Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-10-17

lIl'liI2'HHt rs We may possess, 10 enable us TO
discharge the duties we have assumed The
| high and the low, the rich and the poor, equal
! y receive the benefits derived from them, and
there can be no danger of their failing for
want Of support and encouragement. Indeed,
it may be deserving Of consideration, wheth-
err any further pocunlary assistance would be
! bcniCinl.
The higher schools of learning the colcres
ana universities, have equal, if not stronger,
claims Tor your attention and pltronuge, and
cannot recommend them too strongly to your
favorable notice. The statesman, the ciyi ian
ana the messengers Of the gospel Of salvation,
who have received their education ut the Col.
lcgcS and University of this State. and been
there trained for usefulness and distinction.
have carried our name and fame to every part
and portion of our Republic, and foreign ma
ton; have witnessed the abors of those who
have been educated among us, and who have
shown the brightness of our star. both in the
west and the cast. It is to be hoped that it
will continue to shine. until others shall come
to IT'S light, and 90 the " brightness of its rising"
ana nope that what you can do. you cherfully
will do, to afford them acknowledgements and
give them the benefit of your patronage.
feel confident your constituents will not feel
that You have imposed an unnecessary or use.
less burden upon them, by making an annual
appropriation for their benefit to be increased
or diminished, as their e1gcnces and the
| developed resources Of the State will war
rant.
must again mention the subject Of the mi
lilia, upon w"om all free states should relv for
deenc9 who may may be employed for the
protection, aud cannot be employed for the de-
s'ruclion OF the Liberties OF the people In these
days, when 50 much is said on the subject ofcon-
si'utionaI duty, and obedience to the laws of tho
u States. am sorry that those laws, for otgAnl-
eng, arming, and dl,ciplinng g militia, have
received so little countenanc5 from the Iegsla.
tive acts Of this state and that all endeavors Of
lis officers, 10 raise the militia To the standard
Of those laws, should have met with 81 little an
probation for their fidelity to their duty in urn
ny this subject for consideration. No return.
have been made to the adjulant general of the
Unlted states since the year 1913, and we have
to rely on the returns then made. for our quota
of arms annually furnished by the L. States.
must also remind the legislature that the
amended constitution Of this state, require,
them to provide, " by general law, dec larinr
what officer shall act as Governor ard Leurei-
ant Governor
respectfully call your attention to the Grim
inal code, and suggest whether some amend
ment Of the same, relating 10 fines and costs of
prosecution, mi ght not proftablv lie adop,ed.-
II g power of pardon, and of di.charri1p any
person from Jail for not paving fine and cost,
is vested in the governor. This should be ey-
erclsod as an act of clemencv, founded IN tn,
merits OF each particular case. taking into con-
I sdetation the merits of the individual. An idea
seems to be prevalent, that the poverty OF the
q person thus imprisoned and his inability to paw
: either fine or cost, entities him to the clemen-
- cy # the executive, and a remission of the sen.
tenCe. il IS obvious that this seniirnen, Is or,
"a roneous The executive ought no. t. have the
power Of dispensing with the law. and has no
+ means of knowing the circumstances of agra
r. vation or pallatinn of each case. or TO decide
-, why one should be released from the conse,
, quences affixed BY law to a conviction. and no,
h ano,h'r. | submit whether it would 70, b.
better to empower the court. bafora whom g
conviction i had. in the;r d,scro,iop rba, n o,
imp,>e a fine. t. ascertain the shilitv or in.hii
% inv of the p4r,on convicted and in ,ase IF snc,
h uablitv. Ia uit me time the ,e,son ora,
- shall remain in prison if he fail 10 nav th, same
i or the costs of pro,,cur;on. and yba,ror in a.
, c,ees nj Imprisonment for mo-, no,,r,o, az ,