Spirit of the age. [volume], October 23, 1845, Image 1

About Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913

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Ily CHAltr.KS O. UASTMAN,
Woodstock, Vt. 5
muwriKiMiuiinBiiiinui ininww
BUSINESS CA11DS.
O. A.HKYANT,
Dslcrln Cnsllsli.Frciicli, nnd Aincrlnin Dry Clonus,
W. I, (J iniiln, iind OrocvricH,
Crockery , IIIiihh mul Hard Ware.
KlmStrtet,
DIHLIilSU & SliADII,
DCAi.nRsiNvi.ouu, w.i.oooiis.tnuounnir.s,
A1.80 CONHTANTLV ON IIANI),
TIUIITS.CONFWJTIONAnV.rtUMMUItnniNKSANl)
UKl'UCSIIMHNTS,
cKNTnAi.sTiu:nT,opi'08iTEvm,r.,r.v'8 iiotei.,
0 r.i). ,Mi:i,i,ikii, ii.Hi.mh:.
A. JLATOH, & CO.
Al thc old Stand lulcly oceuj'ied by
i. o. triuou;
DnAi.nusiNFi.oim w.i.nooiisANnnRouniiins.
UONFIIOTIONAUY.SUMMKIt llltlNKrt, AN1
KEFIinailMENTH.UONSTANTI.Y ON 1IAN1).
CENTRAL BTRECT. 22H
AKOUSTU S II A V KX ,
Wholeinlaumlrvlitilildiiler Iu V. 1. (JooiIh.Tchs.I tuIIs
Wlni-n, A:e.,nln,StovrH,lJutiilliirp,&r.
3d UUOIt SOUTH IIEAlMIK STATE rilEUT,
Mantiirllrrtf't, 1S2 ly
, UUSSKIili Si CliA KK,
h'ATCIIMAKKHS A N 1) J F. W H 1. I. H R S,
OPPOSITE WlUT.Vr.Y's MOTr.l.. CENTHAI, BfnhCT,
Miiiiudiciiirrr oHllrrr flpnom anil Siipct.trlcH.nnil l)c:ilcr
Iu Jowi'liv.Cullerv mul ruucy fiood
U'linlcsiile nnil IU'lall, 209
OppposileWhilncy's Uotcl, Ccnlral Slrcct.
IlI'.NItY IIATC1I,
Onf tlnor south of Union Ilall,Ulm Strett,
tin, coppr.n, an'd hiiket inox WOUKKll.
TIIALES IJ. WhN'N,
TAII.OIi,
flimc door wilh A". Randall.
MlCIIAKLi MVHKS,
T A I I. O II.
Over J. Collamcr's Offi.cc,
Elm strrct,
11. W. SMITII, Tailor, '
JST.XT I)00 lllU.OW IIIMCK HTA(iF. I101IS1'..
Ludlow, VI. 21B
AMOS W. lVAUItHN,
nn.u.nniN iiooTs.Riionri ANin.nATiinii,
All lirnla uf U'lilher lor snlo choai. AIo, ltoonanrt
Skncs ol' cvw ilosoriilllon.
irrl'iticr.s Thlfk llnom. SO,W--Ouir,oS!;ml,3:ncnts
rewedktiulB lor 9 l.aml all nllier worl. In iiro.orilnu
Ulvtiui. 8rni:r.T. - ely
i). m. nr.wr.Y.
Makcr oltho lmirnvcil llohari Woodcn Pnni.
rrTlioaliovcrimipsarow.iiTanlfil toilrnw u lnrril n
a ininnto with o.ise,uilo a li nuilrt-.l ftct.
TTAllonlrralrom a ilUuiucr pruiiiptl) titlrtiilciHo.
Randolph VI. ' 11
wnnw'nY's uotix,
Cornerof Klm and Central slrccts,
V S. AV 11 I T X KY,
i:ac7li: tkmphkanch uousk,
hyl. m. ivoon,
south Binr. Tiir. park. sm
ItltlOK STAtJK housi:,
south s i n r. n i. A c k n i v r. n ,
nv
JOIIN R. SMITII
ludlow, vi . 1C1 tf
,. V. HYDE,
n i: i o K sTAfii: no usn,
Proctorsville Vt. 239 Cm
IIKNRY 'J'. MAIISII,
IIoiise ano Smos pmntkr, ai.so DiiAi.nu in cmuur.r.s
anp Vahmhi or eveky niwnirTiox.
i; i: n t u a i. n t n i: r. t .
