Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-10-23
M b S S A G. E .
FellO'c Citizens oftM Senate and House Of
Representatives.:

The guardianship of the interests of
this Commonwealth, which fall within the
province its civil government, has by
the favor ofProvldence, been committed
TO US; and we come together for the pur-
pose its execution. five would dis
charge, in the best manner, the duties
1t involves, we shall begin and end every
thing, with recognition of our depend
encc upon Him "lrom whom all good
counsels and all just works proceed"
while His claims upon our fidelity TO Him
self, will become an ever-present incen-
stive to fidelity in the service of the peo-
pie we represent,
The year which is drawing towards a
close has been one of prosperity to our
people. Though threatened drouth has
repeatedly filled them with apprehension
and alarm, they have finally been per-
mittedto reap an abundant harvest--lhus
happily finding increased motives to graf
itude, in deliverances from impending
danger, rendered the more impressive
by strong contrast with less favored por-
tons of our country,
A great trust has been committed to US,
as the constitute guardians ofthe interests
of this people, If, in the struggles con-
nected with the election which has sent
us here, we have suffered unworthy pas
sions to gain an ascendency, as they too
often do in political contests, we cannot
come here and enter upon the sober work
olsurveying our SponslbIItes, without
dsmissing them all, taking each other by
the hand as tellow-citiAcns and brethren.
and striving together for the faith of our
fathers, and the rurthorancc Of the great
end for which they established the govern.
ment %e have been appointed to admins
ter. How shall we BEST accomplish these
ends, within the brief space of our annual
session? is question to which you will
allow me briefly to invite your attention.
$ The institution of civil government is
designed to become an actively benifccnt
agency, The restraint of force is far
from being It's only object. Excepting in
governments purely arbitrary law derives
its energy from force eXteraneous to
! ltSeIt-the force of deep and abiding
sentiment of venera,ion for lava love
of order-habiual self-resrant-ceva
ton and purity olmoraI feeling, and in.
telligence to guide it wisely in the com.
plicated affairs of human life.
Civil government, thea accomplishes its
object, not when it Furnishes crime but
when it prevents its commission, hot by
providing jaiIs and penetentiaries, but by
preventing the necessity of'their existence
by training the people, as far as law can
properly intcrposo its power to intcIIi-
= gence and the love Of virtue. The faith
ers Of our State ieIt this, when with char
acterestc wisdom, they declared in the
constitution that claws for the encour-
agement Of virtue and the prevcnta ton of
vice and immortality ought to be constant
ly kept in force and duly executed; and
competent number Of schools ought TO be
, maintained in each town, for the conven-
lent instruction of youth, and one ormore
grammar schools be Incorporated and
b properly supported in each county in the
State" Thus when the encouragement
of virtue, the suppression of vice, and the
maintenance Of schools deemed so vital TO
the welfare of the State, as to demand for
them special provision in its organic
law.
So large portion of my first annual
message to the General Assembly was
devoted to the sub Jet of education, that
] deem 1t necessary to do little more, now
than TO refer you, as most respectfully
e. do, to that message for my view III regard
Ito it.
The resent has been truly denomnal-
ed an aSe of progress, The human mind
is vigorously seiz;ng, ana carrying out to
" practical results, the mGmentous truths
which respects the relations OF men to
each other, and the appropriate means of
accomplishing the purposes of human So
ciety and government. Attic foundation
of this vast movement lies the great work
. Of Educaton-the work of developing,
and giving a right direction to mental and
"a moral power And if human government
is to be regarded as an institution design.
ed to perfect the purposes of society, and
- improve the condition of man upon earth
it needs no labored argument to show,
that education, thus defined, is among the
highest duties of those entrusted with ad