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

Sermon was delivered by Rev. Silas McKeen
of Bradford, accompanied by appropriate telig-
ious services, by Rev. Messrs. Gushing and Lord;
after which Senator Cahoon introduced reso.
luton for joint Committee to inform the Gov
ernor elect that the joint assembly will attend to
the administration of his oath Of Office and 70.
ceive any communication which he is ready to
make which was adopted, and the Chair ap
pointed Senator Cahcon of Caledonia, and
Messrs. Plerpoint and Bradley such committee,
who performed the service when Gov Fletch-
or appeared and received the oath of Office and
communicated the annual Message, which was
read by the Secretary of Civil and Military Az
fairs
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FeiloW Citi=ens cfMe Senate,
and House Of Representatives
welcome you TO the commencement of the
labors Of another year in behalf Of the people of
Vermont who have committed their public az
fairs to our care.
comet fail 10 congratulate you upon the con-
tinued material prosperity and general health of
our people, and to express the confident hope
that the peace and happiness, the morality and
| intelligence, which have 50 long characterized
and distinguished the inhabitants of the State of
Vermont, may suffer no diminuion among us
hereafter. For these manifold blessings we
cannot be too grateful to that divine Providence,
by whose favor we enjoy them all. With fer
vent soliciude that all our deliberations and ac-
tons may result in the true welfare of our cum
sti,uents, and above all, that they may accord
with TIE dictates Of an enlightened public con-
science and Ills recorded will, " in whom we
live and move and have our being" let us rev.
prpntIv agsump tho hi IN raanon.;b;iii.. IN
on us.
The legislative action of last year in cstab-
fishing Board Of Education will, in my opinion,
1t sustained by future legislatures, prove of great
public benefit. That vital interest Of a State,
the education of its people, by a thorough attcn-
ton TO which its free institutions can alone be
preserved, will by the provisions of that enact
ment be placed under the continued and sys.
temaiic direction Of board of men aware of the
great Importance OF the subiec. committed to
their charge, and c0nvursant with the wants o.
the community in that respect. Without in tn
least taking the practical supervision Of public
education away from the people themselves, "a
whom 1t of rlgh, belongs and by whom it can
be best exercised, but in reality only aiding and
encouraging their efforts in its behalf. II is con.
fdently expected that by the Board of Educa
ton an organized system of operations will bc
devised, aud energy and order infused into all
public action upon this subject.
In conformity to the organic act Of the Leeis
aure, the Board entered Immediately upon
their labors. They were at first emha raised on
account OF the apparent inadequacy of the pre-
scribed salary Of the Secretary to the labor and
expense necessarily attendant upon the proper
discharge OF his duties. But they were iorlu.
nately relieved from this embarrassment by tn,
generous offer OF the managers of all our rail
roads TO pass the Secretary, in his necessary Wis
ITS TO the different parts OF The State over thei
roads, free Of charge gladly take this publ,
opportunity to make known my grateful sensi.
blllty Of the generosity of this act and to ex
press my hope that the managers of our rail
roads, which have so greatly contributed to III,
wealth and prosperity Of our State, may ever
give that encouragement TO the caus.. OF popu
lar education, which will in turn show its bene.
licent effects, as well in connection with the par
ticular branch OF mechanical and financial sci
ence, IN which they are engaged, as in ever,
other department of industrial and intellectus
activity. j. s. ADAMS, Esq of Burlington, wa,
appointed Secretary of the Board. His repor,
containing valuable array of facts aud surges
tons, will be laid before you, and bespeak foI
it your careful attention. Justice TO a far,hfu
public officer requires me TO S ate that the yea
and energy, with which he has discharged tn,
laboOus duties of his office, merit the lasting
gratitude of our people.
am confident that the people of Vermont
look with growing desire for the revival aae
encouragement OF thorough and well organ
l lied Militia system. The Legislation OF last yeal
IN this direction has already fivoraby resulted
in the formation Of several uniform companies
IN different parts Of the State. have had the
pleasure OF witnessing some Of these companje.
on parade, and have greatly admired the r taste
full and appropriate uniforms, their good dsci
pline and soldier-ke appearance. They rehec
credit upon themselves and honor on the State
Ii their services should ever be called into re-
, QUESTION. should rely with confidence upor
their fidelity 10 soldiers duty. The rfiicicn
, labors of the Adjuiant and Inspector Genera
during the past year, in encouraging and assist
ing the reorganization Of the Militia, are de
serving of high COMMUNICATION. The free senti
ments OF the people Of Vermont Justly caus,
them to look with dis favor upon a standing
army. But in these changeful times, and in tn,
peculiar relations which the different sections O
, our country bear TO each other, and which the
, country at large sustains towards foreign nations
the occasion may arise requiring an armed forct
in our midst TO protect us from domestic dissen
sion or foreign INVASION. In such an unfortu-
nate event. the surest safeguard for our cherish
ed liberties will be found in a patriotic and well
disciplined citizen soldiery. which, being one ir
interest and sympathy with The people, can new
er be used to Cypress or harrass them.
earnestly recommend to you the conin nance
} of the existing laws prohibiting the sale of in
toxicatng drinks. l am confident tina, thu pr,,
hbion Of this demoralIzing and destrur,iv,
traffic meets with the cordial approval of large
minority Of our people, and that it has aeon
plished and is still accomplishing a great and
good work in arresting the evils of intemperance
The Railroads of Vermont, though of inestm
able value in developing the agricultural and
mineral resources of the State, have yet gencr.
ally proved Improbable to those by whose en-.
ergy and enterprise they were construc Id
some instances the mortgages given to secure
the payment Of their bonds have been foreclosed
. and the original corporations Invested of all in
'erest in them. In other cases legal proceeding,
have been commenced to accomplish a similar
result. The legal interest and management o
most of our railroads will thus, in all probability
soon be vested in trustees under origages Will,
the equitable interest and real ownership will b,
in the bondholders. | think it desirable tina
some general law be enacted, providing, witt
suitable restrictions, that in such cases the bond
holders may form themselves into new corpora
tions for the management and operation of theil
respective roads, and that they may enjoy al
! the privileges and franchises OF the old compa
niea Surh an anactn,apf ,viII ohy;ata tl,. ,.,