The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-10-20
MESSAGE.
FeIlor, Citizens of the State

1 y
On assuming, as we now do, the guardian
ship oil those civil interests of the State which
have, TOR short period, been entrusted 10 our
care, II is proper that we should call distinct
ly 10 mind the nature and extent of the OBJ
legations and Responsibilities which rest up
on us. We are but "lrustees and servants oil
the PEOPLE" And, therefore, while we &C
cept the trusts which they have conferred,
with that unieigned gratitude which the con-
fideRce thus reposed in us so Justly demands,
let us not be seduced to lima CINE that we are
free, in the discharge of these trusts, 10 con-
suit our own personal benefit. or TO be guided
| altogether by our own personal views and
predictions. On the contrary. we should
keep il clearly and constantly in view, that
the Offices we hold are bestowed to be execu
ted for the benefit Of those who conferred
them,
Ii is 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
guardianship is temporarily committed TO our
hands, are the gifts of gracious and bene
cent Providence: and consequently if we
are unfaithful 10 our trusts, we are not only
trea, herous TO those who hive con ided their
interests TO our cane, but we incur the yet
deeper guilt Of Ingratilude to Heaven.
Let us then habitualy regard the offices
with which we have been entrusted, not only
as obligatng US 10 those who have clothed US
with brief authority, but as involving a still
higher responsibility to Him who gives the
privileges and blessing which we are called TO
guard,
During the past year we have, as a Stale
and people. received from the Great Author
Of all good, renewed tokens OF His benef, fence
in not only preserving TO us our civil privile yes
but in granting 20 us even more than The COM
mon blessing of his Providence, in the means
OF personal aud social enjoyment. The earth
has yielded her irciease in more than ordinary
abundance; and our citizens have generally
been prospered in their various pursuits. so
that industry has every whore received 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 approximations for on,
own personal security; its desoations have
not been felt within our own borders, nor
have its sorrows, except in few instances,
entered our dwellings,.
Perhaps no State in the cenfederacy has
been characterized by greater simplicity in
its legislation aud government. than has the
States 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 cirizeus, and
the advancement of their substantial interests,
Never turning coldly away from the claim of
the humhlesi to be protected in the enjoyment
Of life, liberty and happiness she has get
stunned the opposite error of legislating for
the benefit nf individuals to the injury of null
itudes. and avoid all complicated and en-
tangling connections with private or local in
Ierests, And while she has extended her
favoring smiles and fostering care to all use
full enterprises calculated TO promote the gen.
eral good, whenever their successful prosecu-
ton required it. she has yet never sought to
assume the special and exclusive guardianship
even of public and common interests. when
they could be adequately sustained and pro-
NOTED in any other way, And this general
course is one which sound economy and re-
gard for the best interests of the people at
large, would. for reasons sufficiently obvious.
ever dictate. Let it he our purpose, then, to
conform TO so wise and prudent a system Of
policy, and aid in perpetuatng il,
Aside from making the ordinary annual
appointments, your duties for the session will
probably be few. In the proper field of legis-
lation, there is net, TO my knowledge. any
great and prominent measure Of public inter
est, which will demand your attention, Mod
ifcations of existing laws may. in some cases
be required to meet new features in our con-
diton. or to remedy original defects in past
enactments, Orr habits Of rapid legislation
of course expose 10 the danger Of passing laws
,mpeIfettly matured. Yet this expedition in the
transacuLn Of business can scarcely be regar
ded as fault, unless carried to the extreme
and this ought doubtless to be guarded against
But imperfeciions and errors, whether the
result of haste or of changing circumstances
should of course be remedied as experience
and practice bring them to light. And in the
mean time, the recognized principle that
laws should be as stable as the changing con-
diiion and wants Of society will permit, will
doubtless be kept in view, and exercise its
due Influence in determining the extent Of
our legislation.
Among the subjects which may claim your
attegtion will perhaps be that of our system
OF public accounting. A confidence does moi
seem to be universally felt that sufficient
guards have as yet been thrown around it,
Ii any apology could be found any there for
any loseness of practice in the management
of public funds, there surely can be none for
it in Vermont, And it may be an appropriate
subject for your inquiry, whether any further
provisions are necessary for securing that
puuctuality and fidelity in this branch of the