Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-11-04

and personal property IN cuse she dies in
tcstate, her husband surviving, it is not free
from doubt, who is entitled to administer up
ON her estate, or by what rule the Probate
Court are to he governed in the distribution.
/ is to be presumed, however, that the qucs-
lions arising between the husband and the
next Of kin, in respect to her chattcs real,
and chooses in action, were dcsignedly left, to
be settled by the princip pies Of the common
law. | therefore submit whether it would
not he more in harmony with our system Of
laws relating to the settlement of estates, to
make some specific provisions on the subject.
and thereby expedite their settlement and pre-
vent needless legislation.
Common Schools have been the subject Of
commcndation in every Executive message,
and in their necessity and Importance. most
chccrfully concur. Education is an object of
deep solicitudc to parents, and intense inter-
est to the State. On the moral and intcllcc-
tual education of youth, depends their success
and happiness in life, and their characters as
citizens. The State has never been inatten-
tive to the wants Of her children, but with II
wise libcralitv, has supplied the means to
furnish all with the benefit of II Common
School education. Attempts have been made
bv the establishment of Teachers Institutes.
to raise the grade Of scholarship in teachers,
and impart more aptncss to instruct; but
with what success am unable to say 1t may
he doubted, notwithstanding the improve
mcntS in the character of books. and the su-
,,rrior qualifications of teachers. whether in
Il majority Of the district schools any more or
better education is now acquired than form
crly. Why it is so. am unable to explain,
unless caused by the Indifference Of parents
and the inciicicncv of the laws relating to the
subject. | submit whether these laws do not
need Il revision, 50 that, as far as depends
upon them. the character of this indispcnsa
bic class Of schools may he raised.
Our Colleges and academies afford the
necessary facilities for acquiring higher and
more finished education. and were they more
adequately endowed their means of instruc-
ton and usefulness would be greatly increas-
ed; but the libcrality of individuals has, in
some measure, supplied the means which the
State has hitherto been unable to appropriate.
and these institutions may justly appeal to
the municcncc Of the State for aid and en-
enlargement and Il rctrcnchmcnt in the cx-
pcnscs of the government will enable the leg
iSlature to make annual appropriations to
these dcscrvcdlv mcrtorious institutions.
Upon the occasion of Il change in the polit-
zeal power. Justice demands the acknowledged
mcnt that the party which has So long en-
.ioycd the patronage and maintained the as
ccmdancy i'll the State. have exhibited a
commcndahlc libcrality in the distribution of
the judicial Offices and more recently in the
appointment of an eminent urst to the Office
of chief justice of the supreme Court The
judicial. like other public servants, are sub
icct to the ordeal of an annual election: vet
the changes which occur from time to time
have been for the most part voluntary. or oc-
casiOncd by the transfer of some individual
member of the Court to other equally high
and responsible stations. At different times
individuals as we'll as several councils of CEN
sors. have recommended that greater permu-
ncncc should be given to the judicial tenure.
from the supposed effect which the annual
elections would have in dctracting from the
character Of the Court, and IN apprehension
that in questions Of IA public and political
character, the bias nscnsihly contracted from
party connections might, to some extent. IN
flucnrc their decisions. But happily for the
character of the State, the practice of annual
elections. adopted cocyal with the establish
mcnt of our Independence has demonstrated
the tallacy Of such an objection. and the put
rity and incorruptiblc integrity Of our judicial
tribunals.
Our inland situation has deprived us of the
advantages and wealth which accrue from
commerce, and the want of canals and nlvI-
gable rivers for the conveyance to mirket OF
the productions of the State. has retarded the
settlement and Improvement of or uncnI,vated
lands; but the construction Of almost five hun
drrd miles of Railroad. has provided a valuabIc
substitute for these deficiencies. and we NAV
hereafter expect a more rapid increase in
wealth and population. Vermont includes
within her limits more than ten thousand square
miles. and is caplblc of sustaining triple the
number of her present population by introluc
inr a greater diversity in the business pursuits
of her people. One of the means best calcu-
lated to produce so desirable result would be
to resume the (;roloolcol Survey formerly
commenced. and partly completed II is to be
regretted. that II 10 condition of the treasury
compelled the legislature Withhold an appro
nri,t,nu uocr.sorv tnr IT'S connletion Eet the
cyoenses incurred and the labor rxpenled may
, he n,de ovnll,h,r. shouId the leans Iature deem
# cypedirnr to finish the survey. Other States
b,vo ,nnrcci,ied tho ALLOWANCES and for;ynd
fine benefits Of such surveys bv comnlc,;ng and
,,hI,I,n,,,I no ro,,,s c,r Tho Ionnf, ~ sc1.nco
XII ,Ia eli ~, do,h, ann ho ao,ar,ainoJ
49, '