Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-10-20

fessedly among the most interest
ing and important. The prima.
ry, and great question is be-
tween permitting, under due reg.
ulations, the traffic in intoxica-
ting liquors for the indiscrimi-
nate purpose of drinking, and the
prohibition of the traffic for such
general purpose.
Believing that the great and
manifold evils of intemperance
are not to be essentially allevi-
ated by any scheme for licensing
the traffic, beyond the purposes
specified by our Statute, | repeat
what | have already publicly an
nounced, that | think the Pro-
hibitory System ought to be con-
tinued. And, if amendment in
the present law are attempted,
they should be made with no
view to weaken the policy of
Prohibition. Nor would coun-
sci hesitation in carrying out
that policy, from any fear that
the legislative power to enact pro-
hibition, to its present extent,
WILDE judicially denied.
The people of Vermont have
always evinced their just apprec-
iation of the great political Az
iom,-"that a general diffusion
of knowledge is indispensable to
the qualification of a state, or
community, for successful self
government" And, hence, you
scarcely need to be reminded of
the obligations to cherish, sus-
tain and perfect our system for
the education of children and
youth.
1t is thought by some of the
most able and enlightened men
of the State, that decided bene-
fit to these great interests may
be realized through the agency
of Board of Education. And
should their plan, or any having
a like object, be presented for
your adoption, | trust its merits
will be canvassed in that spirit
of kindness and liberality which
is due to a subject SO important.
There exists in every govern
ment the necessity of an organ
lied physical force, in readiness
to protect the State, or its men,
bers, from violence. In abso-
Lutte governments this force is a
standing army; in free state,
it should always, except in time
of actual war, consist exclusive
ly of militia.
Within a few years past, our
uniform militia, as an organized
class, has suffered a very mark
cd deelension. This is attribu-
table to the indifference with
which the Militia system has, of
late, been regarded, and to the
total suspension of that pecuni-
airy encouragement which had,
directly or indirectly, been afford
ed.
1t has appeared to me that our
policy upon this subject should
be reconsidered and / think it
my duty to recommend that
measures be taken, by the requi-
site enactments, to restore the
uniform Militia to a state of eff
cheney.
From representations recently
made to me by the Superinten-
dent and Directors of the State
Prison, | am led to believe that
an appropriation should be made
for building, within the Prison,
a Hospital for the sick, and for
other minor accommodations.
Evidence will doubtless be laid
before you, showing the necessi-
ty of an appropriation. 1t is
thought that an appropriation
of one thousand dollars will be
sufficient.
1t is believed and urged by
some of our most intelligent and
experienced citizens, that in place
of our laws which authorize the
sale of lands for non-payment
Of taxes assessed thereon, a for
fixture of such lands to the State,
as the consequence of neglect
ing to pay the taxes upon them,
might be advantageously substi.
tuted. A law in the State OF
Maine, to this effect, it is said,
has been found to operate bene-
ficially. The subject is impor-
tant, and | deem it worthy of
your deliberate consideration.
The duty to observe a rigid
economy in the public expendi-
lures is, at all times, imperative /;
and l doubt not, that you will
study to keep them at the low
est point which will consist with