The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-10-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FellcIc Cifiscns Of nc Senate

'
the General Assembly to render that
cooperation in the business of the
present Session, which is cnjoined up
on me by the Constitution and the
Laws.
In this new, and un!ried position,
feel the assurance, that faithful en-
f.. deayors to discharge it's duties will
meet candid and generous construc.
ton, though they should not be ex
empt from errors in judgment, aud
mistakes in routine and detail.
1t could not DO expected that the
present communication would embrace
many suggestions bearing directly up
on the business of the Session. And,
as l come to the Executive Office at
time of life when brcvity in a paper of
this kind is felt to be no less the dic~
tate Of taste than of inclination and
convenience, l must claim indulgence
tor a message, perhaps, unusually
short.
81 l do not advise radical or extensive
changes in the Laws of the State. In
the main, they have always been emf.
nent!y just, aiming to secure to the
people equal rights, and to dispense.
quail benefits. And, although there
may have been occasional tendencies
to an excess Of legislation, by which
substantial and useful progress has
been retarded; yet / consider that
our laws, with the gradual amcliora-
tions and improvements of more than
seventy years, may, as a system, chal
lengc comparison with those of any
other government, in the general wis
dom Of their provisions, aud the facil-
ity Of their administration.
OF the various objects, within the
influence of State Legislation, which
now engage the earnest attention of
the community, the promotion of TEN
perance is confcsscdly among the
most interesting and important. The
paimary, and great question is between
permitting, under due regulations, the
traffic in Intoxicating liquors for the
indlscriminate purpose Of drinking,
and the prohibition of the traffic for
such general purpose.
Believing that the great and mans
fold evils of incompetence arc not to
be essentially alcviated by any scheme
for licensing the traffic, beyond the
purposes specified by our Statute, l
repeat what ! have already publicly
announced, that I think the Prohibi.
tory System ought to be continued.
And, if amendments in tho present
law arc attempted, they should be
made with no view to weaken the pol.
icy ofProhi5iiion. Nor would coun. !
sci hesitation in carrying out that pol> /
cy, from any fear that the legislative {
power to enact prohibition, to its pres. ,
INT extent. will be judicially denied.
The people of Vermont have always ,
'vlnccd their just appreciation Of the
great political iom,-"that. a gencr- T
n diffusion of knowledge is indispen- o
lble to the qualification of a state, or c
community, for successful self.govcrn- O..
ncnt." And, hence, you scarcely t
iced to be reminded of the obligations q
o cherish, sustain and perfect our l.
ystem fo- the education of children -
md youth.
1t is thought by some of the most
lble and enlightened men Of the State, i
hat decided benefit to these great in> b
erests may be realized through the a. O
,ency of a Board OF Education. And a
should their plan, or any having a
ike object, be presented for your a. .
1option, / trust its merits will DO cans
rassed in that spirit Of kindness and
iberality which is due to subject so
important. :
There exists in every, government
The necessity Of an organized physical
(orce,in readiness to protect the State,
or its members, from violence. In
absolute governments this force is a
standing army; in a free state, it
should always, except in time Of actu>
al war, consist exclusively of militia.
Within few years past, our uni,
form militia, as an organized class has
suffered a very marked dcclension.
This is attributable to the Indifference
with which the Militia system has, Of
late, been regarded, and to the total
suspension of that pecuniary encour>
agement which had directly or indi>
reetly been afforded.
1t has appeared to me that our pol>
icy upon this subject should be recon- |
siaered ;and think it my duty to
recommend that measures be taken.
by the requisite enactments, to restore
the uniform Militia to state of cffi>
cheney.
From representations recently mad0
to me by the Superintendent and Di
rectors Of the State Prison, 1 am led
to believe that an appropriation should
be made for building within the Pris-
on, Hospital for the sick, and for
other minor Accommodations. Evidence
will doubtless be laid before you,
showing the necessity of an appropri-
alton. 1t is thought that an appropri.
alton Of ono thousand dollars will be
sufficient.
Irfs believed and urged by some of
our most intelligent and experienced
citizens, that in place of our laws which
l.. l.