The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-23

ways heretofore been made, hla ppht1 hF
bod a strong tendency 20 produce ludieious
economy boz our expenditure ana Hual Do
not GA 10 dePaiied from,
The report 81 tbs auditor oi accounts also
embraces the reports Of the several phleH
having tho charge and inspection, respective
p 49,, Of Tie Vermont asylum for the Insane, aHd
~ The Stale prison, and also The bank com
missiOner'f report -
.r The report II the commissioner of tho lu-
sane 10 highly complimentary % The conduct
aud management ul the asylum which, under
the direction Of its experienced superiniend-
eat and board Of trustees, appears To be ~
yrr successful operation,
Che FepoEi II The directors ot the Vermont
state prsun'and ils superintendent are alsp
Of favorable character. ] would respectful
Iy raiI YOUR attention % the recommendation
of thr directors for TecouslrucinB lhe coils
IT he prison, which the comfort % Wen 80
the hrcsrnatou Of The health Of the inmates
would seem 20 demand,
From the report Of the bank commlssiGner
IL appcars that al the banks ia operation IN
the state are considered 10 be IN sound con
dtlon, though the capital of some Of them,
rs reason of losses, has been reduced below
tie chartered amount, IL would also seem
thai many Of Tia, hanks have violated s'ihe
81 there charter provisions, | beg leave %
call y0ur attention % these violations, speti-
fed b, tie commissioner, aud 10 submit 20
,our confederation whether further legislation
l. necessary a. prevent their repetition,
1 have reason Co believe that tho geologi'
cal survey Of the state, under the auperlnien'
depce Of the eminent state ReolnRisi, Ia being
ludleiously and successfully prosecuted. His
report will be laid before you az an early day
with such suggestions 40 shall then occur 10
ne ~ Important
ltcporta are al1o expected from the super
intendrnt OF the state house, on the progress
md present condition Of the work on that
ID. IFs.fs TlUa al q
Of education, showing tho proceedings Of the
.eoretary aud Of the board during the past
wear, which reports will DO seyerally commu-
eated to you, On transmitting these re-
norris / shall take occasion 10 submit such
3eptrtks upnn the different subjects embraced
by them ~ shall seem 70 be required.
The subject Of the condition and manage
mout VI our railroads il one Of the very high
,st importance % the state, but on II viii
come appropriately before you by the report,
which 10 be made to you 10y the railroad
commiiSioner forbea 10 comment upon
Il.
The militia Of the state have lately rccciv-
oil more than usual public attention, and the
gubicet will doubtless be before you fer con
sidcration The condition Of the militia has
heretofore been deemed matter Of great
importance. Our ancestors brought With
them to this country strong hereditary
dread Of standing armies, which successive
I'd To strengthen and confirm. IL was found
that whenever such military force VAS not
engaged in foreign wars, twas generally EN- D.
ploycd by the government IN expressing and
attempting 10 ensaye the people, aud THIS
whether the-fnrce -contruiird by lhe
crown, by parliament or protector. This
conviction Of the danger Of standing armiea,
and belief in the safety and efficiency of
we'll regulated militia for purposes OF defence
and protection, were established political
principles Of our revolutionary fathers, and
AZ such we're Incorporated into our state con-
t,itution
The early settlers Of New England were
in the constant daily use Of firearms for
their protection against savngcs and Wild
beasts. Such arms were also required ~ the
pursuit Of game, which oltcn furnished them
with convenient aud sometimes indispensable
meAna of Suhaisience- ha- f'+fn-''' sttu"'rs
which we're made upon their settlements 10y
the Indians combined the threatened dan
gers from the expressions OF the mother
oountIy which Immediately followed The close
OF the French war, and the actual hosIilitles
of the revolutionary period, all stimulated
the military spirit of our ancestors, and made
then, not only checrfully submit to frequent
and expensive drills and musters for their
. Improvement in militlry discipline, but 10
IclI IN hanrsi- and patriotic iaFise IA 4.iAl-i
fishing and maintaining high character for
the efficiency OF their military organization.
D., This military spirit continued to prevail to
considerable extent until the war OF 1917
during which the militia were frequently call
ed cut and often rendered valuable aud inn
portant service 10 the country. Hut after the
peace with England in 1915, the character
aud efficiency of the militia for parade ana
discipline suffered marked and rapid decline.
This apparent abatement of military nrdor is
doubtless mainly, il not wholly, 10 be attrib-
utcd To the feeling which has extensively per-
Vaded the community since that period, that
all danger from foreign invasion had ceased,
that little none was To be apprehGndcd !
from domestic violence, and that consequently /,
military organization was unnecessary and
useless. Under the influence Of this feeling, /.
our laws, which have required our citizens to .
furnish themselves with arms and equipments,
to appear with them by companies for inspcc- .
s lion and drill, and to attend regimenta aud
other musters, have been looked upon as inn
posing expensive and unnecessary burdens I
and oil efforts Of legislation for some years
pat, To give popularity and efficiency to such /
laws, have proved unavniling. | am not now !
considering tho justice and propricty Of this
feeling, but merely stating the fact of its cx- |
iItance, = fnct which ought not TO be over
looked in any further attempt at Legislation |
r on the subject. For in our republican Sys-
tenn, a'lAw in order 10 be permanent and eff
feotuAl must be sustained, or mt least must
. not be condemned, by public sentiment
...... BY our present laws the militia is divided
into two classes, denomnRtcd the enrolled
and the uniformed militin. All persons LA
bic to do militia duty by the laws of the Uni !
ted States and of this state, are to be anuu-
ally enrolled by tho listerSof the several
towns, and n return is to be made of their on
rollment to the Adjutant and Inspector Cen
ora The enrolled militia is divided by ter
ritory into regiments, brigndcs and divisions,
hut itS members as are not liable to drill
muster or inspection.
The unifoim militia consists Of companies