Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-21
Governors Message.
FeiiOp Citi2cnS of The Senate
and House of REPRESENTATIVE,

thu condition OF the state anu 10 auopb Sucn
measures Of legislation, within the limits of the
peoples charter under which we are to act, as
their wants and interests may seem to require.
In the performance of this dnty the labor as
well as the responsibility devolyes almost ex-
clusiytly upon you. Our State government is
emphatically IL peoples government, being more
purely democratic in its character than any
other IN America, and probably in the world.
10 the 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 enactng such laws as to the ma
iority Of them assembled in their respective
houses, shall seem meet.
70 this power of legislation the Governor has
not, as in most of our sister STATES even quail
flied negative. His authority is of an advisory
character merely. By interpreting objections to
a proposed measure he may cause reconsider
alton of it, bat il majority of the two houses
remain favorable to the measure, it becomes
law without the approval of the executive
The successful operation of the popular features
of our system is subject of Just congratulation,
furnishing the strongest evidence Of the wisdom
and foresight of its Trainers, as well as Of the
virtue and Intelligence of those by whom it has
, been administered.
The past year has been one of unusual deprcs-
sion in the business Of the country. in which the
people Of this State have shared to Il consider
: ercble extent, though it is believed in IL less
degree than many others. Although an mmc-
date restoration of business to its former active
and successful condition is not perhaps to be
anticipated, we have still no occasion for des-
pondency. 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 in
tellectual culture, as well as of comfortable
bodily subsistence, are believed to be within the
reach of all our citizens. With all these and
numerous other blessings 50 bountifully show
cred upon lis by u kind and benefcent we have
abundant cause for thankfulness and rejoicing
for the past, and also hope and confidence in
the future.
Coming newly into Office and having had little
recent experience in State legislation, | make
this Introductory communication rather in COM
pliance with established usage. than in any very
confident expectation Of furnishing 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, commend
ing them to Your candid consideration
The report Of Auditor of Accounts, which,
, in conformity to the provisions Of law, has lust
been published, shows the receipts and expen-
ditures of the State, during the past political
year, and the present condition of our State
finances. From this report it appears that the
balance in the treasury on the first of September.
1858, was $50, 543 II, and the amount of
taxes uncollected was 500, 259 26, making to-
gether the sum Of $50, S9l 81 as tho Immediate
available resources of the State and that the
Indebtedness OF the State, including orders UNI
presented, the bank safety fund and the sums
due to towns for United States surplus money,
was SLAB, 904 OF, exceeding the current avail
able resources by the sum of S53 ,0l2 10. 1t is
to be observed that there has been expended in
the construction of the now State House the
sum of SCI, l2T 70, and that but for this ex-
traordlnary expenditure, made necessary by the
accidental destruction of the old odifce, the
sum in the treasury and the assessed taxes would
exceed the State Indebtedness by about the sum
of $4,000. The policy of the State from it's
first organization has been against the creation
Of permanent State debt. Extraordinary and
unexpected calls upon the treasury, like that
now requiring the construction of u new capt.
tul have ocCtSlOllully Dcen PROVIDED 1Or by
temporary loans, but provision for their
speedy payment has always heretofore been
mace. This policy has had a strong tendency
to lroducca judicous economy IN our oxpcnN
diturcs, and | trust is not to be departed FROM
The report of the Auditor of Accounts also
embraces the reports of the several officers hay
ing charge and inspection, respectively, of the
State Prison, and also the Bank Commissioners
report.
The report of the Commissioner of the Insane
is highly complimentary to the conduct and
management of the Asylum, which, under the
direction of its experienced Superintendent and
Board of Trustees, appears to be in very sue
cessful operation,
The reports of the directors of the Vermont
State Prison and its Superintendent, are also of
favorable character | would respectfully
call your attention to the recommendation of
the directors for reconstructing the cells Of the
prison, which the comfort as well as the prcscr-
walton Of the health of the inmates would seem
to demand.
From the report of the Bank Commissioner.
it appears that all the banks in operation in the
, State are considered to be in a sound condition,
though the capital of some of them, by reaeon
OF losses, has been reduced below the chartered
amount. 1t would also seem that many of the
) banks have violated some of their charter pro-
/, visions. beg leave to call your attention to
these violations, specified by the Commissioner,
and to submit to your consideration whether
further legislation is necessary to prevent their
, repetition.
have reason to believe that the Geological
Survey Of the State, under the superintendent
OF the eminent State Goologst is being Judi
clously and successfully prosecuted. His re-
port will be laid before you at an early day,
with such suggestions as shall then occur to me
as important.
Reports are also expected from the Supern-
tendent of the State House, on the progress and
present condition of the work on that cdGcc,
and from the Secretary Of the Board of Eluca-
ton, showing the proceedings of the Secretary
and of the Board during the past year. which
reports will be severally communicated to you.
On transmitting these reports, shall take oc-
casion to submit such remarks upon the differ
ent subjects embraced by them as shall seem to
be required.
The subject of the condition and management
our railroads is one of the very highest i'm
portance to the State, but us it will come APP
propriately before you by the report, which is
to be made to you by the Railroad Commission
er, forbear to comment upon it.
The militia of the State have lately received
moro than usual public attention, and the sub
ject will doubtless be before you for consdora-
ton. The condition of the militia has heretofore
been deemed a matter of importance. Our an
cestors brought with them to this country a
strong hereditary dread of standing armies
which successive events in the parent country
y continually served to strengthen and confirm
1t was found that whenever such military force
was not engaged in foreign wars, it was gene
rally employed by the government in depressing
ana attempting to ensave the people, and this
whether the force was controlled by tho crown,
by parliament or protector. This conviction
OF the danger Of standing armies, and belief
in the safety and efficiency of we'll regulated