Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-10-18
STATE OF VERHIONT.
ANNUAL MEssAGE OF TIE GOV.

ANNUAL llESSAGE OF TIE GOV.
Feilo,r citizens Of The Senate and
House of Representatives.:
WITH grateful sense OF the confidence re
posed IN me Ivy the people, and by you their del
crates, | tender to YOU my unIegned respects,
and cordially ptoiitr my best efforts for the pub
lie service. The chronicles of the political year
lust closed bear 10 record oil adversely inflicted
upon us or upon our cherished institutions. In
prosperity we uud they stand, testimonials Of the
good less Of Him who ruleth over ALL and as
well the secret, as the audible, invocation will
rise from each heart, that these institutions a.
like our glory and security, may ever remain, as
hitherto they have been, the supports Of civil,
political and religious liberty.
II presenting to you such topics as deem
appropriate to this communication, may seem
to draw too largely On your courtesy by com
menting on subject which discussed 10 some
extent on former occasion. My reason for
rcyymg the consideration OF it is, that am con-
frmel IN the conviction that it INVOLVES the vi
taily Of the Safe government as it is, and the
wel!rG of those VINO shall succeed us. In per-
forming the ylrous duties cOnslitutonaly en-
joined upon them, the G AnerlI Assembly are
CHARGED with llrre number winch are special
and corporIllons-Whch, in short, are not laws
in the political sense or character Of law. I'm
pJrtunt, highly so, indeed, as all these are, they
do not make any part Of the legislation of the
State-tha framing Of statutes that are TO con-
stitute the law eli the land. The influences
from acts of the former klnu are tralsient-they
inure no public interest, disturb no public
peace. 1t is not so with the latter These de
pct the prevalent characteristics of the times,
both moral and intellectual: so that the laws Of
State may be Justly called the reflex OF the
Character OF the people.
In clear perception of the qualities Of the
people, and aiming to provide only SO much Of
GOVERNMENT as should meet their actual wants
The trainers of our Constitution carved il out in
simplicity of design, and thus rendered easy the
task of developing the principles OF that lnstru-
ment. 1t was the peculiar felicity OF the EARL
est political age of this State, that the flaming
of the statues was committed TO men who, in per-
forming that work, added to the purest nen-
lions and the soundest Judgment the knowledge
derived IRON profound study and observation
Hence sprang that admirable system, OF codl1ed
series. of laws which tor SO many years remain
ed intact, and which even now constitutes the
vigorous body Of our statutory enactments.
But the - spirit of the age"-und that spirit l.
ever restless, innovating upon what lS--has laid
its hand, as well on the laws of our country as
on other things valuable. The consequences
are seen in the decay of that reverence for the
law which is its best sNnction-ln the contempt
Of legal restraints, in many portions OF the I'm
ion duingly avowed and in the greatly multi
piled outrages that are heard of, are sOol forgot
ten, and never punished.
At the present, the bias Of many men Of up
right minds but ardent temperament is strongly
set towards the most serious changes in the
rules of civil duty and conduct: and principles
long held to De 50 essential to the security OF
human rights as never to be debated, much les:
impugnel, are now regarded by some as obsta
Giles in the path Of Improvement which the &c
MUS OF reform Is soon to remove, as 50 mucl
lumber OF the pist Such spirit, having as
tendency, would make the laws bend to the i'm
pulses of soclety-'n other words they woult
have no force other than that OF popular passion
ii state of things which Is the chief condition
of anarchy. Believing that instability in tn
laws Of any state invariably opens the wa
for ultimate denial of Obedience 10 the civ
power, submit that prudence demands a stead
fast opposition to every legal change which
radical, until its necessity shall be made man
fest Let Us preserve something of the past
hold on by. The anchor must,not drag. VIVA
ever changes in our legal code may be projecte
now or hereafter, 1t is to be fervently desire
that The cardinal doctrines on which our fathe
settled the government Of this State, may
held firmly ia their places and have all hone
the CELEBRITY in which the thoughts and passio
OF men are forced onward warns them who ha
In charge the public peace and safety, 10 wat
more lntently the tendencies Of the day.
Our little republic contains all the eemer
Of true greatres with unlimited resources
all innocent enjoyment in social life. That
many of these elements have been put IN n
ton and SO many Of these resources have be
opened. producing for her people happlnt
in measure never surpassed, shared by all IN
inlrkahe nearness to equality is justly to
ascri3ed to the vigorous impress made on
character of our political ioreatlers by the
ceent constitutional and legal doctrines un'
whcn they deposited their rights and prlvlIlE
as citizens ami as frenmen. ln view OF t
subject, aud trusting in your indulgence OF tn
proionI red remarks upon it, have embraced
few opportunities falling to me to urge upon
elevated patriotism and di5criminatIve ]udgm
Of nv fellow.cllizen the exercise of increas
vigilance, lest the iuneyatlng spirit Of the {
shake our honest polity.
Al ui5SuhlSluh lhS uhtJ uoolBhSN w ~"
the Constitution, have to inform you that
compliance with the requirement of resC
ton OF the General Assembly of l946, direct
the appointment of three persons to digest
prepare general law regulating and govern
all Railroad Corporations" &c. appointed
Commissioners for that service, Messrs, Cha
X. Williams, of Rutland, Lucius b. Peck
Montpelier, and Erastus Fairbanks, of st. Jol
bury.
Railroads have proved themselves to be P
erful agents IN controlling and directing
leading interests Of every country into w
they have been introduced. That they are
feeling important changes in the relation
communities and States, in the methods
rules of business, and in social as well as c
mercial intercourse, is apparent; and it is @
Gus that similar results, in conformity to the
Of self.interest will ever follow the estab