The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-22
M z s s E.

(A~lepTeSentdttCeS
On assuming, as we now do, the guardian
ship OF those civil interests of the State whicl
have, for a short period, been entrusted t
our care, it is proper that we should call dis
tinctly to mind the nature and extent of tn,
obligations and responsibilities which rest UP
on US. We are but " trustees and servant
of the people" And, therefore, while we &C
cept the trusts which they have conferred
with that unfeigned gratitude which the con
fidence thus reposed in us SO Justly demands
let us not be seduced to imagine that we arc
free in the discharge of these trusts, to con.
suit our own personal benefit, or to be guided
altogether by our own personal views and pre-
objections. On the contrary, we should keep
it clearly and constantly in view, that the Of
fees we hold are bestowed to be executed
Tor the benefit of those who conferred them.
IT. not, however, sufficient for us merely
to recognize our responsibility to the people.
We should also remember that the civil priv
ileges which we enjoy, and of which the guar
dianship is temporarily committed to our
hands, are the gifts of a gracious and benei-
cent Providence and consequently, if we are
unfalthtul to our trusts, we are not only treach-
erous to those who have confded their inter-
ests to our care, but we incur the yet deeper
gum Ol llSTaGlUuuc 10 Heaven.
Let US then habitually regard the offices
with which we have been entrusted, not only
as obligating us to those who have clothed us
with n brief authority, but as involving a still
higher responsibility to him who gives the
privileges and blessings which we are called
to guard.
During the past year we have, as a State
and people, received from the great Author of
Ial oool ,o,o,yo1 +cLo,, 70 IL, la,oc-ao
III not only preserving to us our civil privi-
leges, but in granting to us even more than
the common blessings of his Providence, in
the means of personal and social enjoyment.
The earth has yielded her increase in much
more than ordinary abundance and our citi-
ems have generally been prospered in their
various pursuits, so that industry has every
where received a large reward for her tolls
No wasting sickness has visited us, but on
the contrary, even more than wonted health
has generally prevailed. And although the
sound Of war has been heard in the distance,
yet it has not excited apprehensions for our
own personal security its desolations have
not been felt within our borders, nor have its
sorrows, except in a few instances, entered
our dwellings.
Perhaps no State in the confederacy has
been characterized 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
to govern as little as might be consistent with
the proper protection of her citizens, and the
advancement of their substantial interests
Never turning coldly away from the claim of
the humblest to be protected i'll the enjoy
ment Of " life, liberty and happiness" she has
yet Stunned the opposite error Of legislating
for the benefit of individuals to the injury of
multitudes, and avoided all complicated and
entangling connexions with private or local
interests. And while she has extended her
~favoring care to all useful enterprises calcu-
lated to promote the general good, whenever
their successful prosecution required it, she
has yet never sought to assume the special
and exclusive guardianship even ofIublic and
common interests, when they could be ade-
q%uately sustained and promoted in any other
way. And this general course is one which
sound economy and a regard for the best in
terests of the people at large would, for rca-
sons sufficiently obvious, ever dictate. Let
it be our purpose, then, to conform to so wise
and prudent Il system of policy, and aid in
perpetuating it.
Aside from making the ordinary annual APP
pointments, your duties for the session will
nrpboblv Ip faw In the nrOnpr field Of leo
Station there is not, TO nv KNOWLEDGE. any
areat and nrominent measure Of nublie inter-
9st which viii demand yonr attention, Mod
;fcot;ons If ]nxist;n" laws NAV in some coses
ho eon;red 70 mech new features in orr con-.
dition, or to remedy original defects in past
enactments' orr Iabits Of ran;d leo;slat;on
Of course cxnose to the dancer Of nassino laws
not ncrfcctIy maturcd. Yet this exnedition
IN tbot +ron.oct;on of hrs;noss con scorcolv no
-. as q GauIt. nnless to tbe Sxtreme
"a tb;s o,,rbt donbtIess r. he a,arded aaa;nSt
nt nnnorE'ot;on and orroTs wbetbor tbo
resu,t Of haste or Of cbana;ng circnmstonces
sLoHld ~ nonrso ho rnnnd;od as nract;co and
or"on;omoo hr;ma tbom ~ i;abt And IN tbe
moan Tina The yecogn;zod nT];ncinle that laws
should hn as stable rs the chanoino condition