WITT .V SCOTT.
l'ilnlcr,aiiilc!cali.'Mln;liuirHai)il (Jarri iscrnl'ntlklmlv
CEvriiAi. sTnnuT.
.IOSIIUA MITOIini.l.,
(' A R II I (J U A N 1) S I. I! 1 0 11 - M A K H R,
IIIOII STtir.ET. 116
iM'.oitr:!-. IMSIH'.U.
N inufacturtr uf ,ntnt itrnlrr in cnhintt furniturt ol
tvtry tiricripiian.
I'k-Mnaul rilrri't, 218
1)11. lt. II. IA I.M K U.
Oillcclii tht' llnrk lllook ctpposltu Whitnej'6,
rnTitAi. HIKKLT.
S. J. AI,T,UV, .11. 1).
rirYsici.uy axd hurgeom,
Oniccnipnilo Vhllnu'n Iluti l.
ADI.V II. 11 AMMOXI),
TOMSOX1AV llOI'AN'Ii: l'RACTITIONnil,
lli'lWL'un llic Jk'llioilbt uilJ Iliiisciipnl Cliurrlics.
23MI.
i,ivr.itv staiim;,
ii y a i. n i: n t v a u iv r. n .
Courl strcet,
COTjTjAMKK A- ltAUUKTT,
Atlornoys and Counsellors a l L n w,
Klm Slrcct. 1811
jAConCoi.t.AJir.ii. Jam r.s lUninvrr
O. P.-rilA.VDI.KIl.
Attornov aiul 0 o u n 9 el 1 o r
a t L a v,
208
CrntralStreet,
ri! i'i- v riiiWRflK.
AllorneisandCounscllors at Law
Oincooverlh(.'Hank.r,lni rflrppl,
l. a. aiAiisir,
ATTOHNnV AND COUNSF.M.OII AT I.AW
Central slrrrt.
i:ovi liuf cilTixso.N.
ATTORNKY AN'O COUNSKI.I.OR AT LAW,
WOODSTOCK, VT.
vV.vsiimiiix & jTaIisii,
ATTORNni'S l C O TI N rt I'. 1, 1. O U S AT I.AW,
H'ooilorn; I'l
J.rOfllccni llieroom l ilrl) orcnpli-tl in llic "Clay Cluli
N'cwk Ilooni,"
I". T.WAiiinur.x,.l(is(tr in Chanccrit.
V.V Marsii 23ill
Nov.21. 1BII.
OALVIN FUEXCII,
Allorncy and Counscllor ut Law,
PROCTORSVILLE, VT.
251
i. w. niciiAitnsoN.
Jlllorncy and Counscllor at Law,
WHSTON, vt. 231
FIU'.nr.RICK C. ROltllliNS,
A T T o n ni: Y AT L A w :
i.uni.ow, vt. 157-l.v
iVARRI'.N' C. I'Rr.NCIf,
A T T O K N H Y A T h A W,
bHAROS,', vt. 235-ly
UALjcicn&siiAin:,
Alloincys and Counmllortut Luw,
RovAisroii t"r . ij3.,r
11 ww.Kr.11, w. HI.ADR.
"rTTof!. IIAllTl.r.T'fTirit.T"
jttorne!,Counulloranil.1olkltorin Chaneenj,
IT I.VNDIIS. v r.
lTt1cnauhpSiiperlnr(.'oiirlln(Iiccoiinllei' ofrali'-
mii n I'aiiV I irii'HIIK Iinil 1 11 li l i 1 1 '
IIUNTON & JONUS,
M'TORNEVS AND COUNSr.LI.0nS AT LAW.
Chchca, VI.
'A. IMIUN'TON, 203 1. C. JONKS.
S. R.STRI'.mT.R,
AUomcy and Counnllcr al Law,
liARNAIin.VT.
115
J. U. IIAWKINS,
Atlorncy and Counscllor al Law.
Fni.CllVIM.E, VT
91
J. V. DKANK,
Attorneyand Counscllor al Law,
CAVENDISH, VT.
105
JAMl'.S M.fill.SON,
ATTOKNKY AT LAAV,
CHELSEA, VT. 210-Gm
UI(JIIAlM)SOi& N1CIIOLSON,
AllOrnevs,and Counscllor s at Law
(.iii'icr,WliiiIori:onniy, vi.
