Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-10-20


mont to the Office Of Chief Magistrate, and TAX
en- the oaths OF office and assumed that trust,
it becomes alike my duty and pleasure to adj
dress you on the present OCCASION and present
for your consideration such matters Of public
interest, as properly fall within the jurisdiction
of the Legislature.
Recognizing that Divine Providence which
has guarded our State ard National Institutions,
and continued to the citizens of this common
wealth the blessings Of health and peace and
plenty we assemble to-day, in accordance with
the provisions of the Constitution. to assume
the responsibilities, and exercise the high iunc-
tions of Legislators.
In the discharge of the important trust i'm
posed upon us by 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 in
hcrcnt right mot by any privilege Of birth, or
blood, or wealth. The functions of Office are
defined by the Constitution; but the offices we
hold are conferred upon us by the people, to be
again surrendered into their hands at the eXpir-
alton of our Constitutional term; and, in the
exercise of the powers thus conferred on us, we
shall be chargeabe with moral delinquency, and
uniaithfulness to the most solemn trust, should
we fail to act solely in view Of the public well
fare.
In the enactment or repeal of laws, or in the
adoption of any measures proposed for our
consideration, it becomes us to he guided bv
those high principles of right. which are inca
pablo OF being contaminated with schemes for
private aggrand2ement or partzan promotion /;
but which are effective in aid of whatever will
promote the highest moral and intellectual cul-
ture Of the body polite, and whatever is essen
tial to the encouragement of its industrial in
terests. and the security of the rights and prop
1. 4 a Al. III
1t is obvious to remark that the tendency, in
most deliberative bodies, is to legisate too much
rather than too little; and although there may
be no danger that an intelligent assembly, dele
gated to enact laws as well for their own obser-
vance for that of their constituents, will COM
promise the interests or rights of the people
yet, in view of the tendency above stated, too
great caution can hardly be exercised in adopt
ing measures of reform or change. Much in
convenience and perplexity necessarily arise
from too frequent changes in our statute laws
and not unlrequently enactments. salutary in
their tendency, and calculated to be of great
utility fail to be effective or to demonstrate
their true character. because they have been
repealed or essentially modified, before they
have gone into general effect,
The history of our past legislation records
comparatively few ultra or unsound enactments.
Our laws. III the main, have been eminently
Just. adapted to the security of the public peace
and the protection of individual rights; but we
have not always been EXEMPT from the embar-
rassment consequent upon unstable legislation.
/ doubt moi that these considerations will he
duly observed bv YOU, and that YOU will adop,
ref6rmatorv changes. only in view of necessity
or obvious cXpcdiency.
The duty will involve upon Won. gentlemen.
to elect United States Senator. for the six
wears next succeeding the present Senatorial
term of the Hon. Jacob Collamer.
In the matter of expenditure recommend
the same scrupulous regard to economy which
his generally characterized the legislation and
the administration of this State, and the avoid.
ance of all measures tending. unnecessarily. to
the accumulation of permanent public debt
Such economy need not degenerate into parsi-
mony but is consistent with reasonable appro-
plialions for objects of public utility. and the
usual provisions for educational and charitable
purposes.
The rebuilding of the Capitol, necessitated b,
the burning of the former edifce. has made il
cxpedient 10 resort to temporary loans for de-
fraying the expenses; and it may be necessar,
and advisable to make further provisions for tn,
purpose of liquidating bills vet uncancelled, anC