Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-10-19
EXECUTIVE ADDRESS.
TIE Honorable, tLe General -asssm5lg ef
tls State ef pesmoat,

by the freemen Of Vermont 20 The Office
Of Chief Magistrate, and taken the oatls
Of Office and assumed that trust, II be.
comes alike my duty aud pleasure 10 al.
dress you on the present occasion, and
present fer your consideration such mat,
ters Of public interest, as properly fall
within the jurisdiction of The Legislature.
Recognising that Divine Providence
whieh has guarded our State ana Nasion-
al Institutions, aud continued to the eiti-
zens Of this commonwealth the blessings
Of health and peace and plenty, wc as
sem5le to-day, in accordance with the
provisions Of the Constitution. to assume
the responsibilities, and exercise the high
function Of Legislators.
In tue discharge Of The important trust
imposed upar Us by the Constitution, and
by our oaths OF Office, we are responible
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 otEice are
defined by the Constitution bu, the otIi.
ces we hold are conferred upon Us by the
people, to be again surrendered into their
hands at the expiration Of the Consiitu-
tional term; and, in the exercise Of the
powers thus conferred on Us, we shall be
chargable with moral delinquency, and
unfaithfulness to the most solemn trust,
should we fail to act solely in view Of the
public welfare.
In the enactment or repeal Of laws, OF
iu the adoption Of any measures proposed
for our consideration, it becomes Us 10 be
guided by those high principles of right,
which are incapable Of being contamina-
ted with schemes FOR private aggraudize-
ment or partisan promotion; but which
are effective in aid Of whatever win pro-
mote the highest moral and intellectual
culture OF the body polite, and OF what
ever is essential to the encouragement Of
iii industrial interests, and the security
Of the rights and property Of each indi.
vidual of the commonwealth.
II is obvious to remark that the ten
dency, in most deliberative bodies. is to
legislate too much rather than too little.
and although there may be no danger that
an intelligent assembly, delegated 10 en-.
act laws as well for their own observance
as for that Of their constituents, wjll com
promise the interests or rights Of the peo-
pie yet, in view Of the tendency above
stated, too. great caution can hardly be
exercised in adopting measures Of reform
or change. Much inconvenience and per
plexity necessarily arise from too fre-
quent changes in our statute laws; and
not 4nfrequently eHaclments, salolary il
their tendency, aud calculated to be oi
great utility, fail 70 be effective, or io
demonstrate their true character, because
they have been repealed or essentially
modified, before they have gone into gen
eral effect.
The history Of our past legislation re-
cords comparatively few ultra OF unsouad
enactments. Our laws, in the main,
aave been eminently just, adapted to the
security Of the public peace and the pro-
lection Of indieidual rights but Ne have
not always been exempt from tue embar.
rassmeut consequent upon unstable legis.
lation. doubt not tia. these considera.
tions viii be duly observed By you, ant
that you viii adopt reformatory changes
ouhy in view Of necessity or obvious ex
pediency.
The duty viii devolve upon you, gen.
tlemen, to elect a United States Senator
for the six years next succeeding tbs
present Senatorial term Of the Hon
Jacob Collamer
In the matter Of expenditure, ] rec
ommend the same scrupeious regard {,
economy which has generally character
lied the legislation and the administration
Of this State, and the avoidance Of nj
measures tending. unnecessarily, 70 th'
accumulation OF a permanent public debt
Such economy need not Degenerate inb
paFsimony, but Is consistent with reason
able appropriations for objects of puhiif
utility, and the usual provisions ior eda
cational and charitable purposes.
The rebuilding Of the Capitol, nsees
STATED b the burning Of the ioFmer e
ifiee, has made Il expeaieai 10 resort .
temporary loans for defraying sbs sx
peasei and Il nay b necessary asd 81
visalls 70 make further provisions fer -
purpose of hqaidasing biIs yea a5eas
oelIed. and of rsimbaFsing fle suFss IA
base been advanced
b. the report n she Audisor e Ae
.,.,s :. sll =. 49,. .tss a.. .T.es.