N RlCIIARIIIION. 8(1 A. A. NlCHOLSON
SEWAM. l'UIXAM,
ATTO R jX K Y A T LA W,
LUDLOW, VT. 181-ly
11. 1:. STOIJCIITON,
ATTOR A K Y A T L A II'.
Chester, Vt. 219
SAMUKMM'RIOK,
TToniv AJtncouNsELi. nn at law,
AVlM)SOU,VT. 90
UT.ODOETT & WEYMOUTII,
A T T O R A K Y S AT L A II',
HKTIini., VT. , 25C
1). C.Dl.0DaCTT ! r. Vr.VM0t'TII
MESSAGE.
Fdlow Cltizcns of tht Saialc nml lhntst of j
Itrprcsrntativr:
Tlin guaiiliaiislii) of 1I10 inlorosts of
tliis Coiiiinonu'cnllli, wliicli fnll williiu tlic
province of its civil govornnient, lias hy
tlio favor of Providonco, liccn committed
to us; and wo como togothor for tlic )iir
poso of iis cxocutinn. If wo would dis
clmrgo, iuiho bcst munnor, tlio duiios
it involvos, vc slull bcgin and ciid ovory
tliing, witli a rccogniiion of our dcpond
cnco upon Iliui "from whom all good
cotinsols and nll jtist works pt'occcdj"
wliilc Ilis cliiims upon our fidclity to llim
solf, will bccomo 1111 over-prcscnt inccn
siiive to fidclity iu tlio scrvico of tlic poo
plovc rcprcsciit.
Tlic ycnp wliicli u drawing towiirds a
closc lins bccn oue of propcrity to our
puoplo. Thougli thrcntcncd drouth 1ms
rcpeatcdly fillcd tlicm witli approliension
and alnrm, tlicy liavo finally bccn pcr
mittcdo renp nn abundaut Imrvcst llius
happily finding incrcascd inotivcs to grat
itudc, in dclivcranccis from iinpcnding
dangcr, rcndercd tlio tnorc itnprcssivc
by strong contrast witli lcss favorcd por
tions of our couiilry,
A groat trust lins bccn committed to us,
as tbe constitute gunrdiaus oftbe intcrcsts
of tliis pcoplc. Jf, in tlic stniggles con
ncctcd witli tlic oloction wliicli has sout
us hcic, wo bavc sufi'ercd unwoilliy pns
sions to gain an usceiidcncy, as tbcy too
oftcn do i;i political contests, wo cannot
comc licro and cntcr upon tlic sobcr work
ofsurvcying our rcsponsibiliticH, witbout
dismissing tbem all, laking cach otlicr by
tlicliniid as fcllow-citi.cns and brcthrcn,
and striving togcihcr for tlic faitli of our
fatlicrs, and tlic furllicnincc oflhc grcat
cnd for wliicli tlicy cstablisbcd tlicgovcrn
nicnt wc liavo beon appointed to adminis
tcr. llow shall wc bcst uccoinplisli tlicsc
unds, witbin the brief spacc of our uniiual
scssinn? is a picstion to wliicli you will
allow mc bi'icdy to invilc-yoiir attciition.
Tlic institiition of civil govcrnmciit is
designcd to bccomc an nctivcly bcnificrnt
agcncy. Tlic restraint of force is far
from bcing ils only olijcct. Exccpting in
govcnuncnts purcly arbitrary.law dorives
itseiiergy from a lorcc cxtcrancous to
itsclf the forcc of a dccp and abiding
scnlimcnt of voncratinn for law a lovc
of ordcr liabitual Eclf-i'cstraint clcva
tion and puiity of inoral fecliug, and in
vtclli'cncc to guido it wisoly in tlic coni
plicatcd afl'airs of buman lifo.
Civil govcrntncnl, tbcn accomplislics its
objcct, nnt wbcn it punishcs criinc but
wlicn it prcvcnts its commissioii, not by
prmidiug jails and pcnctcntiarics, but by
prcrcnting tlic ncccssity oftlicir c.vistenco
by training llic pcoplc, as far as law cau
propcWy intcrposo its powcr, to intclli
gencc and llic lovc of viitup. Tlic fatli
crs o( our Statc lelt tbis, when vvitb char
actcrcstic wisdom, tbcy dcclared in tbc
constitiitii)ii, tbat "laws for llic cncoui'-
agomcnt of vii tiie and tlic prcvcnt.i tion of
vicc and iininoralily ouglit to be constaut
ly kcpt in forcc and duly cxccutcd; and a
compctcnt nuinbcr of scliools ouglit to bo
maintained iu cach town, for tlic convon
icnt instruction of youth, and otio ormorc
grammar scliools bc incorporatcd and
propcrly suppoi tud in cach county in tlic
Statc." Tlius wlicn tbc ciii'.ouragcmcnt
of virtuc, tbc siipprcssion of vicc, and the
maintcnanco of schouls, dccmcd so vital to
thu wclfarc of tlio Statc, as to dcmand for
tlicm a spccial provision in its organic
law.
