Litchfield enquirer., 1853-05-12

menls of tho community are alternately col lected and diffnsed, is what is wanted at thii time to give moral force and power 10 q project of vast importance to the civilized world.
 To inc views heretofore expressed, in favoI of tho abolition Of capital Punishment-thC enactment of law for exemp;ing the home stead from being taken on execuuOn-a ten hour law, and, as a part cf tt, provision against employing children in fa:tOnes for longer period than hours a day, that time may be given them for relaxation from un necessary toll, and some for mental improve ment-I still resolutely adhere, in the full as- surance that the proposed measures wIll ull'- mately prevail. sast
 The necessity for a constitutional convcn- ton is still strongly impressed on nay mind, and l renew the proposition to consIder the question. We cannot expect 10 make any desirable changes Tn the organization Of the courts, short of such convention. There are a variety of projected reforms, which would properly come before such body. The present constitution bears the marks, m the several changes it has undergone, Ot that spirit of progress which is the birth of our free institutions, and which can no more be imprisoned than the currents oi air. Further amendments, which should be incorporated in the body of such a work, al required to a!apt it more perfectly 10 tho wants of the age. It has survived the time beyond which any organic law ought 10 go without coming under the immediate revision of new generation. It will cost something to hold such conven- ton, but not more than can be paid off m two years without materially increasing the State tax beyond what it is at tbe present time.
 The right of the people to call convention has never been surrendered to any body Oi mcn. It still exists, where alone it can have a place, in the ranks of those who constitute the source of all political power ia this coun- try. It is then the form only. or mode of pro- ceeding, by which the question shall be bro't before the pcoFle, which will be likely to cre- ate any great difference of opinion.
 As member of the great con!ederacy of States, Connecticut has an interest in the proper management of affairs under the Gens eral Government. Occupied with matters which come within the sphere of State soy. eseignty, the people will be recreant to the trust reposed in them by the compact of l757 if they shut ,heir eyes to the legislation which touches for good or evil the remotest sections of the country. There is some reason to ap- prehend that the national legislation may be too much influenced by plausible pretexts Cor a return to the splendid schemes of distribution which at one time threatened to make the States mere beneficiaries of the General Gov. ernment. Fortunate will it be, if in the pro. sress of events which are now shaping the future destinies of the Republic, this State shall be found, in any crisis which may occur, to have asked nothing which is not clearly right, neither submitted 10 anything wrong Limited as she is in extent, she has yet within herself resources of wealth which cannot be easily oxhaustcd-a population of untirng in dustry, and revolutionary history which has taught her sons the virtues of self reliance under every vicissitudc of time or fortune.
 In drawing 10 a close the considerations which thought proper to lay before you. and which have done, fear, at the risk of exhaustins your patience, should not deem my duty fully ended, if were to pass over m silence thoso occurrences of the past year, which have cast their shadows across our horizon. cannot refrain 10 notice here the sad events which have caused the nation to mourn over the departure of those whose well earned fame had become a part of cur ma tional history, and whose words of hope and encoura cement fer tho future, impensh- ably adorn the page which is luminous with their names.
 As if to render more solemn the decrees of Providence by a repetition of affecting occur. rences, and teach the small space which sep arates time and its hours from eternity and it's rewards, the recent deceasd of the emi- nent statesman who had only a short time bef ore been called 10 the second office in the gi6 oi the people, closes inc catalogue of inscrutuble events, and lays the weight of present and future responsibility upon all who have been called to rule in tile high pla. ces of the land. -E
 In the discnarge of the duties which have jsvolvcd upon me for the last three years, have been more than rewarded for any labors t may cos, me, by the opportunities the of. ice has afforded me of becoming better ac. quainted with the true interests of the State, and of forming some estimate however i'm perfect and feeble, of the future growth and of the noble institutions which n dorn and bless the Commonwealth. True 10 herself and true to sthe Union in which her star is seen to shine with TO diminish ed ray, Connecticut has the best wi shes of hex sons wherever, in the Providence of Grd, their, lot has been cast. @rssr .,
 Irwas my purpose to have retired from of. flee at the expiration of the term which has just been succeeded by another. Placed in a position which led 10 a change of,hat pur- pose, again repair 10 the post assigned to mc-and though can never consent to bo a candidate for tho station another year. [ shail endeavor 10 comply with the ren owed obligations which this day has laid upon me Deeply grateful for .hls continuance of the public confidence, and estecming it no ordi- nary honor to have been permitted to take part in the councils of the State for SO long a period, desire to unite with yoa in an on- treaty that the blessing of Heaven may rest upon the deliberations of the General As senibly and that He who stretched out the Heavens Rke curtain will watch ov CT, pro- tect and bless our State and country to the la. test generation. THOMAS H. SEYMOUR.
 ROLL OF SENATORS.