The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-10-08
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Joint Assembly.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

On motion of Senator Emery from Or
ange, the chair named as committee to
wait on the Governor-elect and present
him TO the Assembly, Senator Emery of
Orange, Senator Sutton of Chttenden,
Mr.. Fowler of Manchester, Mr. McFeet-
ers of Enosburg and Mr.. Bailey of New
bury.
After subscribing to the oath, Cover
nor Mccullough was conducted to the
speakers chair and delivered his mess
age.
Gentleman of the Senate and House
of Representatives:
We have come together, in obedi-
ence to the requirements of the Con-
stitution. This government is how
ever essentially a PEOPLES govern
ment. In Vermont the Governor is
the titular head of the State. He is
expected to represent her at public
functions. His duties, unless in some
great national crisis or CONFUSION,
are neither many nor arduous.
In Vermont, too, we are fortunate
that the powers of the Legislature
itself, the law making department of
only called into exercise in the mild
est degree.
The people govern themselves.
A State, whose citizens have mas
tered the problem of government,
is best governed when least governed.
Form its first settlement, through
the stormy period of its colonial life,
during the Revolutionary era, as an
independent republic for thirteen
years, as a member of the Federal
Union for over a century, Vermont
has been educated in a school of self
reliant manhood. That the majority
should rule, that the rights of the
minority must not be infringed, that
liberty regulated by law must prevail,
are the lessons that have been so we'll
learned by the citizens of Vermont as
to be and have become part of their
very being.
The civilization of this people that
had its origin in Lower Germany CEN
turtles ago, that crossed the Channel
and sprouted and grew slowly with
the ages amid and against countless
obstacles from within and without on
the British Isles, that budded at Hast
ings and Runnymede, at Lewes and
Naseby that blossomed at Bunker Hill
and Bennington and Yorktown, at
Gettysburg and Appomattox needs no
guiding hand to instruct it's subjects
in the matters best suited for their
welfare and government.
Your ancestors who founded this
little commonwealth struck off your
first constitution in 1777 in the midst
of war, and with the enemy upon
your borders declared Vermont a
free and independent State" And
under its rule, and as revised in
1886, for thirteen years maintained an
independent existence and after adj
mission into the Fede raj Union es
tablished the Constitution of 1898 I'M
der whose beneficent provisions, and
the amendments from time to time
adopted, you and your ancestors for
over century have enjoyed the bless
ngs of free government, and, so far
as human wisdom can foresee, you
and your posterity will continue for
other centuries to enjoy the multipli.
ed and multiplying blessings of even
a freer government.
The very conservative method, too,
providing for it's amendment insures
against any hasty innovation from
popular impulse, and assures that
liberty regulated by law shall contin-
ne to be the rule of Anglo Saxon
development.
The provision of the national Con-
stitution that requires for it's amend
ment the concurrence of two thirds of
both houses of Congress or two-thirds
of the States, and then the subse-
quent ratification Of three -fourths of
the States, has received the highest
enconiums of modern political philos-
ophers as one of the wisest guarantees
of good government.
The provision in our Constitution is
equally, if not more conservative, and
yet in practical working there is little
difference.
These provisions insure solidity and
the most vital attributes, of funda-
mental law.
Our town system existed before the
State; it is the inheritance and the
growth of the ages of Anglo Saxon
uplifting. 1t was sic,ply recognized
in our constitution.
These republics in one form for
another have always had their Legis
latures. In their annual March
meetings, or at other sessions regu-
larly called they select their rulers
for the year and discuss all public
questions and decide what is for the
best good of the community and the
ia tie; and that Judgment expressed
st the general election is reflected il
abe persons of the GAG Representatives
tstanding for these little republics ant
in the persons of the thirty Senators
representing the counties.
The duty and responsibility of an,
needed legislation rests almost who'll.
on you; the function of the Execu
tive being advisory.
The retiring message Of my predec
essor, delivered yesterday, is so full
and exhaustive and gives such a com
prehensive review of the affairs o
the State for the past two years, &C
companying the same with most valu
able suggestions, that it only remain
for the present Executive to add hi
recommendation to the General AS
sembly to give these suggestions thei
most careful consideration.
The reports of the various Stat
officers and of the boards of trustee
and superin tendents of the State il
situations, furnish you with full il
formation upon which to exercis
your intelligent judgment in formr
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