Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-16

itv. and from a mistaken idea tnat u Is
mark Of great discernment and wisdom TO
criticise and cast reflections on the members .
Of legislative body The holy seer rebuk-
ed such boosters, when he tauntIngIy said'
with bitter sarcasm, "No doubt ye are the
neople. and wisdom shall die with YOU"
have not yet learned to estimate SO lIgh'ly
the intelligence and integrity OF those Sc
lected to make or administer our laws. Al
though they frequently err, as no human III
bunaI is free from error, yet their own err
rors are mostly found on the side OF virtue
and freedom-and they are not more ire
ouent than are to be found among those
who perform higher and more arduouS due
ties, in other aud more elevated public sta
tons. In expressing this confidence, as
sure you it arises from long experience ana
observation in noticing how much less ire
quenty they err, how ready they are to cor
rect their errors, and how careful they are
to refrain from doing any Individual injury
of Injustice, aud how ready they are to
recompense those whom they may have lb'
adverenty injured.
Having thus expressed to you my entire
confidence in the wisdom and integrity OF
the legislative branches of our government,
it renders the constitutional duty imposed
on the executive, ito propose such business
as may appear to him necessary TO lay before
the General Assembly" easy, and Of little
practical Importance, inasmuch as they are
Familiarity acqnaiated with the wants OF their
constituents, and of tn, proper means to re-
dress any grievances they may lab II under.
But little is left for the executive authority,
except to take care that the laws are faith
fully executed, and % expedite the execu-
ton of such measures as may be resolved on
by the General Assembly. Both duty aud
inclination must Of necessity prompt to the
performance of this part Of the executive
duty, as the laws, before they become SUCH
generally receive his sanction and approba-
ton
There are certain subjects which occupy
so large a space in the public estimation,
that they force themselves irresiStibly on
the mind Of any one, who has the prosperity
of our Christian institutions at heart, and
appear to have been necessary part OF eve
ny annual executive message, as though they
were directed by rubrc, the most promi-
nent of which is, the subject of education
| need not say any thing in relation 10
common schools, as the benefit derived from
them is so apparent. To them we are all
indebted, in the first instance, for such in
formation and intelligence as we may pos
sess, to enable US to discharge the duties we
have assumed. The high and the low, The
rich and the poor, equally receive the bene-
G., tb and hos ho No
danger of their failing for want of support
and encouragement. Indeed, it may be de-
serving of consideration, whether any fur
Their pecunlary assistance would be benefi-
cial.
The higher schools Of learning, the Col
leges and Universities, have equal, if not
stronger claims to our attention and patron
> age, and | cannot recommend them too
strongly to your favorable notice. The
statesman, The civilian, and the messenger
l., of salvation who have received their educa-
ton at the Colleges and Universities of this
, State, and there been trained for usefulness
. and distinction, have carried our name and
fame to every part and portion of this repub-
lie, and foreign nations have Witnessed the
tabors of those who have been educated a.
, mong us, and who have shown the bright
ness of our star, both in the west and east
1t is TO be hoped that it will continue to
shine, until others shall come to its light
and to the "brlghtneSs Of its rising" and |
hope that what you can do, you cheerfuy
will do, to afford them encouragement, and
give them the benefit of your patronage.
iee confident that your constituents will not
leel that you have imposed an unnecessary
or useless burden upon them, by max King an
annual appropriation for their benefit to be
increased or diminished, as their exlgencies
} and the developed resources of the state will
warrant.
must again mention the subject of the
militia, upon whom all free states should re-
ly Tor defence; who may be employed for the
protection, and cannot be employed for the
destruction of the Liberties of the people. In
these days, when so much is said on the
subject of constitutional duty, and obedience
to the laws of the United States, am sorry
; that those laws for organizing, arming and
e d'ScIpIinng the militia have received so lit
0 tie c"untenance from the legislative acts of
e This State, and that all endeavors of its Off
i GERS 10 raise the militia to the standard of
g those laws, should have met with so little
e appreciation for their fidelity to their duty
y IN urging this subject for consideration. No
e returns have been made to the adutant gen.
e eraI OF the United States since the year
/, 1913, and we have to rely on the returns
o lhen made for our quota of arms annually
: furnished by the United States.
must also remind the legislature thu
y Inc amended constitution of this State, re
e qnreS them to provide, "by general law,
Il declaring what officer shall act as Governor.
when there is vacancy in both The Offices
: OF Governor and Lieutenant Governor"
d respectfully call your attention TO the
e criminal code, and suggest whether some a.
y mendment ct the same, RELAXING to fines and
|, Costs OF prosecution might not profiably be
d adopted. The'power Of pardon, and of dis.
charging any person from Jail for not paying
u hne and costs, is vested in the Governor.
i This should be exercised as an act of Glenn
/ ency, founded on the merits of each partic-
e uIar case, taking into consideration the mer.
e It's of The individual. An idea seems IN ha
prevalent, that the poverty of the person
thus imprisoned, and his inability To nav
d either hue or costs, entities him to the Glenn
: ency OF the executive, and REMISSION of
the sentence. 1t is obvious that this senti.
: ment is erroneous. The executive ouoht
not to have the power Of dispensing with the
:, law, and has no means of knowing the cir
cumStances of aggravation or paliiation of
each case, or to decide why one should be
released from the consequences affixed BY
: law TO conviction, aud not another.
Suhmii uhethar - ,..,,ll .