The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-23
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Ftlloic Cits,H, offhe senate
and Houie Of R1prSscHiatirsI

Feiioir CitisrHs ofthe Senate -
and Aiou'e Of Rqpre'cHiatiro
We have como together in obedience to
the directions Of the constitution TO consult
upon the condition of the State and 90 adopt
Sueh measures of legislation, within the I'm
its of the peoples charter under which W.
10 aei. ns' their wants aud interests may
seem To require, In the performance or this
duty the labor ,as well as tho responsibility
dcvolyes almost exclusively upon you. Our
state government is emphatiealy peoples
government, being more purely democratic
~ fts ehBfBetvF thHH any other iT' America,
aud probably in the world. To the immed-
ate representatives Of the people, Of the sew
rral towns and counties in the state, is com
mittcd the absolute power OF annually th6osl
ing all the officers, both executive and judi,-
cial, who are not annually elected BY the psor
pie, and Of cnacting such laws as to the ma.
ority Of them, assembled in their respective
houses, shall seem meet.
To this power of legislation the governor
has not as in most OF our sister states, even
n qualified negative. His authority il Of an
advisory character merely. By interpreting
objections to n proposed measure he may
cause h reconsideration of il, but If majority
of the two houHcA remain favorable, il be-
comes law without the approval Of the exc
outive. The successful operation OF the pop
just congratulation, furnishing the strongest
evidence of the wisdom and foresight OF its
trainers, as we'll as OF the virtue aud intell-
grncc of those by whom It has been admins
tered
The past yenr has been one Of unusual de-
preston in the business of the country, in
which the people of this state have shared to
a considerable extent, though II is believed in
less degree than in many others. Although
an immediate restoration of business to its
| former active aud succcskful condition ia not
| perhaps to lie anticipated, wo have still no
occasion for despondencY. The productions
of our soil during the past season have been
unusually abundant our people have been
blessed with an ordinary degree Of health
are in the full enjoyment of civil and rrlig-
ious liberty, and the means Of intellectual
culture, as well rs Of comfortable bodily Sdnr
sistcnce, are believed TO he within the reach
of all our citizens. With all these aud nu-
merous other blessings 80 bountifully shower.
ed upon uE by a Kind aud bcneiicenr Provf'
dence, we have abundant cause for thankful
ness, and rejoicing for the past md also for
hope and confidence in the future:
r Coming newly into office and hating had
little recent experience in state Legislation,
make this introductory communication rather
4 in compliance with established usage, than IN
any very eonfidrnt expectation of furniHhhfg'
you with essential aid in the discharge OF
your various important duties. / shait how
ever make such suggestions ms occur to mo
on some subjects which | deem worthy OF
your notice, commencing them TO your can
did consideration. 't
The report of tho rudtor of accounts
which. in conformity tc the provisions OF law
has just been Published, shows the receipts
aud expenditures Of the state, during INV
past political year, and the present oopSiSio,s
! OF our state tnnnccs. FrolD thST TePort II
appears that tho balRpcs m the treasury on
the first af SeptelnbeF 1854. was $30,643 II,
aud that the amount Of taNev wuooileeted waA
! S60, ,250 26, making together the sum os
S0O.S9l 81 rs the immediate available rc1
sources az the stste,' and thRt she indebted
i, nexE of the state, including ordeFF unprescnt'
ed. the bank safety fund and the. sums due TO
inWnA for United States surplus money. was
Sl43s s0I OF, exceeding the current available
resources by the sum Of $53,0i2 10. il is
\ to DO observed chat there has been expended
/ in the construction Of the new state house
the rum of S6l ,l27 40, and that but fnr tAfe
e1stPAordinary expenditure, made nocessnYy
ny the accidental destruction Of the old edi-
see. the sum in the treasury an1 rho assessed
taxes would exceed the atate indebtedness by
about the sum Of $4,000. The policy Of the
State from It's first organization has been
sgainst the creation Of "a permanent state debts