So largc a portion of iny first annual
mcssagc to tbc Gcncral Asscinbly was
dcvoted to thc subject of edticatiun, tliat
I dceni it ncccssary to do little morc, now
tha.ii to rcfcr you, as I most rcspcclfnlly
do, to tbat mcssagc for my vicw iu rcgard
o it.
I 'iM,n ,:,'f!S0iit hns bccn trulv dciiominnt-
cd an ii-'c ol prog.''s. Tlic liumaii mind
is vigorously fcklng, 'r'-ying out to
praclical rcsults, thc niJ.'nci'tous 'rutlis
wbich rcspccts tbc rclations ot inP '
cach otlicr. and tbc anpropriato mcans of
accomplishing tbc purposcs of lninian so
cicty and govcrnnicnt. At tlio fouudation
of tliis vast movcmcnt lics thc grcat work
of Education thc work of dovclopiii'',
and giving a riglit dircctinn to mcntal and
moral 1 powcr. And ifhuman govcrnincnt
is to bc rcj;ardcd as au institiition dcsicn-
cd to pcrfcct thc purposcs of socicty, nmi
improvc thc conditiun of man upon cartb,
it nccds no laborcd argumcnt to show,
that education, thus dcfincd, is ainong thc
highcst dutics of thoso cntrustod witli ad-
iniuistration.
Nor should it bc forgotten that thcrc
arc riglits corrclalivc to this duty. Kvcry
child in tlio Stato has a riglit to bc cducti-
tcd a riglit as csscntially rcciprocal to
thc claims of thc Siato to allegianco, as is
tlio riglit to protoction. Thc qucstioii
whctlicr tlio childrcn of a Statc shall bc
cducatcd, is 110 morc a question of moro
oxpcdioncy, tlianistho question whctlicr
THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBEIl 23, 1845.
forcing r.ggrussion, and domostic vio
lcncc. Indcod, protoction from tlic efticts
ot ignoranco and vicc is, itsclf, protcction,
iu tho higliostscnsc, from nll thc daiijjcrs
wliicli can nriso witliin tbc limits of u
Statc. Would wo liavo obcdicnco to law?
Lct tho childrcn bc Icarncd, in tho com
mon school as woll as thc domcstic fn o-
sido, tho duty of self conlrol, and of rov
eronco lor tho law of etcrnal rectilutc
writtcn in thc word ofGod; whilo thc dc
vclopmcnt, in just and liarinonious pio
portions, of thcir wholc niiud, shall givo
tlicm at onco, a conscious scnsc of tho
worth of mind, and nn intclligcnt convic
tion of tlic grcat purposcs it iu fittcd to ac
Romplish. All tho childrcn in Vermont cspccial
ly tho childrcn of tho poor stand in tho
atlitudc of just clainitints, iu respcct to
education, upon thc foslcring bounty, and
guardian carc of tho Statc. And what
lias Vermoni dono to salisfy tliis claim?
Wo bavc, iudccd, dcclarcd, by law, that
"cach organizcd town shall kccp and sup
port 0110 or mcio scbooU, providcd wilh
compctent tcachcrs;"that tho towns shall
bc dividcd into school dibtricts; that ccr-
tain district oflicers shall bo appointed;
that taxcs shall bc assesscd and collectcd
to build school houscsand support scliools
and that, to thc incomc nrising from tlicsc
taxcs therc shall bc addcd.for thc current
usc of scliools, thc annually accruing in
lci cst of thc surplus rcvcnuc of thc Uni
tcd Statcs, dcpositcd witli tliis Stato. And
hcrc, withthc cxccplion ofmaking )i-ovis-ion
for ccrlain rcturns of school stntistics,
wc bavc lefl thc mattcr.Ifschoul houscs arc
built, wc liavo takcn no carc whatevcr for
thcir propcr location or construclion; and
iftcachers aro cmployed, wc liavo donc
uothing 111 rcgard to thc all-impoilant
mattcr of thcir iiualilications, asido from
thc barroii cnncimcul that tbcy slhdl bc
"compctent." What shall constitute
eompetcncy, or shall judgo oi'it, arc mat
ters ontirely ovcilookcd iu our Icgislalion.
