Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-22
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Fellow Cn,sens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives,.
We have come together in
obedience to the directions of the Consttu-
ton to consult upon the condition of the State,
and to adopt such measures Of legislation,
within the limits of the People, Charter
under which we are to act, as their wants and
interests may seem to require In the per-
formance of this duty the labor as well as the
responsibility devolves almost exclusively upon
you Our State Government is emphatically
a peoples government, being more purely
democratic in its character than any other in
America, and probably in the world, To tho
immediate representatives of the People, of
the several Towns and Counties in the State
is committed the absolute power of annually
choosing all the officers, both executive and
judicial, who are not annually elected by the
People, and of enacting such laws as to the
majority OF them, assembled in their respect
i've houses, shall seem meet.
To this power of legislation the Governor
has not rs in most of our sister States, even
a qualified negative. His authority is of an
advisory character merely. By interposng
objections to q proposed measure he may
cause a reconsideration of it, but if a majority
Of the two Houses remain favorable to the
measure it becomes a law without the aprr1v-
al of the Executive. The successful oper alton of
the popular features of our system is subject
| of just congratulation, furnishing the strong
| est evidence of the wis lom and foresight of
| its trainers, as well as of the virtue and intel
| ligence of those by whom it has been admin
| istered.
The past year has been one of unusual de-
preston in the business of tho country, in
which the People of this State have shared to
a considerable extent, though it is believed in
a less degree than in many others Although
an immediate restoration of business to its
| former active andssuccessful condition is not
| perhaps TO be anticipated, we have still no
occasion for dependency, 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 religious
liberty, and the means of intellectual culture,
as well as of comfortable bodily subsistence,
are believed to be within tho reach of all out
citizens. With all these and numerous other
blessings so bountifully showered upon US
by kind and bcnefcent Providence, we have
abundant cause for thankfulness and rejoicing
in the past, and also for hope and confidence
in the future.
Coming newly into Office and having had
little recent experience in State legislation, |
make this Introductory communication rath-
er in compliance with established usage, than
in any very confident expectation of furnish
ing you with essential aid in the discharge of
your various important duties, ] shall
however, make such suggestions as occur to
me, on some subjects which deem worthy of
your notice, commencing them to your can
did consideration.
The report of the Auditor of Accounts,
which, in conformity to the provisions of law,
has just been published, shows the receipts
and expenditure of the State, during the
past political year, and the present condition
Of our state finances. From this report it ap-
pears that the balance in the treasury on the
first of September 1858, was $50, ,643,7l, /, and
that the amount Of taxes uncoliected was
500, ,259 90, making together the sum Of
$50, ,S9l 81 as the immediate available re-
sources Of the state, and that the indebted
ness of the state, including orders unpresent-
ed, the bank safety fund and the sums due TO
towns for United States surplus money, was
l43 ,904 ,07, exceeding the current available