Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-17
GOVERNOR DILLIEGHAMs ANNUAL
MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate

During the past year it has pleased Almighty
God to grant US great and signal merces Tor
this let us Join in rendering HIM our humblest
thanksgvings, while we sincerely implore His
aid ana guidance in the discharge of all our
official and personal duties.
FINANCES.
From the teasuret's report, herewith submitted to you
| ls64 was si24,O96 50
| That the receipts into the. reasury from all
5, 1865, were sl,5s5,l72 05
Making in all the sum of a,Oo9,269 81
n' 'O and dD gy 'sod the sum sun of Of pau ~ 5o
Leaving in the Treasury Sept $685. l9,l97ol
- 1865 amounted to IC5oOoO 90
| Consisting OF outstanding State Bonds,
The present current Liabilities Of the State ale 20I515l5d
| The current resources, including the balance
| IN Treasury, sept ,, 1863, are 254ll on
Making an excess of cuuentliabites Of lsi,l61 96
| The estimated expenses for the current year
| are, for interest on bonds and loans, lO575O w
| For all other State expenses HouOoOO
Making to be provided for, Si67,9J %
The grand list OF the State is about one mil
lion of dollars, and tax of fifty cents on the
dollar will probably raise money sufficient to
cover the current liabilities Of the year.
We are not to forget, however, that we have
a large founded debt. which will he hnrthenao m .
10 meet II none OF 1t is provided for before 1t
falls due The close of the war, and the return
of our soldiers, has gery greatly diminished our
current expenses, and at he same time our az
ricultura, and all other industrial interests Of
the State were never in more prosperous and
healthy condition and | feel confident that any
amount of taxation demanded by the best in
terests Of the State, will be met cheerfully by
the people, and its payment will not be felt as
burthensome
The treasurer estimates that state tax OF
sixty.fye cents, on the grand list Of this year,
would raise Sl50000 above the current ex-
penditures, 10 be applied in purchasing in out
standing State bonds; and that, for The next
six years, a tax OF forty cents on the dollar Of
the grand list, yearly, will raise sum sufficient
to meet the current expenses OF the State, and
leave a yearly surplus of Sl50,00O TO be used
in buying the State bonds as they come into mar
ket Should this be done to that extent, in
1871 but $3.50, 600 of our funded debt will re-
main unpaid a sum that can easily be provld-
ed for as the bonds fall due.
Our State Bonds are now selling al a discount
Of four aud five per cent, and should gold con-
tinue to command premium, as it will be like
ly to do Tor considerable time yet to come,
this with the fact that the General Government
and most Of the States, are paying higher rate
OF interest than Is paid on our Bonds, will pro-
badly depress their market value TO a still lower
point, II he State is in funds to 60 into mar
ket as purchaser with others, it will be able
to make positive gam on its purchases, beside
stopping the accruing interest.
Connected with this subj ct Of raising money
by taxation, we are to remember that all our
property, no matter by what name called, except
such as is expressly exempted by positive law,
should bear its equal proportions in the bur-
thens Of taxation. If our laws produce that
result now, then all is well on that score but
if they fail to accomplish that end, your scru-
tiny should lead you to their proper amendment.
sAIAKlFs AND FEES.
BY our present law, the States Attorneys Of
the several counties are salaried compensation,
in this mode, is made more to depend upon the
population OF the several counties than on the
labor done and service rendered 10 the State ;
and submit to your Judgment whether this
mode has not a natural tendency to diminish
watchiulnees over the public interests by those
officers. As far as my own personal observation
extends | am inclined to believe that crime,
now, is not 80 thoroughly forfeited out, and the
criminal 80 certainly brought to trial. convic-
ton and punishment, az when these officers were
paid for what they did, and for nothing more.
If this be the fact, our present law is defective
and unwise.
JUVENILE OFFENDERS,
Permit me, gentlemen, to call your attention
to that class of the rising generation denomi-
mated Juvenile offenders This class embraces
children Of both sexes, and their number is very
sensby on the increase To reform SUCH while
they are undergoing restraint ae punishment
should be our unceaslng endeavor. Very few
crimes committed by this class are punished by
confinement in the States Prison, and though
confinement there is somewhat relormatoty, yet
the stigma of having been in State Prison ii
almost forever inetiaceabs. Far the greater
number OF Juvenile offenders are, of necessity
punished by confinement in the county jais
where they are most generally associated with
old and hardened criminals, who ut once devote
themselves to teaching these children the ar
and mysteries OF crime 10 that when dis
charged, instead Of being reformed, they ar
more likely to be thoroughly corrupted. WoulC
it not be for the true interest of the State to es
tablish home, or house Of refuge, where thi
class could be confined under such regulation
as would be likely TO minister both instruction
+ and reform in connection with a jus. and mer
eiful punishmentf lSS
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The report Of the Secretary of the Board 0
Education shows, upon the whole, an eneour
aging state of our Common Schools The eff
cheney and success OF these schools, which ar
, the nurseries Of our coming men and women
cannot DO over estimated
II seems that teaching in these schools i
gradually passing from mao to female hands
with an apparent proportional improvement il
tho schools. This is hattering to tho lemal
teachers, but speaks poorly for the other class
fear that the better class of male teacher
leave the State for other localities, whore tlei
5 services command n better remuneration ,-lesy
8 Ing the ess competent aud accomplished teach
, ers 10 pollen our home Jewels.
Should not the character, learning and apt
ness TO teach on the part OF those offering them
e selves Tor examination, be more thoroughly at
oertalned before they receive certificate or
If this ia not practicable, could not something
be done by requiring graded certificates, dis
lingushlng between the candidate OF 10y
= class OF qualifications, and The one who n
$ thorough scholar aud apt TO teach. This Nigh
n serve 10 stimulate those proposing TO teach /
greater improvement, and also aid the schoo
COMMITTEE more easily to ascertain the fitness O
J. those offering to teach,
f, DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.
= The expense of our state pupils, deaf an
dumb and blind. who are now re Giving instruS
y ton a, the institutions designated by law, ha
0 very much increased, SO that an increase OF III
q standing yearly appropriations Tor these unIoI
a tunate classes VI our fellow citizens should ;
made. There are 81 deaf aud dumb pupils q
: tim Asvlum at Uattfnrd t'onnec,inut lint