Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-10-19

lUitItNi' un pIVptlll ldll Nlluu tuc Jun
dictiou Of the Legislature.
Recognizing that Divine Providence
which has guarded our State and National
Institutions. and continued to the citizens
of this commonwealth the blessings of
health and peace aud plenty, we assemble
to-day, in accordance with the provisions
Of the Constitution, to assume the res
possibilities. and exercise the high iunc-
tions of Legislators.
In the discharge of the important trust
imposed upon MS 10y the Constitution, and
by our oaths Of Office, we are responsible
agents. As Legislators and Magistrates,
we hold our office and exercise authority,
not by virtue of any inherent right not
by any privilege of birth, or blood, or
wealth. The functions of Office are dclin-
cd by the Constitution but the Offices
we hold are conferred upon us 10y the poo
pie, to be again surrendered into their
hands at the expiration of our Constitu-
tioual term; and, in the exercise of the pow
crs thus conferred on us, we shall be charg-
cable with moral delinquency, and unlaith-
fulncss to the most solemn trust, should
we fail to act solely in view Of the public
welfare
I'm the enactment or repeal of laws, or
in the adoption Of any measures proposed
for our consideration, it becomes us TO be
guided by those high principles of right,
which are incapable of being contaminated
with schemes for private ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
or partizan promotion; but which are eiicc-
tive in aid of whatever will promote the
highest moral and intellectual culture o
/ the body polite, aud Of whatever is cs
scutial to the encouragement Of its indus
/ trial interests, and the security Of til,
rights and property Of each individual o
| the commonwealth
/ It is obvious to remark that the tenden
/ cy. in most delibcratye bodies, is to legis
1 late too much rather than too little; ant
although there may be no danger that al
/ intelligent assembly, delegated to enac
laws as well for their own observance a
for that Of their constituents. will compro
mise the interests or rights Of the people
/ vet la view of the tendency above stated
too great caution can hardly be excrcis
/ ed in adopting measures of reform ol
change Much Inconvenience and per
pleXity necessarily arise from too frequch
changes in our statute laws and not uu
frequently enactnents, salutary in thei
tendency, aud calculated to he Of grea
utility, fail to be effective, or to demon
,tratc their true character, because the
have been repealed or essentially modif
ed before they have gone into general el
feet.
The history Of our past legislation re
cords comparatively few ultra or unsoun'
enactmeuts Our laws, in the main, hay,
been eminently Just, adapted to the sccu
rity OF the public peace and the protoc
ton Of individual rights but we have no
always been exempt from the embarrass
mout consequent upon unstable Legislation
doubt NOT that these considerations vii
be duly observed by you, and that you vii
adopt relormatory changes, only in view q
necessity or obvious expediency.
The duty will dcvolve upon you, gentle
meu, to elect United States Senator, 70
the six years next succeeding the presen
Senatorial term of the Hon. Jacob Col
lamer.
In the matter Of expenditure | recon
mend the same scrupulous regard to econ
omy which has generally characterized tn
legislation and the administration of thi
State, and the avoidance of all measure
tending, unnecessarily, to the accumulation
of permanent public debt. Such econ
omy need not degenerate into parsmony
but is consistent with reasonable apprC
priatons for objects of public utility, an
the usual provisions for educational an
charitable purposes.
The reminding of the Capital, necessita
ted 10y the burning Of the former ediicc
has made it expcdicnt TO resort to tempor
airy loans for defraying the expense; ant
it may be necessary and advisable to max
further provisions for the purpose Of Ii
qudating bills yet uncancelled, and O
reimbursing the sums which have been ad
vanced.
BY the report OF the Auditor of Accounts
it will be seen that the present liabilitic
of the State arc as follows:
Notes Funded, $4,000 Oh
Due the Safety Fund.- 1875 o.
Due Towns for U. 5. Deposits, Alb 0.
Orders unpaid, 1913 II
Sl99, ,436 q
Its resources are as follows:
Taxes ncollected, 1869 81
Amount in the Treasury, 1889 Z
Balance outstanding, 1l5,1l6 81
S199,436 y
Under the Act Of 1859, appropriatinl
two thousand dollars for the purpose o
procuring Moad's Statue of Ethan Allen
orders have been drawn on the Treasure
for sums amounting to one thousand dol
lars. 1t is understood that the artist ha
been successful in the design, and that tn,
work is progressing satisfactorily.
The number of State BeGefciaries at tn,
present term Of the American Asylum fo
deaf and dumb, at Hartford, is twenty
four. The charge per aunum, for 6oarc
and tuition, is one hundred dollars each
and, as several of them have been allowed
a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, fo