Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-10-16
MESSAGE.

ROD been entrusted to our care it is proncr ,bn rv
should call distinctly to mind the nature and extent OF
the obligations and responsibilities which rest upon rs
We are but trustees and servants of the peonle -
And, therefore, while accept the trusts which thcv
have conferred, with that unfcgned gratitude which
the confidence thus repOscd in us so Justly demands
let us not be seduced to imagine that we are free il,
the discharge OF these trusts to consult or own ner
sonal benefit or to be guided altogether bv orr own
personal views and predictions On the contrary
we should keepit clearly and constantly in view that
the offices we hold are bestowed TO be executed for the
benefit of those who conferred them
IL Is not however, sufficient for merely to recog-
nizc our responsibility TO the people. We should also
remember that the civil privileges which we enjoy
and OF which the guardianship is temporarily cntrst-
ed to our hands, are the gifts Of gracious and bene-
cent Providence and consequently. if unaitl1-
full to our trusts only treachcrous to those
who have conided their interests to our care but we
incur the yet deeper guilt of ingratitudc to Heaven.
| Let us then habltually regard the offices with which
we have been entrusted not only as obligatng to
those who have clothed with brief authority but
as involving still higher responsibility to Him who
gives the privileges and blessings which called
to guard
During the past year have, as state and people
received from the Great Author OF all good, renewed
tokens OF His benehcencc in not only preserving
our civil privileges, but in granting to even more
| than the common blessings OF his Providence, in the
| means of personal and social enjoyment. The earth
has yielded her increase in than ordinary album
dance and citizens have generally been prospcred
in their various pursuits, so that industry has every
where received large reward for her tolls No vast
ing sickness has visited u.s. but the contrary even
more than wontcd health has generally Prevailed
And although the sound OF war has been heard in the
distance, yet it has not excited apprchcnsions for
own personal security its desoations have not been
felt within own borders, have its SORROWS ex-
| ccpt in few instances, entered our dwellings.
Perhaps state in the confcderacy has been char
acerized by greater simplicity in its legislation and
government than has the state of Vermont. The line
of policy, which the state seems to have marked out
has been govern little might be consistent with
the protection of her citizens, and the Advancement
their substantial interests. Never turning coly away
from the claim of the humblest to be protected in the
enjoyment of life, liberty and happiness she has YET
stunned the opposite error OF egslatlng Tor the bcne
fit of individuals to the injury of multitudes and avoid
| ed all complicated and entanging connections witt
private or local interests And while she has extcn
ded her favoring smiles and fostering to all useiu
enterprises calculated 10 promote the general good
whenever their successful prosecution required it, she
has yet sought to assume the special and excu
sive guardianship of public and common interests
when they could be adequately sustained and promoted
in any other way. And this general course is one
which sound economy and regard tor the best inter
ess OF the people at large. would Tor sufficient
Iy obvious, ever dictate. Let 1t be- our purpose then
TO conform TO so wise and prudent system of policy
and aid III perpctuatlng ii.
Aside from making the ordinary annual appoint
mcnts your duties for the session will probably b,
few, In the proper field of legislation, there is not tC
my knowledge, any great and prominent measure o
public interest, which will demand your attention.
Notifications OF existing laws may, in some cases
be required To meet new features in our condition. OF
TO remedy original defects i'll past enactments ON
habits OF rapid of course expose to the
danger Of passing laws not perfectly maturcd. le
this expedition in the transaction of business car
scarcely be regarded fault unless carried to tn,
extreme and this ought doubtless To be guarie,
against. But impertections and errors whether tn,
result OF haste or OF changing circumstances should o
course be rcmeded as experience and practice bring
them to light. And in the mean time, the recognized
principle that laws should be stable the changing
condition and wants OF society will permit viii doubt
I q ntiuo
ttHHi4 the extent OF our legislation.
/ Among the subjects which may claim your attention
VIII perhaps be That OF our system OF public account
| ing \ conf lence does not to be universally
felt that sufficient guards have yet been thrown
around it II an apology could be fonnd any where
tor any iooscness OF practice in the management o
public funds. there surely can be none for it in Yer
mont And 1t may be an appropriate subject for youl
inquiry, whether any further provisions nccessar,
Tor C llng that punctuly I'd fleiy n th. brancl
OF the public service which the interest OF the state
. requires.