Thc rcsultis, an admittcd itnd lumentablc
dcficipiicy in thc qualifications of tcach
crs; grcat and manifost dcfects in tho
modcs of instruction, and confusiou, anc'
irant of uniforinity in rcgaid to books
uscd for that purposc; whilc a largc pro
poi tion of our school houscs arc localcd in
liigltwnys, wilh little rogird to comfort or
fitncss in thcir intcrnal structurc, and as
little to tastc and bcauty, and convcnicn
cc iu the grouuds conncctcd witli llieni;
if, iudccd, uny grounds but thoso of high
ways arc thus conncctcd. And yct what an
amount of money is annually cxpendcd for
thc uso of scliools. To say nothing of
thc ainotiut cxpendcd in thc conslruction
of school houscs of wliicli wc bavc no
mcaus of forming an cstiinatc lct us look
at thc expcnditurc for lcucliing.
From tbc statistics rcturnod to ir.o Iiift
yo.ir, from l.'iO of thc 240 towns iu thc
Statc, I drcw tho conclusion in iny rc
port to llio Gcncral Asscmbly, that thcro
was paid to teachcrs of stlcct scliools
? 120,000 annually. No 0110 can sobcrly
cousider this subject, witbout fccling jtain
fully imprcsscd wilh a conviciion of thc
utlcr wastc ofavcry grcat portion of this
largc sum. It is not cxtravngant to say,
that its powcr for gond inight liavo bccn
uoublc, and moro llian doublcd, il'it had
bccn cxpendcd under a systcm of supcr
vision wliicli should bavc carried into thc
scliools, tcaclters fully compctent, and
modcs of instruction founded upon thc
truc philosnphy of mind, and a practiclc
acquaiutnncc withthc mcans bcst adaptcd
to its truc and propcr education. Wc do
not so mucli nccd, at thc prcsent inomcnt,
additional pecuniary mcans, as wc do a
systcm ad.iptcdto givo grcatc: cfiicacy to
those alrcady poscsscd, a systcm wliicli
shall givo n riglit dircction to cfTort, and
makc it cn'cctual to to thc propcr educa
tion of thc childrcn of thc Statc. Tlic
wholc, so far as thc aid of Icgislalion
may bc properly iuvoked, is comprehend
cd in tho prcgnant words isupcri'isinn
Ilcspansibililij. We liavo, now, noihing
that dcscrvcs thc namc of oiilicr. Wc bavc
providbdi indccd, for thc organization of
districts, and tho priiploymcnt oftcachcrs
by thi'ir prudcnlial commillu03, who arc
authorized and rcquircd to "adopt mcas
ures for thc xnspcction, cxaininntion, and
rcgulation, of tlio scliools, and thc im
provcmcnt of thc scholars in lcarning."
Hut cxpcricnce has shown, abuntantly,
that all this is unavailiug to the purposc
of socuring a propcr cxamination, or, in
dccd, nny cxamination, of tcachors, or a
propcr supcrvision ot tlic scliools, or to a-
wnken that intcrcst 111 thcir improvcment,
among parcnts, and thoughotit thc com-
mutr.ty, wbich is as inuispcnsable to thcir
vinorous hcnlth and prospcrity, as a
puro und bracing atmospherc is to tho
support of liuman lifc.
Wo want 11 sysstcm of supcrvision wbich
shall mako tho powcr of bcnificeut Icgis
lalion felt, tho' competcnt and discrcel n
gcncics, in cvory district, and by cvcry
child, in tho Stato. Shall- wc havc it?--1
That is llic qjeslion; und it presscs upon
us moro iirgcnlly than any otlicr question
withiu tho rangc of lcgislalivo duiics.
Wo cannot avoid its coiisidoration. Thc
Slutcs nround us aro moving onward in
tho work ofiinprovcincnl; and so urgcnl
huvc beon coiisidoi'cd tho claims ol com
mon Sihouls upon lcgislntive patrouago,
miinifesl tho dofects ofold sysloms of
supcrvision and instruction, and so coni
111011 and univorsal llic boncfits to bc dc
rivcd Iroin improvomenls iu liolh.tliat par
ty spii'it'has stood silcut iu presciico of this
grcat question, and nll clnsscs, and ul
partics, Iiavc madu commnn causo in thc
noblc work of cducational iinprovcnicnt.
