Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-10-21
Vello,c citizens of the Senate,
and House Of Representatives :

ished Institutions and the revolution of another political
year has again convoed their chosen representatives., in
vested with the functions of government and charged with
the responsible duties of legislation
The power of scfgovenment, inherent in the people,
they have delegated temporarily us their chosen servants
to be exercised by us in accordance with the provisions
the constitution for the promotion of the general good and
the security Of the rights of all In the performance of
these functions it will become obvious duty have
special reference well the moral and intellectual i'm
povement of the community the security and add
of their secular interests since the latter to
degree which cannot be too highly appreciated, init
matey identified with and dependent upon the former.
The blessings OF Providence have been literally bestow
ed upon the people of this commonwealth The almost
universal prevalence of heahhe abundant harvest which
has crowned the abors of the husbandmanthc
which has attended the enterprise of those engaged other
pursus-he competency extensively enjoyed by all classes
of the peope-the equality of station and condition
the comparatively high state Of morals generally prevailing
and the extended means of religious and intellectual in
sructon call for dcvou gratitude the Great Dsposer
events who has bestowed these avors such rich pro-
sion.
Nor national blessings less signal We are at
peace with all the world-our domain extends from the
Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, and in latitude embraces
every desirable climate rich in agricultural and mineral
sources and capabies-our canvass whens every
and lakes and rivers for many thousands of miles
traversed by reghted with the products of
the soil and the productions of artisans while in every
direction through the length and breadth of the land is
seen the railroad car facilitating the intercourse between
far distant states and promoting the wealth and cementng
the fraternity of the whole.
Nor should be forgotten that while the iron yoke odes-
pom IS fast rveted upon the necks of those nations Of the
old world upon which the light liberty seemed but recently
to dawn and for whom in their noble struggles for freedom
our warmest sympathes awakened-our beloved cou-
try affords asylum for the oppressed of every nation and
seems designed by Providence for the full development
the adaptation OF a republican government and free re-
gous oeraon to meet the wants and protect the rights
man in whatever class or condition of life
our duties as legislators less complex and varied
than those imposed upon the legislative assemblies of most
OF our sister states from the fact that the pursuits of our
zens mainly agricultural We have no extensive for
egn commerce, no maritime coasts and bat limited CAPT
tai employed III manufacturing.
Our system of Jurisprudence perfected by the wisdom of
former legislatures requires no material modification In
deed is questionable whether any change the features
OF our existing statute laws unless clearly demanded by
the expressed sentiments of the people might not prove
injurious IN Its practical results and lay the foundation fo
increased litigation review of the past history of legs-
lation in the will probably develop the fact that IN
many instances alterations and amendments of existing stat
ueS have had their origin i'll local interests In Other
words local questions and disputes have rendered il desir-
bic in the view of interested parties that the statute should
be amended III It's provisions applicable cases and
at the next session of the legislature such amendments
have been incorporated into the existing laws often with
out due considerations and hence the mutations
which have frequently created necessity for a new d.
gest of the statute laws
In community of intelligent freemen too much impor-
lance cannot be attached the general diffusion of q
knowledge of the laws of the state The statute should
be IN every school district and. far may be, in
every family. The Legislature, III the of November
1850, providing for compilation of the laws Of the
state evidently had reference a digest which should
be adapted to the capacity and the OF the greatest
number and be extensively distributed among the people
The publisher encouraged by the officer charged with the
supervision of the work. adopted for securing an
extensive SALE so that probably at no period Of history
has the Vermont statute been extensively possessed and
read by our citizens as 1t is at the present time.
This volume contains what now the statute laws of
the state except they to slight extent modified
by the Legislature of 1851 and if the assumption is correct
that knowledge of the laws essential to the best inter.
ests of the whole community it follows that alterations and
amendments of the statute laws should be made cautiously
and only IN view OF the most obvious and urgent
For many years to come and until necessity shall compel
the Legislature to order compilations the present vol
will be read and referred by great numbers of our
citizens, containing the Laws of Vermont and compare
lively few, except professional and public officers will
be fully informed in regard the alterations and amend
ments which may from time to time be adopted
In view of the foregoing considerations is respectfully
submitted, whether true economy and the safety of the
state do not require the adoption of the usage prevailing
most legislative bodies, of ordering all public bills at some
stage of their progress prior their final passage to be
printed for the use of the members The experience of
every practical legislator will bear testimony that without
this precauon it is in most difficult and often Who'll
ly impraccabe, with great majority of the members
Judge of the necessity utility of the BILL of its practical
effect upon the code of existing laws
The people of this have ever been awake TO the
Importance of schools and have sustained these
institutions by direct and voluntary taxation with spirit
OF lberalty highly commendabe Probably in few other
communities is there felt greater sociude among parents
Tor the instruction of their children the common branch
es of education Unworthy exceptions exist to this general