Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-10-19
Annual Elk ,cutive Message.

ed authority from the people, I,
execute in their behalf the highes
ordinary functions of State Sow
ereignty The duty again devoIve'
upon us TO consider the muniripa
laws and regulations under which
we live, aud if changes and inn
provemenis are clearly needed &c
secure, enlarge, and perpeiuate theil
intended beuefts. il is for us to de.
wise and apply them Many spe
cial and local Interests also. if with.
III the proper sphere of legislation
viii doubtless demand investigation
and action Aud the sense of re.
sponslbiliry 10 our constituents
which the discharge of these duties
must necessarily aw ken, should
strongly remind us of our obliga.
tions of alteration and gratitude &c
the infinite Creator and preservei
: for all His mercies and especiall y
for the general health and plenty
by which the season is distinguish
ed.
Ii J, obvious that whatever tends
TO demoralize the people, to relax
their industry, or dissipate the
avails of it, must also tend to re,ard
the general prosperity and to dimin-
lSh or destroy the happiness of in
dlviduals. Aud whenever the cause
ot such evils can rlghtfully be re-
moved or controlled by legislation,
II should be employed for that pur-
pose. Among the causes leading
to ldleness puverty, lmmorality and
crime, the Unrestricted use Of in
toxicaling drinks is, beyond ques.
non. The most effective in It's dis
astrous results Aud hence | take
ccaSIun To refer 10 orr legislation
prohibiting the traffic in such drinks,
and again 10 recommend its con-
tinuance. Should amendments to
the law be thought expedient
think it desirable, but not with a
view To fores,all or prejudice 9TH
er improvements. that The prosecn-
ton for each offence should be rend-
dered more summary, still preserv-
ing the securities for at Intelligent
and fair trial 1; and that judgments
and sentences, covering great ac-
emulation OF penalties in The same
prosecution, should, generally, be
avoided The certainly and prompt
ness of punishment are usually far
more eflectual IN The prevention of
crime than extreme severity | also
ihluk that positive and open drunk
enneSs may be properly declared
a legal offence, aud punished as a
misdemeanor
fu" speclaI attention Will pro-
badly be called to the ever important
snblect of popular education. TIE
action of the last Legislature failed
to- meet the expectations of many
enlightened and patriotic cilzens
who have long aud zeaIously labor
ed To advance this great interest in
the State. Should their plans and
views be again presented for your
acceptance, they will merit, and
doubtless receive, a candid aud
thorough investigation Ii is not to
he supposed that, with revenues
derived chiefly from direct taxation
of the people, we should he will
. Ing Ia sustain system of education,
even for our common schools. as
artificial and expensive as those es.
tabllshed in some of the other States.
where ample and distinct funds
aie permanently Appropriated to that
object. Yet II should not be doubt
ed, that all improvements of para
mount necessity or importance are
always within our means and I
doubt not that such as Won NAV
deem needful and practicable will
be adopted. And while the interests
of our primary and subordinate
schools are duly iostered, the in
situations of higher grade, including
our colleges, should receive all
the AID and encouragement that NAV
consistently be extended TO them.
] think II my duly To bring 10
your notice that provision of our
laws relating 10 the Grand List.
which permits the respective lists Of
personal estate Ia be balanced or
reduced by debts due from the own
err The subject must To some eX-
tent, have engaged the attention Of |
your predecessors. but know not
how deliberately and fully II may
have been considered. The proVi- |
sion was probably adopted TO avoid
double taxation of the same proper
~. 10y treating its unpaid price in
Inc hands of one man, as suhstl-
tue for the property itself IN the
hands of another. II is obvious,
however, that the notion of such a
cannot reasonably be
carried 10 The extent of the existing
and that this provision
operates to protect from actual taxa
ion a very considerable amount Of
PERSONAL property through the State,
without securing any just equva-
ent in the taxation Of debls. Doubt
ng whether SO general a provision
# this character, if indeed any such,
AN rest upon The satisfactory grounds
# justice or policy, | commend the
ubje' I, in its various hearings, TO
Iour thorough examination. And
hould you see fit to enlarge the ba-
is of taxation, by subjecting TO il
he property now practically exempt
d under the provision aforesaid. |