Thc cxpcusc of carrying into cfTcct a
systcm of adcqnalo supcrvision necd not
hc grcat, uliilc its bcncfits uill bc inapprc
ciablo, Ddlars nnd ccnts cannot nicas
urc thcir valuo. We rcadily mako in
vestinenls in railroatls, wbich promisc a
rclurn of pecuniary profit; but what aro
such iuvcatuicnts, in comparison witli
thosc iiliicli, iu tlio proccss of educating
a coiniiiunity to virtue and intclligcnco,
infusc into it thc grcat and indispcnsablo
elcmenis of solid and cndiiriiig proqicr
ity. I eommcud this wholc subject to your
caruest considcralion, iindcra full persiin
siou that an awakcncd and grcatly advanc
cd public seniiincni will rcspond a hcarly
approval to your favorable aclion on it.
I crinnot leavc llic subject of common
scliools, wilhout devuting a few momcnts
uttcntion to what is denominatcd "the
School Fund." Tho fuunilation of this
fund was laid in 1325, when thc Gcncral
Assembly passcd an act scqucsleriiig nnd
granting to thc rcspcclivc towns in the
State, for llic boncfil of coininon scliools,
tlic tivails, accriicil, aud tliercallcr to
accruc, to llic Slatc, frHin tlio Vermont
Siatc liank, nnd also tho animint of Statc
fiinds accruing from tlio six pcr ccut 011
tlic nott profits of tlic banks, rcceivcd and
lobc reccivcd from liccnscs to pcdlara. It
was providcd that said funds, witli thc an
nuallv accruing inti.'rcsl, should bc "in-
vcstcd in approvcd bank btocks, or othor
productivc sccuritics,1' and should not he
nppropriated to thc usc of scliools, uutil
.1 .iii
mc airioiitu tnouiii lncrcaso to a sum,
wliosc annnal intcrcst sboulil be adcquatc
to dcfray thc expcnsos ofkecpino; a gotid
frcc coininon school, iu cach dittrict iu
iho Stato, for thc period oftwo inonths.
Thc Slatc Trcasurcr was constifutcil
cnmniissioner for thc nianagcment of the
fund; who thcrcupon procecdcd to invcst
tho samc, bv loaus, for tlio purposc con-
tcinplatcd 111 thc act.
By an act passed iu thoycfir fur
thor loaus from thc fund wcrc prohibitcd,
aud llic Trcasurcr was dircctcd to dcpos
it thc samc in thc trcasury, us it should
be I'CCcivi'd, anil li lioop nn nccntiul llicro-
of, nnd annually cliargc thc Statc witli the
intcrcst 011 tho moncy llius dcpositcd
wbich, it was dcclarcd, "shall bc consid
crcd as borrowcd from thc fund;" aud thc
Trcasurcr was "authorized and dircctcd
to pay oul sa'u! mnncy 011 any approprin
tions authorized by law."
Undcr tlio operalion of this act, and
principsilly in conncctioii wilh tho c.vpcnd
ituro of $1 17,000,'for tlic ercction of the
Siato IIouso, tlic Siate, from timc totimc,
has bccomc indcblcd to this fund, until
tlic iudcblediioss now amouiils, iucluding
llic accutniilations of intcrcst, to tlic sum
of S221,3'Q)50, wlulc thcrc i-s duc to it
from individuals, llic sum of $10,590 91;
making an aggrcgatc of $231,900 M.
Tlic cxpedicncy of continiiing this fund
has long bccn quostioned. Upon full con
sidcralion, I deeni it my duty to bring thc
subject to )onr noticc, nml to submit thc
question, whelhcr nny prcsent or prospcct
ivc intcrcst of the pcoplc requircs that it
bc coniinucd.
Thc first question to bc considcrcd is,
when will thc fund bccomc avnilablc for
the usc of scliools; thal is, whtn will
thc anr.uully accruing inlcrcstbo adcqualo
to dcfray thc cxpcnscs ol kecping n good
frce common school, in cach district in
the State, for thc period oftwo inonths.
