Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-10-21

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Ino and the extended means of religious ana
Intellectual instruction, call for deyout gratltuue
to the Great Disposer of events, VINO mas oeS'o"-
ed these layors with such profusion. ,r
Nor are our national blessings less signal. we
are Mt 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 resources ana
conabilities-our canvass whitens every ocean
and sea-our lakes and rivers for many thous-
ands of miles are traversed by steamers treighted
with the products Of the soil and the productions
of our 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 anu
cementing the fraternity Of the whole.
Nor should it be forgotten that while the iron
woke of despotism is fast riveted upon the neeks
of those nations of the old world, upon which
the light of liberty seemed but recently to dawn,
and for whom, in their noble struggles for free
dom. our warnest sympathies were awakened
our beloved country affords an asylum for the
oppressed of every nation, and seems designed
by Providence for the full development OF the
adaptation of republican government and free
religious liberation, to meet the wants and pro-
ShNoo Va wa
dition of life.
Your duties as legislators are 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 citizens are mainly
agricultural. We have no extensive foreign
commerce, no maritime coasts, and but limited
capital employed in manufacturing
Our system of jurisdiction, perfected by the
,Fc M M ntpr.
I ial modification indeed it is questionable wheth-
or any change in the features Of our existing
statute laws, unless clearly demanded by the
Expressed sentiments Of the people, might not
prove injurious in it's practical results, and lay
the foundation for increased litigation. a review
of the past history of legislation in the state will
probably develop the fact that in many instances
alterations and amendments Of existing statutes
have had their origin in local interests. In 9TH
er words local questions and disputes have rem
dered it desirable in the view of interested par
ties that the statute should be amended in its
provisions applicable to such cases, and at the
next session Of the legislature, such amendments
have been-incorporated into the existing laws,
often without due consideration; and hence the
numerous mutlations which have so frequently
created necessity for new digest of the statute
laws.
In community of intelligent frcemen, too
much Importance cannot be attached to the gen.
eral diffusion of knowledge of the laws of the
state. The statute should be in every school
district and, as far as may be, in every family.
The legislature, in the act of November, 1850,
providing for new compilation Of the laws Of
the state, evidently had reference to digest
which should be adapted to the capacity and the
r md ha ytofooI
iy distributed among the people. The publisher,
encouraged by the officer charged with the super
vision OF the work, adopted measures for securing
an extensive sale, 50 that probably at no period
Of our history has the Vermont statute been so
extensively possessed and read by our citizens
at it is at the present time.
This volume contains what are now the stat
ue laws of the state, except as they were to a
slight extent modified by the Legislature OF 1851
and if the assumption is correct, that a knowl-
edge of the laws is essential to the best inter
ests of the whole community, it follows that al
teratlons and amendments of the statute laws
should be made cautiously, and only in view of
the most obvious and urgent reasons. For many
years to come, and until necessity shall compel
the legislature to order new compilation, the
present volume will be read and referred to by
great numbers Of our citizens, us containing
She Laws of Vermont and comparatively few,
except professional men and public officers, will
be fully informed in regard to the alterations
and amendments which may from time to time
be adopted.
l.. Wow of the foregoing considerations, it is
respectfully submitted, whether true economy
and the safety of the state do not require the
adoption OF the usage prevailing in most legis-
lative bodies, of ordering all public bills at
some stage Of their progress, prior to their final
passage, to be printed for the use of the mem
bers. The experience of every practical legisla-
tor will bear testimony that without this pre-
caution it is in most cases difficult, and often
wholly impracticable, with great majority of
the members, to judge of the necessity or utility
of the bill, Or Of its practical effect upon the
code of existing laws
The people of this state have ever been awake
to the importance of common schools, and have
sustained these institutions by direct and volun-
tary taxation. with spirit of liberality highly
commendable. Probably in few other commu-
mites is there felt greater solicitude among
parents in the instruction of their children in
the common branches Of education. Unworthy
exceptions exist to this general remark, but it is
apprehended that those exceptions are compare
lively few.
1t is admitted that serious evils and sad mis-
takes exist in many of our towns and school
districts in the administration Of the present
system, by which the benefits of common school
instruction are greatly diminished, and in some
cases wholly lost. The friends of education
have had their attention called to the existence
OF these evils and much discussion has been had
as to the best method of correcting them
Whatever shall tend to the better qualification
OF Observation-Disclosures shall more effectually
awaken the attention of parents and pruden-
tiaI committees in the several districts to the
Importance Of elevating the standard of instruc-
ton and improving the character of each school
under their immediate control, should be cher
lshed as the appropriate means for correcting
existing evils and bringing the system to its
highest degree of usefulness. 4
The provision in the present school law for
holding teachers institutes in the several coun-
ties, under the supervision and direction of the
state superintendent, is worthy of practical
test, as means ofimprovement for great num-
Der of teachers. ...
Schools of different grades of instruction are
provided for, in the present law relative 10 the
union OF districts, which prosision is adapted to
the condition of the more popuous towns, while.
by the more general abors OF the superinten-
dent, it's believed a deeper interest may be ere,
ated throughout the community, in measures
which have been found etfectual in contributing
to the increased utility of schools
am not aware that at this session of the leg
islature any essential modification of the present
law will be asked Tor, and it is respectfully sub
mitted whether the interests of general educa
ton will net be best promoted by allowing the
present law to remain unaltereG, until, by faith.
tul compliance with its provisions, it shall be-
come evident that it has failed to meet the wants
OF the community.
Our collegiate institutions, and many of our
academies, sustain creditabla rank, when
compared with kindred institutions, and should
be cherished and sustained as part of our sys.
TEN OF education, and indispensable to the high.
est development Of the Vermont mind. AS Tar