. | commend that report to
your consideration.
improvement is the great law OF our indi-
viJual and social existence. The means of
1t are furnished, in greater or less degree,
TO all; and all,wheiher individuals or commu-
mites, are accountable for the right improve
msnt oil them. This accountability rests, with
peculiar weight upon us, ill connection with
tne SUBJECT OF educatiOn-vitaly connected.
as 1t IL, not only with our individual well he-
ing, out with the preservation and perpetuity
oil me institutions we are permitted TO enjoy,
an required TO transmit to our children.-
ihese institutions will, inevitably, take the
character of the people, whatever that charac-
Ter may be. The best constitutions OF the
government can lnterpose but feeble barrier
10 Tie corruplng INiuences of ignorance and
moral dehasemsnt. Their beautiful and solid
structures will sink and crumbIe, when they
shall cease 10 rest on the fonndat of pub
lie and private virtue and universal iutelli-
gence.
1 ms obvious truth is fall of instruction TO
those upon whom rests the responsibility of
making laws. There duty is but halfperform-
e. when they have made laws 10 gorera the
people. 1t is higher and more difficult du-
~ to adopt system of legislation which shall
nave the effect of making the people a law.
and good and safe law to themselves. The
most efficient laws are those which govern.
not by The power of the sword, but the silent
influence of virtuous and enlightened princi-
PIE: 10 educate people, then, becomes an
indispensable part OF legislaiion-an appropri-
a." ,"u necessary instrument Tor executing
the laws-an instrument far more efficient
than the strongest military force: while at
the same time, it gives to a State high. mind
Ell, virtuous intelligent men, to become its
strength lis defence, and Its glory.
But what is education 1t is not merely The
learning which numbers the brain. II is the
discipline of the mind and the heart-deyeI- ,
opIn5 their capacities. strengthening their. !
powers and training them to practical useful !
ness. Our children should he learned 70
ihink--to discrimnate-to feel the conscious
power OF cultivated intellect, and the Dur;rvo
ing,and elevating influence of Christian nrin-
ciple And this education should be uniyer-
sal, reaching 10 the humble howell as well az
the spacious mansion, and thus brinciug ont
the chI!dren of the poor and the rich: 10 dr;nt
together at the enlarged FOUNTAINS of knowI.
edge which we should open FOR all.
To accomplish the purpose of educa,;nr
this whole people, i'll manner to sustain onI
Tree institutions, we obviously need a more
elevated standard Of common school ;ns,rnc
hon. There is too wide chasm between
liberal and common edueafio, IT. I'll