By existing laws, howevcrit is made the duty of tn,
Auditor OF Accounts to report annually 3" any modl
cations which experience shall prove 10 be necessary
or eXpedient in order TO procure faithful accounting
Tor all public funds :; and the report of this officer
which will in due time be laid before you, will Civ,
your inquiries, ii IN his opinion there should be occa-
SION Tor any notifications, definite direction
than is here attempted or deemed necessary
The practice OF taking excessive interest is wrong
against which no adequate remedy has been provided
although the attention of the legislature has been re
peatcd!y invited and given to the subject. Measure.
have been proposed Tor remedying the evil but none
so satisfactory as to have received the legislative
hon But deem the subject one OF sufficient lmpor
lance renewedly TO claim your attention, although
can suggest no better mode OF guarding the wrong OF
OF obtaining redress under it, than that OF n chancery
process. In case, however this remedy any Other
should be fixed upon, woad respectfully suggest the
proprcty OF making it prospective only IN It's opera
ton II Is true that provision for new and more
efectual mode OF recovering back usurous interest
inasnuch law was violated in taking II, could no
rpr1rIpH ms mn I,
an offence after it had been committed But is
desirable To avoid disturbing past transactions entered
INTO with due regard To the estimate which the law
either expressly or mplledly, has placed upon them
And as IN this case the almost
ton the taking OF usrrious interest by the mad
equacy OF It's provisions for preventing the practice
contracts, made under the law as is, might be regar
ded as having received guarantee almost equivalent
TO pledge OF public faith that they should never be
called in question. Whether this view of the subject
however be tcnable or not, 1t Is believed that rene
dy looking to the future would be- more likely TO be re-
ceWed with favor, because awakening Apprehension
that transactions supposed to be completed 10 b
brought into controversy. Ii the wrongs OF the pas
are not redrcssrd under this plan, ii viii still be nC
small attainment TO guard against like wrongs tor tn,
future
1t is of Just qualification to be able to say
that the Geological Survey OF the state has been pro
crossing with good degree of rapdity, and that i
appears TO be accomplishing all those useful result
which were anticipated from ii by the most arden
friends OF the measure
may justly be regarded as of no insignificant importance
The great object contemplated To present To tn,
people OF the state much practical and available in
formation as possible, III regard to rocks, soils,
mineral products with view to the immediate bene
nts which would How 10 the great interests OF agricul
lure ana OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES especially the former
by way of dlyerng labor from projects and enterprise
that would end in disappointment and loss and direct
ing II INTO proper and profitable channels The cor
Iectlon, too, Of nIudclons modes of cultivation tend
ing to gradual deterioration and ultimate exhaustion q
the soil, and the substitution for them OF practices an
methods ct management calculated steadily to ertl
lie and improve 1t, while il should at the same time
be yielding To the laborer present reward-was ON
, of the modes in which il was believed the benefits
the survey would be realized And these benefits wi
continue to dlse themselves, and reach lar beyon
the period when the expenditure which secured ihet
shall cease To be needed, because they rest upon III
only sure ioundaton OF all solid and permanent i'm
: provement that OF increased knowledge They opcI
ate not merely by urging industry more vigorous e
iorts, but by guiding II IN such direction as to max
It's efforts most awaiting with the least expenditure
sweat and toll.
; That agriculture is intrinscallv an important in
teresi ana worthy OF legislative encouragement so Ia
as may be necessary To sustain H. can scarcely be que.
TONED II Is the irst step IN the progress of socet
To cNilllaton, and as an employment must lie at III
foundation OF all Others that go TO form the fabric
national greatness and prosperity vitality imporaI
y uleh as tle employment in question is to the weai
, oil humanity, aud Intimately blended as its intercs
are with all the great interests of an elevated and nc
vanced civilization, we might hope that under the cor
1 joined AID OF theory and practice, it would in did
e De enabled 10 partakc of the ceriautyln The Nn
sciences as well as be ranked among the most eryi
ted and honorable of human pursuits
And while this interest is coniessedlv one of sic
Ias Importance 1t certainly cannot be doubte