Tho iHiinbcr of school districts iu thc
3 10 towns in thc Statc taking thc rcturns
oflast year from 150 towns, wbich gavc
1 009 districts, as thc basisof calculalion
may bc estimalcd at 2730. If it be as
sumcd.for thc purposc of thc calculalion,
that, by thc timc tho fund will bccomc a
vailable, thc nuuibcr of llio districts will
bavc incrcased ten pcr ccnt 011 tlic prcsent
number which may bc rcgnrdcil as not
an improbable incrcaso witliin tliirty-thrce
,.Rars wc shall havc 110(10 districts to be
provided, from tlic avnls oflhc ftind, with
a good school, two inonths in cach ycar.
Eslimnling tlm cxpcusc of kecping such
school two inonths, in thc thcn advanccd
stagc of cducational iinprovcnicnt, nt $10,
therc would bc rcquircd the sum ol $120,
000, ns tho accruing intcrcst of tho fund,
to rendcr it advailablc; wbich is thcintcr
cst of thc fund, to rendcr it availaulc
wbich is thc infcrcst, at sic pcr ccnt 011 2,-
1 000.000
Thc question now ariscs witbin whiit
liinc will thc fnud probably ncciimulatu to
$2,00,000? Ils prcsent amount is
$2:11,91)0 .11 the annual intcrcst 011
wliicli, at six pcr ccnt, is $ I '1,091 02. -The
avcragc auiitiiil income from thc uh
pcr ccnt of ihe bnnk profits, for tho last
six ycars, has beon $11,009 80; and from
pcdlar's liccnscs $1,210 .'52; aniouiiling to
$'1,8IG!13; wbich mny bc assnmcd ns the
annual ndditiou to thc lund, licrcafter,from
thesc soiirccs. Thu avails of thc Vermont
Stato Hank have ucnily ceascd to ndd
anythingto to tho fund, and should not bc
mndo thc basis of any calculalion for thc
futurc.
Wc havc ihcn, the eh'monls of tho cal-
culation, nainely, llic prcsent amount of
tho fund, thc inleicst thcrcoii for onc year,
and llic probablc annual incomc from thc
bank tax and pcdlar's liccnscs. Thc pro
ccss of uccumulalioii by annunlly com
poundiug thc intcrcst, nccordiug to thc
act consiituiing thc fund, will produce
$2,000,357 7!) 011 the first of Jnnuary.
1S7S; so that the childrcn who shull bc in
lifo in that ycar, will reap thc first fruits
ofiho fund, if it shall bc so long contiu
ued. This assumcs howcvcr, the doubiful
posiiion, that six pcr ccnt intcrcst may be
rcali.cd througliout the enliru iiitci-vening
period aUhirlij ttco ycars and thrcc monlhs,
and inakcs no nllownnco for lossc?, ar.d
llic cxpcusc of umiinging tho fuud.
Tho grcat (piestion is now prcscntcd
whai, in rcferencc to tliis fund, isour du
ty to thc gcneration of 1(178? Adinitting,
ofcourse, that it is our duty to labor for
tlic bcncfit of that gcneration, thc question
is will that gcncrtuioii bc rearly 6cuefitcd
by a continuancc of ihe fund? Ifwo could
scnd it furwnrdto tlicm, really invcsted 111
"approvcd bmik stocks, or otlicr jiroditct-
Ivc sccuritics," according to thc law of
1S25, tbcy inighl, pcrhaps, bc bcnelitcd;
thougli ihe cxpedicncy of accumulaling
school funils,so large, as to havc thc ctfect
of relaviug pcrsonal efl'orts, bcgins to be
qucsiioned, llnt so far as wc scnd tlicm
a fund culircly uuprodiiclivc, alund which
wlicn it rcaclics tlicm , will cousist mcrely
iu thcir indcbtcdncss to thcmselves. If
wc would mako it ollicrwise, wc inust tax
thc pcoplc of this gcneration to an amount
sullicicnt tocxtinguisli the indebtcdness of
uf tho State to llio fuud; and having thus
drawn thc amount from thc pockcts of the
pcoplc invcst it in "productivc sccuritics,"
nnd, in that condiiion, scnd it forward 10
tho gcneration of 1878. 15 ut who is t;re
pared to do ihi-,? Who will vote for such
.1 tax? None, it may be confidcntly af
firmed. Nor, it may bc afiirined witli c
qual confidcnco, will our siicccssor bc
willing to do it, five, ten, twcnty, or thir-
tv vcar hcnce, when the iiulcbtcdiiess of
the Stalc shall, by the compoiiudiiig of
intcrcst, Imvo bccotnc greally incrcased.
