Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-17

ness IN the examination and reports of their re-
sPective conditions. 1fany imperfection exists
in the general laws regulating banking, or in their
enforcement and operation in regard TO particu-
lar Banks, the defect ought to be promptly rem
cdied, and widespread disaster will be thus hap.
ply avoided
Whatever you can consistently do to elevate
the profession Of Agriculture and promote that
commanding interest of our State, which is the
source Of human subsistence and therefore lies
at the foundation of all other branches OF the
public economy, will, trust, receive your cor
dial approval.
The Report of the Superintendent OF the State
Prison will be laid before on, and will, pre-
sumo, receive the attention which the impor-
lance OF that public institution to The woll-bcing
OF the State requires The true aim of prison
discipline is not, conceive, merely to punish
the offender, or by Imprisonment to restrain him
from the commission Of crime, but also by all
consistent re0rmatory means to prepare him for
re.enlrance into society, | deem it worthy of
enquiry by the Legislature, whether a greater
amount OF moral instruction. than the prisoners
receive under existing regulations, would not
tend TO advancc the great ends Of all human pun
ishment, the reformation Of offenders aud the
presentation OF crime In this connection, feel
that should be remiss in the performance Of
my duty, did not urge upon you the pressing
necessity for some separate and peculiar provi-
SION Tor the punishment Of juvenile offenders.
Institutions for this purpose have been establish
cd in many OF the States Of the Union, and from
my investigations am convinced they receive
the cordial support Of the communities where
then influence has been properly tested. be-
lieve the conviction has become general in Yer
mont also, that this subject demands legislative
action. Prosecuting officers, Judges and jurors,
la, IL.
how to deal with young offenders the law di
rectlng them 10 one course, while their sense of
right and all the best feelings Of their natures
prompt another. AT present, a child, when de-
tected in crime, is either discharged from mo-
h'es OF pity by which exemption from punish
meht he may be encouraged to continued
course ot guilt, or he is ncarcerated in the Jail
or penetcntiaty, where the idleness of the one
and tie iniamy aud drpravcd associates of both,
rapidly riPen him into the hardened and aband-
! ohed villain. Surely, one or more public insti-
| tut"ns under the supervision of the State, the
iuiure destiny Of which, will IN some measure be
affected by the character of each one of the ris-
ing generation, some wisely devised lmu,e OF
/ combined correction aud instruction adapted to
lead HIM back to the paths Of virtue and useful
ness, seems alike the dictate OF wisdom and hui
manly. 1t is quite probable that owing to the
fortunate lack ot destitutiUn and crime among
| our people, IN comparison with the more thick
" populated portions Of the United States, nsti.
| tutons OF this kind can not be advantaneously
sustained IN every County. In this case, fewer
| Houses OF Correction would be- required, and a
larger extent OF territory might be accommodates
10y each than Is comprehcnded within any Of our
county organizations. | would further sucges,
for the consideration OF the Legislature the pro-
prely OF authorizing proper moral instruction in
our Jdi's, under the direction Of the keepers. A
feeling OF respect or humanity is panied by the
thought, that any one who bears lis image, how.
ever low and degraded, should be left like an
ou'cast from the human family, without an eff
iort TO improve aud elevate him. Sympathy inr
the unfortunate lies deep in the hearts Of the
people Of Vermont, and they have never suffer.
cd it 10 he appealed to in yaia
No branch OF my official duty has been NOR,
| agreeable 10 ne than that OF mnisterny to the
ind'gen' deaf, dumb and blind children of the
State the charity, which our laws have SO boun.
tilully extended 10 those unfortunate beings
Under the generous provisions of our Statute.
IN this respect more than thirty children have
received instruction during the pas, year, at the
Am 'rlcan Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, al
Hartford, Conn and the Perkins Institution fo,
the Blind. at Boston, Mas. These children ar,
subjected to thorough course Of education in
mon Schools and Academies, and moreover are
instructed in sumo useful kind OF manual labor
adapted to their unfortunate condition, by whicl
they viii be enabled TO support III. mselve,
through life. Their progress. have good rea
son for knowing, is credliable to themselves anc
the Slate. by the means OF this noble chart,
many OF our youths, VIII otherwise would hay,
lived and died in intellectual and moral dark
ness have been rendered intelligent and usefu
members of society The annual appropriation
Tor this purpose is not entirely exhausted by
those who are now enjoying its benefits Their,
is therefore an opportunity for the education o.
few more benefciar;es from this State, at each
OF said institutions, and hope, if any cases o.
necessity for public aid in this respect exis
among our people, application will be made tc
me IN their behalf IN the manner prescribed BY
low. :
In conformity with an Act of the General As
scinbly, passed Al the last annual session. 10 pro
vide for completing the Geological Survey Of
the State, appointed Rev. EDWARD HrTcB
COCK, ID. d., OF Amherst, Mass, as State Geo.
loglst. The survey Of The State has been prose
cuted by DR.. HiTcHCoCK and his associates dur
ing the past year. For al accom-, of the pio
gress and result of the survey, | would refer Won
to his Report, which will soon be laid before you
have no doubt that the thorough investigation
and exploration of the geological and natural his
tory OF the State, contemplated by the act re
terred to, will result in valuable scientific dis
co'eiies and great material profit to the Com.
l monweahh.
In pursuance Of the Act of the Special SEES
SION OF the Legislature, providing for rebuilding
the State House, appointed Hons. GEORGE r,
MARSH, NORMAN WILLIAMS and ,JouS Pom.
TER, Committee to prepare a plan accordino
to which the State House should be rebuilt
These gentlemen have discharged this duty, and
their report is submitted to YOU with this com.
munication. | appointed Hon. THOMAS E.
POWERS, Superintendent of the work provided
for by said act. He Immediately commenced
operations and the work has thus far proceeded
with extraordinary dispatch. The present adj.
vanced State of the new building affords concla-
slve proof Of the energy of the Superintendent,
4 and his dcculiar fitness for that position / con-
graduate the people OF Vermont upon the agree
able prospect of soon having Capitol more
beautiful and commodious even than the splen.
did edlfice, the recent destruction of which we
all so much lament
In order properly 10 discharge The duties i'm
posed upon me by The Act of the last Lepisla.
ture, entitled "an Act for the relief of the Poor
in Kansas" caused full inquiries to be made
into the condition of the people of that Terrific.
ry. directed the Secretary of Civil and Mill
| n