Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-18

btOBb VI auUlatluA ohu w viz
Creator and Preseryer for all His mercies and
especially for the general health and plenty by
which the season is Distinguished.
Il is obvious that " IateYer tends to democrat
ice the people, to relax their industry, or dissi-
pate the ayails Of it, must also tend to retard
the general prosperity, aud to diminish or de-
stroy the happiness of individuals. And when
ever the cause of such evils can rightfully be re-
moved or controlled by legislation, it should be
employed for that purpose. Among the causes
leading to idleness, poverty, immortality and
crime, the Unrestricted use of intoxicating
drinks is, beyond question, the most effective in
its disastrous results. And hence, ItaN occa-
sion to refer to our legislation prohibiting the
traffic in such drinks, and again to recommend
it's continuance Should amendments to the law
be thought expedient, think it desirable, but
not with view to foresall or prejudice other
Improvements, that the prosecution for each
offence should be rendered more summary, still
preserving the securities for an intelligent and
fair trial and that judgments and sentences,
covering great accumulation of penalties in
the same prosecution, should, generally. be
avoided. The certainty and promptness of pun
ishment are usually far more efectual in the
prevention OF crime than extreme severity. |
also think that positive and open drunkenness
may properly be declared legal offence, and
punished as u misdemeanor.
Your special attention will probably be called
to the ever important subject of pepdlar educss
ton. The action of the last Legislature failed
to meet the expectations of many enlightened
and patriotic citizens, who have long and zeal
ousy labored to advance this great interest, in
the State. Should thor plans and views be
again presented for your acceptance, they viii!
4 merit and doubtless receiSs,a candid and thorS
Tough inyestjgation. 1t is pot 70 be- suppbaetk
Fthat. with revenues derived chiefly from direct
taxation Of the people, we should be willing to
sustain a system OF education, even for our con
mon schools. as artificial and expensive as those
T established in some of tho other States, where
ample and distinct funds are permanently APP
propriated to that object. Yet it should not be
doubted, that all mprovements of paramount
necessity or Importance are always within our
means and doubt not that such US you may
| deem noedtul and practicable will he adopted.
And while the interests of our primary and
subordinate schools are duly fostered, the insti-
tutions of higher grade, including eur colleges,
should receive all the aid and encouragement
f that may consistently be extended to them.
D think it my duty to bring to your notice that
provision ofour laws relating to the Grand List,
, which permits the respective lists of personal
estate to be balanced or reduced by debts due
f from the owner. The subject must, to some ex
f tent, Rave engaged the attention of your prede-
cessors, but know not bow deliberately it may
9 have been considered. The provision was prob
: ably adopted to avoid double taxation of thu
; same property, by treating its unpaid price ii
the hands of one man. as substitute for thu
Inv ~ ifcolf - fho hands ~
obvious, however, that the notion of such sub
stitution cannot reasonably be carried to the ex
e tent Of the existing enactment and that thi,
d provision operates to protect from actual taxa
: ton q very considerable amount of persona
d property through the State, without securin,
n any just equivalent in the taxation of debts
Doubling whether so general provision of thi
!, character, if indeed any such, can rest upon tn
satisfactory grounds of justice or policy, com
mend the subject, in lts various bearings, II
:. your thorough examination. And should you
soc fit to enlarge the basis of taxation, by sub
O. jecting to it the property now practically ex
{ empted under the provision aforesaid | woult
:. advise that another effort be made to reviv
and sustain the Uniform Militia. The necessit
, may at any time occur, Of seeking protection
:. from an organized and efficient military force
against sudden danger from abroad, or domesti
violence. And the only such force which shout
or can be invoked at such times is that of tn
> militia "a force identified with the people, an
=, always accessible,
: A deep feeling of compassionate regret an
4 apprehension is not nnfrequently experienced, a
> thc>sght of children and tender youth impris
n oned in the common jails as criminal offenders
There is reason to fear that this mode Of dcain
,n,tkh ottot,v L.. Al
most salutary or reforming influence. When i
that condition, they generally find little or n
r active sympathy surrounding them, and 500
come to view themselves as being stamped wit
r the mark OF permanent exclusion from good sc
ciety, and from the honorable pursuits of life
=. and if to this be added the association in COT
finement with hackneyed and callous malcfat
tors, the work of effectual deprivation may bu
too soon be contaminated. These consideration
4, have induced me to recommend that Houses {
Correction be provided for juvenile offender,
- Such mode of punishment would, of cours,
.. extend to all those minor and petty offense,
=. which are commonly the incipient sters in III
D. path of crime. forbear to enter into detail
~ or to suggest whether such establishments Shout
n be the work of the State, or of counties, town.
70 or other associations; having entire con6dent
u that all this will be wisely settled, if the mai
, propositi0& shall meet your appreciation.
', BY resolution of the Legislature, passed a
:, the session of A. d. 1853, the Executive Wi
- requested to make examination as to the exper
SEES incurred by this State during the revolution
!; airy war; with view to the presentation
a Congress of claim for remuneration, if th.
~ course should be thought advisable. Findin
~ this resolution in force when | came into oiic
thnurht II uv 1utv fo nd
~ examination has accordingly b,en made to col
q siderable extent, and hope to he able, duriu
~ the present session, to have the claim in cond
~ ~ ton to be presented, if deemed expedient.
- In pursuance Of resolution passed at I'll
90 last session, / appointed board Of Commission
30 ers consisting of the Hon. Jacob Colamer tn
~ ~ Hon. Daniel Kellogg, and the Hon. Hiland Hal
:, to revise the present laws relating to railroa
= corporations and their very able report is her
=, with transmitted for your consideration.
- By another resolution, at the last session, I'll
" Governor was directed to appoint Commission
n er to treat with the lro9noi Indians for Il
Nv settlements of their claim to certain lands in tn
y" State. The Hon. James M. Hotchkiss, of Ii
e MOLE County, was appointed such Commission
:. er. His negotiations, as learn, are not y
90 brought to satisfactory conclusion.
10 Nothing has occurred during the last year.
= allay our lust apprehcnsions of danger to mo
:, Of the vital interests OF the Free States, fro
!" the determined purpose of part Of the matte
" to extend the limits and influence of SLAYER
\. That purpose is underst od to have been man
nv -, Tested in the territory of Kansas by course
" successful menace and violence equally defiant
10 law and the rights of opponents. A design
~ also indicated to break down that great PRIME
o ~. pie of the common law, heretofore universal
"u admitted and affirmed, that slave beconl
;. free, when he enters free State by the conse
90 of his master. The experiment has been trie
h e of purposely bringing slaves into free Stat
~ and there claiming continued property in the
W. And all these events would seem to have pass
|. with An acquiescence, to say the least, on Il
10 part OF the national authorities, executive al
,s judicial, which the true friends of Freedom CT
~ scarcely contemplate with!composure. The tin
hu has evineptly arrival yxl,an off ,,h, vonld ~