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

the circumstances before them, but delay.
ing the execution of the same, until the
judgment is affirmed. leaving to the Su-
preme Court only to fix the time for the
commencement or execution of the sentence.
In pursuance of the provisions of an Act
entitled, IAN Act to provide for the compl
ing OF the laws of this State" appointed
Charles L. Williams, Esq. of Rutland, to
perform the duty therein required, who has
made the compilation. The Secretary Of
State has procured them to be printed and
bound, and FIVE hundred copies are, or soon
will be, subject to such distribution as the
General Assembly may direct.
On the resolution of the General Assem-
bly, for appointing committee to consider
and report on the financial affairs of the
State, appointed John R. Pomeroy, Wait
still R. Ranney and Timothy P. Redhed,
Esqrs., whose report will be LAID before you,
and hope the legislature will take some eff.
iectual measures to lessen the expenses of
the State, and arrest the tendency TO in.
creased and extravagant expenditures, that
they may thereby be better enabled to afford
aid and encouragement to such institutions
as will advance the honor and interest of the
State.
TIRE increasing vice intemperance may
require that we should profit by the wisdom
of our ancestors, and adopt either their laws
or something equivalent thereto, which sub.
jet common drunkards, who publicly annoy
ed the peaceable citizens of the State, to con.
fnement in the house of correction. Until
very recent period, this was the law Of
the State.
1t will be necessary for the legislature Of
this session, to divide the State INTO districts
tor the choice OF representatives to CON
gress. The cleo ion is to be made on the
tlrst Tuesday of September next, and by
the apportlonment we shall be entitled TO
only three representatives, instead of four,
as we had before.
trust You will, in all your deliberations,
bear In mind that legislators are not only
responsible to their constituents, but are
also subject to higher law, and higher
power, and unless they feel and act under
sense of this subsection, the oaths, which
they take at the commencement of their
political service, would be but mnckery.-
10 be Just and fear not, and to act in sub
lection TO this power, is the duty of every
person Whatever and legislators and rulers
cannot exempt themselves from this obliga-
ton. should consider myself very unfit
to take upon me the duties of the office to
which have been elected, If did not feel
that the oath have taken laid me under an
obligation to discharge the duties of it in
the fear OF Him, before whom the nations
" are as drop of the bucket; and are
counted as the small dust of the balance"
and who taketh up the isles as very lit
tie thing" 1t is with unpleasant feelings
nave witnessed, that subsection to this law
mas been made subject of reproach or rid
lcuIe, or that listening to the dictates of
conscience, and seeking its direction, should
be treated as fanaticism, or an exploded idea
OF by.gone times The laws of our Maker,
and the teachings of an enlightened con-
science, instruct rulers to do no injustice,
and all to be submissive and obedient to
: latVtl authority, and cannot be made pre-
text for oppression, or of resistance To the
requirements Of law. This sentiment is
so general that | deem it almost idle and
supertiuous to mention it. The people of
this State are better acquainted with their
rights and duties than is supposed by many.
They entertain no idea that they are absol-
we'd from obedience to law, because it does
not conform to their views and wishes
This latter sentiment, have no reason to
believe, pervades any considerable portion
OF our fellow citizens, and mention it with
view to assert my disbelief of any such
sentiment existing among many Of the citi-
zens of this State, and not to controvert or
show its fallacy.
If it were practicable it would be desir-
able that every act of Legislative body
should be accompanied with such evidences
of its necessity and utility as to ensure a
ready acquiescence in the propriety and
wisdom of Its provisions, and thus commend
itself to the hearts and affections of the
people, and not require the coerslve power
of government to enforce it, But as ODE.
dence aud submission must be yielded to
the supremacy of the laws, and a resort to
compulsory measures must be had, if ne
cumbent on "A Legislative body to consult
the general good, and not unnecessarily
sacrifice the interest of one portion of the
community to that of The other, nor wan-
tonly njure the feelings and views of one,
to concllIate and CRAFTY those OF another
When there is this conflict of interest and
opinion, the voice of the majority must pre-.
vail
In republican government, having writ
ten constitution, there are two tests tc
which all legislative acts must be submit.
ted. One is public opinion, and the olheI
is the provisions of that constitution. The
former may compel repeal or alteration o
any acts or laws passed by any legislature
and the latter will try their validity. TIC
the formation of "a correct public sentiment
and to influence il, the utmost latitude mus
be allowed of speaking and publishing the
sentiments and views of every individual
The merits of public men and measure;
must be subject TO be discussed freely, in
order to obtain that remedy, if any i:
necessary, which the representatives of The
people IN their legislative capacity can alone
give. Every attempt to Cypress this liberty
OF speech and of the pres, and to silence
an inquiry into the proprlety or wisdom o
public men and measures, whether by law
or the exercise of patronage, by appeals tC
the passions, the fears, the avarlce or ambi
ton of individuals, must be futile aud vain
and can obtain no permanent favor of thu
thinking and intelligent citizens of ,ht
United States. For myself, | can adopt the
language of an eminent individual, that "tc
spea my mind aud act as my conscience
dictates, are two branches oil liberty which
l never can part with" am sure the peo