Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Fliow CtizenS ofhe Senate and House Of Represent
tativcS:
The annual assembling of our State Legislature ev
er presents an appropriate season for passing survey
Of those prominent incidents pertaining to our common
welfare which have marked the previous year. And,
upon such survey on the p esent OCCASION we find
ourselves surrounded with Abundant causes for graft
tude to that Renicent Berg from whom we receive
every good. The year has been characterized by
cheering state Of activity and prosperity IN bust
ness operations; and although rejoicing in this
spe;t should perhaps be somewhlt tempe ell by the
reelection which forces Itself upon US TINT trs tlVora
BILE condition is to ~ small extent a result Of the dos
ttuton aud distress which have prevailed IN other lands,
yet s1ch remembrance may serve to impress upon rs
the more deeply ofobligatun that G. too have
not been suffered the want Of breac So far from tins
we have been enjoying an nnsnted supply OF the
fruits of the earth during the year past, and another
rich harvest has been freshly gathered IN. Our pee
pie, too, hlve been preserved from any wide spreid
and desoIate sickness civil order has been mlntlned
and our Distinguishing social and religious privileges,
unimpalred have BEEN yielding for our enjoyment,
their rich and countless blessings.
As we enter upon the discharge of our legislative
duties, let not only bear in mInl our obligations to
those who have committed their interests to our care
but oiso recognize responsibility to Higher Pow
err. Under the generally received and substantially
doctrine, that laws but the expression Of
the public mind and an index of public morals, there is
danger Of our overlooking truth of great practical i'm
portance that lies beyond. Laws themselves, in turn,
exert an influence IN forming the character of peo-
pie. The estimate which those who are assumed to
be among the wisest AMI most virtuous of the State
implicitly place upon certain acts by their lcgslat n
goes far to mould the public sentiment in regard to
those acts. And, IN view of the educational influence
which the legislator in this way exerts he should not
regard it as his paramount and exclusive purpose to
register the public will but he should also aim to be
guided in every act of legislation by the elevated prn
! cples of sound christian morality,
! In attempting to comply with that provision of the
constitution, which requires the Executive annually tC
lay before the Legislature such business he may think
necessary, do not deem it requisite for to present
every subject even of public interest, which may prop
erly claim your attention. regard it as sufficient for
me simply advert to such matters of public concern
as would more appropriately claim the notice Of the
| Executive, from the fact, that information pertaining
to them might be presumed to fall more especially into
his possession. Members of the legislature. coming
as they do from different quarters Of the State and ac
quanted as they are with the operation of existing laws
upon the well being and prosperity Of the several sec
tons which they respectively represent will, in regard
to most matters relating to the public welfare, arrive
for themselves at more ust.and correct conclusions
than any TO which the Executive could guide them
Among those subjects ~ which regard it as prQpc
for me to call your attention. would suggest an ap
parent defect existing in the statute relating 70 public
accounts. There is no provision by which the Audit
or is required to give bonds for the faithful discharge
of his official duties In office which holds so grea
control over the treasury, without any effective and I'm
mediate check beyond the integrity of the officer,
cannot but regard the defect one that ought to b.
remedied and is believed that no one holding the
Office would regard the requirement, that he SHOULD
give bonds, as oppressive unreasonable. The pres
ent Auditor of Accounts, it is proper for me to state
concurs in these views,
l would respectfully suggest to the Legislature the
propnety OF altering our laws respecting the rights o
married women, as to secure to them the sole con
troll and benefit of all property which they may have
coVerure, or receive during it. in their own right
The effect of this provision would be to guard married
women more effectually from the danger which eve
increases, with the growth Of state and the c0nse
quen increase of business and its hazards of being re-
duced to restitution and suffering by acts in which
they have had no part and in whose disastrous conse
quences so far as it cen be avoided they should no
share. Other States have turned their attention 10 this
subject and it would seem that our State shonId mo-
be less ready to give salu0ry aud equitable protection
to the WHEAT least when in can be done withou
wrong to the husband or his creditors.
| deem it my duty TO call your attention to an ac
passed at the last session of the Legislature, entitled
An act TO prevent imposition and accidents in the sale
of medicines" The provision contained in the act
that ii should not go into effect until the first day O.
November l647, would seem to imply that doubts were
entertained as to the utility expedency of the Law
lby the Legislature that passed ii as the provision ap
pears to have been inserted for the purpose Of afford