Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1855-10-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Fellop Citizens Of the Senate,
and House of Representatives.


We are assembled by constitutional require
ment, and with renewed authority from the PEG.
pie, 10 execute in their behalf the highest ordina
ry function of State Sovereignty. The duty again
devoves upon us TO consider the municipal laws
and regulations under which we live, and if chan
ges and improvements are clearly needed to secure
enlarge, and perpetuate their intended benefits,
it is for us to devise and apply them. Many soe-
cial and local interests also, if within the proper
sphere of legislation, will doubtless demand in.
yestraton and action And the sense of respon-
sibili,y to our constituents which the discharge of
these duties must necessarily awaken, should
strongly remind us of our obligations of alteration
and gratitude to the infinite Creator and Prcscrv-
er for all His merces; and especially for the
general health and plenty by which the season is
distinguished.
| 1t is obvious that whatever tends to demoraIize
the people, to relax their industry, or dissipate
the ayas of it, must also tend to retard the gen.
eral prosperity, and to diminish or destroy the
happiness of individuals. And whenever the
cause of such evils can rightfully be removed or
controlled by legislation, it should be employed
for that purpose. Among the causes leading TO
idleness, poverty, immortality and crime, the un.
restricted use of intoxicating drinks is, beyond
question, the most effective in its disastrous re
suits. And hence take occasion TO refer to our
legislation prohibiting the traffic in such drinks,
and again to recommend Its continuance. Should
amendments to the law be thought cXpcdlcnt, |
think it desirable, but not with view TO iorcsta
or prejudice other Improvements, that the prose-
cution for each olense should be rendered more
summary, still preserving the securities foran in
telligent and fair trial. and that judgments and
sentences, covering great accumulation of pen
allies in the prosecution, should, generally,
be avoided. The certainty and promptncss OF
punishment are usually far more cficctua in the
prevention of crime than extreme severity. al
so think that positive and open drunkenness may
be properly declared a legal offence, and pun
ished as a misdemeanor
Your special attention will probably be called
10 the ever important subject of popular educa-
ton. The action of the las, Legislature failed to
meet the expectations of many enlightened and
patriotic citizens, who have long and zealously
iabored to advance this great interest in the State.
Should their plans and views be again presented
for your acceptance, they will merit, and doubt.
less receive, candid and thorough investigation.
1t is not to be supposed that, with revenues de-
rived chiefly from direct taxation of the people,
we should be willing to sustain system OF edu-
cation, even for our common schools, as artificial
and extensive as those established in some of the
other States, whcre ample and distinct funds are
permanently appropriated to that object. Yet it
should not be doubted, that all improvements of
paramount necessity or importance are always
within our means and doubt not that such as
YOU NAV deem needful and practicable will be
adopted And while the interests of our prima-
nv and subordinate schools are duly fostered, the
institutions of higher grade, including our COL
leges, should receive all the aid and encourage
ment that may consistently be extended to them.
/ think it my duty ,u bring to your notice that
provision of our laws relating to the Grand List,
which permits the respective lists OF personal es-
tate 10 be balanced or reduced by debts due from
the owner. The subject must, to some extent,
have engaged the attention of your predecessors,
but know Not how deliberately and fully it may
have been considered. The provision was prob
ably adopted to avoid double taxation Of the same
property, by treating its unpaid price in the hands
of one man, as substitute for the property itself in
the hands of another. 1t is obvious, however,
that the notion of such substitution cannot reas-
onably be carried to the extent of the existing en-
actment; and that this provision operates to pro-
tect from actual taxation very considerable
amount of personal property through the State,
without securing any Just equivalent in the taxa
ton of debts Doubling whether general a
provision of this character, if indeed any such,
can rest upon the satisfactory grounds of justice
or policy, commend the subject, in its various
bearings, to your thorough examination And
should you see fit to enlarge the basis of taxation,
by subj ecting to it the property now practically
exempted under the provision aforesaid, would
advise that another effort be made to revive and
sustain the Uniform Militia. The necessity may
at any time occur, of seeking protection from an
organized and efficient military force, against
sudden danger from abroad, or domestic violence
And the only such force which should or can be
invoked at such times is that ofthe militia; force
identified with the people, and always accessible.
A deep feeling of compassionate regret and