Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-15

lance Of that public institution to the we'll being
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 ali
consistent reormatory means to prepare him
for re entrance into society. deem 1t worthy
of enquiry by the Legislature, whether great
er amount Of moral instruction, than the pris
Oners receive under existing regulations, would
not tend to advance the great ends ot all human
punishment, the reformation OF offenders and
the presentation of crime In this connection,
| feel that should be remiss in the performance
of my duty, did not urge upon you the press
ing necessity for some separate and peculiar PRO-
vision for the punishment of Juvenile offenders.
Institutions for this purpose have boon estab-
lshed in many of the States of she Union, and
from my Investigations am convinced they re-
eeive the cordial support of the communities
where their influence has been properly tested.
| believe the conviction has become general in
Vermont also, that tlis subject demands egisla-
tive action. Prosecuting officers. judges and ju
rors, are frequently heard to express their per-
plexity how todeal with young offenders; the
law directing them to one course. while their
sense of right and all the best feelings of their
natures prompt another. At present, u child.
when detectedn crime, is either discharged from
motives of pity, by which exemption from pun
ishment he may be encouraged to u continued
course of guilt or he is incarcerated in the Jail
or penetentiary, where the ideness of the one
and the infamg and depraved associates of both
rapidly rpen him into the hardened and aban
doned william. Surely, one or more public in-
stitutions under the supervision of the State the
future destinytpi which, will in some measure
be affectandd pataA chs racter Of each of the
rising genssaS - sss6me wisely devised house of
combined correction AMI instruction, adapted to
lead him back to the paths of virtue and USE
fulness, seems alike the dictate of wisdom and
humanity. tits quite probable, that owing to
the fortunate lack af destituton and crime among
our people, in comparison with the more thickly
populated porttans Of the United States, ins
buttons of this kind can not be advantageously
sustained in every County In this case, fewer
Houses of Correction would be required, and a
larger extent of territory might be accommoda-
ted by each than is comprehended within any
of our county organizations. would further
suggest for the consideration of the Legislature
the propriety 81 authorizing proper moral in.
structlon in our jails, under the direction Of the
keepers. A feeling of respect for humanity is
panied by the thought, that any one who bears
it's image, however low and degraded should be
left like an o tcast from the human family,
without an effort to improve and elevate him
Sympathy for the unfortunate lies deep in the
hearts of the people of Vermont, and they have
never suffered it to be appealed to in vain.
No branch Of my official duty has been more
grecable to me. than that of ministering to the
INDECENT deaf dumb and blind children Of the
State. the charity which Our laws have 50 boun
dfully extended 20 these unfortunate beings Un-
Ter the general provisions Of our Statutes in
this respect. more than thirty children have re-
celvei instlu On during I'll ,st year, at the
American Asylum TOR the ID 1t and Dunb. at
Hartford Clnn:; and tho Perkins Institution
ur Tho Blind at B'ston. Mass These children
are subjected to thorough us, OF e1ucition
in all the branches of learning taught in our
Common Schools and Academies, aud moreover
are instructed in s,me us,ful kind Of ,nua
labor, adapted to their unfortunate condition
~ which they will b. enabled t, support the IL
selves through life. Their progress, have
GOOD reason Tor knowing, is credit bile to them
selves AMI the Stat. b. tn IN ans Of this NJ
Ole charity many Of our youths, who otherwise
would I've lived an died in int lectu II and NOR
al llrkneSs. havo b zen ren Tered Intelligent and
useful members Of society. The annual appro.
rlatlon tor this purpose is not entirely exhaust
ed by those who are now enjp7in1 its banefts.
There is therefore an opp ,rtnnity for the e1uca
tlpn of few more heneiciuries from this State
It each of said institutions, and hope, if any
cases of necesltX. for public al in this respect
exi7t Ifg w people, application will be
nad- to me ia sher behalf III the IN inner pre-
scribed by law.
Ia conformity with an Act of the general As
sembly, passed at the last annual session, I,
provide for completing the Geological Survey
OF the State, appointed Rev Ed yard Hitch
cock. d. d., Of Amherst, Mass as State Geolo
sist. The survey Of the State has been prosecu
ted by DR. Hitchcock and his associates durin.
the past year. For an account OF the progress
and result OF the survey, would refer you t.
his Report, which will soon be laid before you
| have 70 doubt that the thorough investigation
and exploration OF the geological and natural
history of the State, contemplated by the &C
referred to, wall result in va ,hle scentIf
discoveries aHd great material profit to the Com
nonwealth.
10 pursuance of the Act of the Special Sesso
OF the Legislature, provlilng fr re building tn
State House, | appoidted Hons. George
: Marsh, Norman Williams. and John Porter,
Committee to prepare plan according to whic
: the State House should be c.hult. Thes
gentlemen have discharged this duty. and thei
: report is submitted To you with this coInmuni
: Cation, appointed H,n. Thomas Il. Powers
Superintendent Of the work provided for by tn
said net. lle immediately Commenced opera
tons aud the work has thus far proc eded wit
: extraordinery dispatch The present advances
8 state Of the new building atf,rds c,nciusiv
r proof Of the energy of the Superintendent an
I his peculiar fitness for that position. | con
gratulate the people Of Vermont upon the agree
, able prospect OF soon having II Capitol NOR
beautiful and commodious even than the splen
did cd,6ce, the recent destruction of which W
=, all SO much lament
In order properly to discharge the duties i'm
posed upon me by the Act OF the last Legisla
| ture, entitled an Act for the relief Of the pou
in X .nsas.' | caused full inquiries % be mad
: into the condition Of the people OF that rerritc
: ry. | directed the Secretary Of Civil and Mill
: tary affairs TO write t. Hon. John W. Geary, Il
that tune Governor OF Kansas, informing MIN
I, the action of the Legislature, and that stoo
ready to extend the aid contemplated by sal
act, upon proper proof Of the existence of Case
OF necessity. The letter OF the Secretary, al
3 Gov. Geary reply. are transmitted to you wit
TINS document also made inquiries Of nj
nerous prlsate gentlemen, We'll cquainte
with the st,s:Nit'on oil tile people Of Kansas, an
n used every iasans could command 40 ascerta,
e whether such necessity existed as would justil
g tne expenditure ol the appropriation.
: learned from various sources, to my Coz
y plete satisfaction, thai the private aid whic
. last autumn WAS 80 bountltuly extended to Il
t oppressed sod exhausted people Of Kansas, /
the charitable and liberty loving cit,zeus of Il
h North, had been amply sufficient To satisfy tt
= Immediate wants Of tue poor OF that rerrltor
n and that there was therefore no occasion for tn
e iood and clothing provided for oy said &C
= Though no portion Of the money thus appropr
@ ated has been expended, AN still proud OF tt
g act Of benesolence 90 the part Of the Represe
+ tatives Of the people Of Vermont, aud sha