Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-10-09


selves with onerous taxes for the sake 0
purchasing our bonds at a large premium
which have only few years longer to run
1t seems to me specially improper, in view
OF the fact that many towns IN the Stat
are still indebted to considerable amounts
and therefore liable TO heavy taxation, 70
debts contracted IN furnishing men and 9th
er means for suppressing the late rebellion
and for repairing damages by floods, fires
etc.
The redistribution of tue United State
Deposit money, made necessary by the cen
sus OF 1870, under the provision of th
statute was effected in very satsfactor,
manner by the Treasurer That officer il
November, lS7 collected of one hundred an,
eighty towns and cores the sum Of $780, ,O23
II, and disbursed the same to slXty-eigh
towns and citiee
It is apparent that the burdens of taxation
are still quite unequally distributed. Il
further legislation nece 3sary to remedy the
evil, or is it chargeable to the improper, un
faithful, or imperfect execution Of the laws
The subject is worthy of the serious consld
eratiOI of the General Assembly.
The cause Of Education Will ever claim o
the General Assembly a most careful anC
watchlul attention 1t requires no argumen
to convince an intelligent Vermonter, that ii
/ - pun NGOuOluy ~ NAliuO4u iIDAu diI CidS
OF our citizens, and especially the youth, th,
means Of acquiring knowledge whatever
! reasonable expenditure of money is thereby
made necessary. On this important subject
| cannot better express my views than in tn,
language of my distinguished predecessor
IN his message to tue General Assembly, Oc
tober, 1870, and which | take leave to agar
present to your consideration
rtere is a growing interest in our pub
- lIc schools, and the truth Is generally dc
" knowledged that the education Of the peo-
= pie is IN indispensable safeguard to the
preservation Of free government. For the
general diffusion Of education, reliance
= must be had, primarily, upon free com
- mon schools 1t is, therefore, Of vital iD
. pOrtance to the welfare OF the State, that
" the instructions afforded in these schools
d" should be Of the highest character attain
q able"
Experiment in all the States foremost in
. the cause of education, has proved the
&" great value OF Normal Schools IN training
. teachers for common schools. Good teach
- ers are indispensable, and the Normal
= School is the fundamentally which can be
- employed to secure the needed supply.
venture to suggest that the time has come
- for the adoption in this State OF a more
- settled and thectual policy on this subject.
In corroboration of the views above given,
| earnestly recommend to your avorahle con
-ideratIon the report OF the Board OF iu-
cation, tnd the suggestions therein made,
confirmed as they are by the suggestions 0t
the Secretary Of that Board. 1t Is believed
these suggestions meet a hearty response
from teachers, and all others who have
given the subject care uI eX animation.
w hatever necessary increase OF apprOprIa-
tiJns may be required fO- the carrying out
OF the above views and suggestions, vii,
readily be granted, | doubt not.
It Il believed the Act OF November p.
1870, No. -, ). ssion Laws, has received
lIttle attention from the towns 10 the State
| would respectfully refer the General As
sembly to the r ports OF the Board # ia
cation for IL q aud 1870, recommending the
enactment OF such "A law.
would suggest the proprIety Of allowing
the system therein provided fJr u be larry
and satisfactorily tested, with such mJdih-
cate rs, II any, as appear 70 be necessary OF
di-irabc.
Ii seems to have engaged the attention
Of many consiierate and ref .ctlng men IN
the State, and t. have bee Dms their settled
conviction, that military service, IN It's va
rious departments, should IN some MEASURE
be connected with and become part OF tine
education Of our young men, with a
view TO this end the institutions in this STATE
in which this science Is taught, should re
ceIve more liberal pecunlary and from the
State. l would respectfully ak your can
did attention to the subject, and taketae Ib
erty to refer to the published report OF
the dOings of the National Agricultural \
Convention, held at the city Of WashingtJn
in February last, where the subject Is much
discussed.
STATE INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITIES.
| am happy to see that By the reports Of
the officers Of the State Prison, 1t appears
that the financial condition oil that institu-
ton is greatly improved, and the prospect is
favorable for a still greater Improvement
hereafter. 1t Is believed the duties OF the
several officers have been we'll and faithfully
performed. l respectfully recommend an
Appropriation, out Of the surplus earnings
ot the prisoners, for the purpose OF fitting
up a convenient room in one OF the unused
work shops, 70 be used for a chapel for the
prisoners on Sundays, and other occasions
The Reform School, | take pleasure IN
saying, commends itself more and more to
public favor 1t is believed to be one OF the
most valuable Of charitable Institutions
Under its excellent management IL Is accom-
plshing incalculable good. For full state
ment of it's present condition IN all It's varied
interests, refer you to the reports OF the
officers having charge Of those Interests.
The encouragement AMI promotion OF the
great agricultural and manufacturing inter
ests of the State in their diversified ramih
cations, will not be overlooked by the Cen
eral Assembly, If within the range OF con
stitutional and reasonable legislation.
That the immense water power afforded
by our numerous streams should be employed
in some profitable industries, must be ap-
parent to all. Ia this connection l would
refer the General Assembly to the first
Report Of the Board of Agriculture, Manu-
factures and Mining, for interesting and
aluable Information
The Asylum for the Insane should ever be
watched with a vlgilant and scrutinzing
eve Is it not to be feared that the institu-
ton at Brattleboro is wanting in some re-
spects. in those accommodations and appli-
ances necessary for the health and proper care
and treatment of the unfortunate class
confined there? | respectfully and earnestly
call the attention of the General Assembly
to the Report Of the Commissioner and his
suggestions. On this important subject,
am persuaded no member of the General
Assembly will neglect his duty.
While the State has made adequate pro-
vision for the deaf, dumb and blind, 10 the
State, it is thought by many that provision
should also be made for an equally unfJr
tunate and equally meritorious class of our
citizens the Imbecile or weak minded chill
dren or youth OF poor parents. If anything
can be done, in any degree, TO ameIiorate
the condition Of that unfortunate class
within the authority OF the General Assem-
bly,, have no doubt that authority will be
exertei in their behalf.
For the purpose of aiding the cause o.
temperance among the people. laws have
been enacted and are now In lull force, pro
hiblting the traffic 10 alcoholic or intoxIcat
ing drinks. 1t Is 10 be feared that In some
parts of the State, at least, these laws are
lamentably neglected, if not wholly disre
i l.. -