The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-17


euler relations which the different sections
of our country bear to each other, and which
The country at large s,.stains towards foreign
nations. the occasion may arise requiring an
armed force in oar l,id>t to protect us from
domestic ,lSscrs.on or foreign invasion. in
such IN unfortunate event. the surcst safe
guard for our cherished liberties will be
found in a patriotic and wcll-disci pined citi
zen soldiery, which, being one i'll interest and
sympathy with the people, can never be used
to Cypress OF harrass them.
| earnestly recommend to YOU the continu-
ancc of the existing laws prohibiting the sale
Of Intoxicating drinks. am confident that
the prohibition Of this dcmoralizing ard de-
>,ruc'iyc traffic meets with the cordial ap-
proval Of !: large majority Of our people. and
that il has accomplished and is still accom-
plShng a great and good work in arresting
the evil, OF incompetence.
The Railroads of Vermont though of ines
timablr value in developing the agricultural
and mineral resources OF TIE State, have gen
orally proved Improbable to those by whose
energy and enterprise they were constructed
In some instances the mortgages given to
secure III" payment of their bonds have been
forcc!oscd and the original corporations di-
vested of all interest III them. In other cases
legal proceedings have been commenced to
accomplish similar result. The legal inter
est avs! management OF most of our railroads
viii thus, in al! probability, soon be vested i'll
trustees under mortgages, while the cquita-
bic interest aud rCai ownership viii be in the
bcn,!holdtrs. | think it desirable that some
general law be enacted. providing, with suit
able restrictions, tha: in such cases the bond
holders may form themselves into new cor
po:atlons ior the management and operation
of their respective roads. and that they NAV
,njo: all the privileges: and franchises OF the
c,, companies. SucA an enactment will Oh
viatc the necessity Of applications to the
Court, y: ;'iiarccry on the part Of the bond
holders to be put into possession ard use of
their respective roads, AMI thus save cxpcn-
>ive and perhaps protractcd litigation. \
general law. such rs have suggested. would
| have the good effect of placing the manage
men! Of our railroads III l!4c hands Of thcir
real owners. which would undoubtedly result
IN their mere ruldclt AMI profitable opera
tl1n. Moreover. 9 responsible party would
thus he brought within the reach of the law;
II cases Of lnismanagcmrnt. 1t might also
lie made 10 add to the taxable property Of
the State, ~ the bulk Of the railroad interest
beng HOW con,pos"l Of Bonds, which are
mostly owned hy ron-rcSurntS, is exempt
from ta%@tii.
"ommtn! 10 Your visilant examination
Tot only Tie general laws Of the State in re-
::nr! to Banks. bat also The present condition
IT each Oil" IT those Important institutions
The country is al present bending un,iCr Il
financial storm unsurpassed for many wears
Nothing can more certainly prevent this cri-
IS from becoming appalling, than firm con-
,iyt!on N tie public mind that the banking
institutions. with which the wealth and credit
o. the c'ln:nun;.y are 50 intimately connected.
are l'ert,c : sound and reliable. Every pos
SHE pr"caat;,n should be taken tia; ;he
Confidence 50 'on" bc>:pwrd by tie public
upon ;hc Banks ui' Vermont. should. at this
trying period. !,c beth dy>. rived and sustain
ed No >arrr means IAN he adopted to pre-
serve THIS cr:fiicnce il il Is. rs am con,in-
ed. we'll ntlitc,i. than a mere than usual
horouyhH"~> III The examination and reports
If Their respective conditions. II any impcr-
cction exists III the general laws regulating
,anking. or in their enforcement and opera
ion in regard to particular Banks. the defect
'uSht to be promptly rcmcdi,d. ans! wide
prrad disaster will be thus happil. AVOID
Whatever Won can consistently d. to c!c-
ate .ne profession Of Agriculture sMd Nyo-
aa'' thai commanding interest If rU: State.
lrtil i -, >ou!.r t.: human substance ain.
therefore lis Al tie Foundation of al. other
!a"c'!c> 81 thr p'.oiic economy. viii. trust.
cc"ivc 'our cordial approval
he ilcHort Of the Superintendent G! the (.
't;.'c Prison viii DC laid h"for" YOU. ais. vii. .
presume. receive the attention Which the
Of that public Institution to the
,cl-h,in@ of the State requires. The true
i'm Of prison discipline is not, | conceive.
nenl y 70 punish the offender, or by impri>-
'nmcnt to restrain him from the commission
If crime. but also by all consistent rctorma-
DRY means 10 prepare him for ro-cntrancc
n,o society. deem i worthy of enquiry bv
lie Legislature, whether Il greater amount Of
abstraction. than the prisoners rcrcy" under
.xi>ting regulations, would not tend to aG-
vance the great ends Of all human punish
mcn:. the reformation Of offenders and the
Of crime. In this connection
feel that | should he rcmi>s in the perform
ancc OF my duty. dill not urge upon YOU tic
pressing necessity for some separate and pc
ruliar provision for the punishment of juyc-
nile offenders. Institutions for this purpose
have been established in many of the States
If the Cn:0n. and from my Investigations
am convinced they receive the cordial sup
port Ct the communities whcr. their influence
has been properly tested. believe Tie con-
vlction has hccolnc general i'll Vermont also.
that this subject demands legislative action.
Prosecuting officers. judges and Jurors, are
Frequently heard to express their pcrplcxity
how 10 deal with Young offenders the law
directing" them to one course. while their
sense Of right and all the best feelings of
thci; natures prompt another. At present. g
child. wicn detected in crime. is either dis
charged from motives Of pity, bv which cx-
emp'ion from punishment he may be cncour-
aged to a continued coucSe of guilt, or he is
III the Jail or pcntcntary, where
the ldlencss OF the one and the intamv and
dcp:avcd associates Of both, rapidly ripen
him into the hardened and abandoned villain. |
Surely. one or more public institutions un-
der the supervision of the State the future
destiny Of winch. will in some measure be !
affected By the character Of each one Of the |
rising generation. some wisc :. devised house
correction and instruction. adapted
to lead him back to the paths of virtue and
usefulness. seems alike the dictate of wisdom
and humanity. 1t is quite probable, that ow-
ng to the fortunate lack OF dcsttution and |
rhine among our people. i'll comparison with
he more thickly populated portions of the
[ nitcd States. Institutions of this kind can
rot BE adyantr...nLSlx s,,sta;ne.l in crcr,