Ofwlial beucfit, tlien, will the fund bc to
tbem, uulcss it cau, by soiuc fiscal magic,
bc tnado spoutancously to yield tlic intcr
cst, and pour it into thc Ircasurics of thc
towns for thc usc of scliools!
Thc uliole operalion, so far ns it pro
poses to benpfit the gcneration of 1870, is
a delusion. It is the pcoplc borrowing of
thcmselves, nnd adding the anninl inicrcst
to thc debt against thcmselves, aud scnd
iug this accumulatcd iiidebtednes forward
to bccomc thc iiidebtcdness of a gcneration
thiity threeycars hcncc, for the purposc
of bciiefiting ihat gcneration. The truth
is, that, iiU"tc,'id of sending thcin a bcncfit
wc shall scnd tlicm a luirdcn, which, if
wisc, tbcy will, by abolishing thc lund,
shakc otl nainely, thc burdcn, if tbcy
would carry the act, constiliiting tho fund,
into elTcct ofraising thc intcrcst 011 it by
dircct taxation, to bo paid into thc Slatc
Trcasury, miniis tbc expcnsc of collcction,
for thc purposc of being- scnt by the com
missioner oflhc fund back to thc pcoplc,
to bc cxnended for thc usc of scliools. It
will not ,bc very unuaiural for Ihctax-pay
ers ofthat d,iy to enquire, why they should
support thcir scliools by such a complicatcd
aud cxpcnsivc proccss, rathor than by thc
simplc and chcaper one of taxiug llieni
selvcs for llic purpose, in thcir rcspcctive
towns or districts.
If futurc geiicrations would not bc bcn-
fitted by this fuud, neilhcr will llic prcsent.
I'his is self-cvident. Why, then.coiitiiiuc
ill
In those rcinarks I nni undcrstood, of
coursc, to havc spoken of ihat part of thc
fund which consists oflhc indebtcdness of
thc State, nmoiintiiig at this timc, to thc
sumnl$221,309r)0. An act to anuul
this indebtcdness, would lcivo to bc dis-
poscdof, tho sum of $10,590 9 1, invcsted
in iudividual sccuritics, bcaring intcrcst.
None would ihink of sulfti-ing this sum to
accuinulato, cvcn with thc addilion of thc
six pcr ccnt 011 bank profits, aud thc in
comc from pcdlara liccnscs, with a vicw
of ninking thcm availnblo for scliools, un
dcr tho nct of IS25.
Thc dcniaiid for funds lo aid in putthg
in opcratinns systcm of common school
iinprovcnicnt, such as thc slatc nccds, nnd
public sonlimciit cvidcntly dcmand.1', sug
( Vol. VIo. asi.
I J'ricc $1,50 In AUvuncc,
gcsts thc direction which miht bc givcn
to a purt, or nll of ihns sourccs of incomc,
when rclcnsed from thcir present conncc
tioii. It is bclicved that the annually ac
cruing inicrcst on that portion of thc prcs
ent Bchool fund, loaucd on privaic sccuri
tics, togothcr with lhc annual incomc
from pcdlar's liccnscs would bo sufiicicnt
for ihat purposc. Wo may thus iustituic
a systcm of Supcrvcrsion and Accountn
bility, which shall givc couccntratioii and
cucrgy to the prcsent eflortsto raiso the
slandard, nnd multiply the facilitics of ed
ucntion until thc miuds of thc mass of our
childrcn tho liappy mingling oftbe poor
?nd thcrich togcther shall fecl its cqual
izing and elcvatiug powcr. Thus, wlulc
confcning subslanlial bcncfits on the ncs
cnt gcneration, we mny scnd forward an
influcncc, which shall llow 011, iu a conlin
ually wideiiiug stream of bcucflts and
blcssiugs to thc gcnciniions that shall suc
cced us to thc cnd of timc.
Should it bc found that 110 intcrcst of
of the prcsent or of fulutc gentrations,
can bc bcnclittcd by a continuancc of ihe
Statc indebtcdness to the fund of which 1
havc spnken, nnd thc indebtcdness should
bo canccllcd, the State dcbt would thcn
stand as foilows:
Duc tho safety fund banks, iticludiug in
tcrcst toOct. 1. $30,359 8
Duc thc surplua
fund, M.8I2 26-
Dcduct the a
mnunt loaucd
out the past
year, 11,00-100
3,808 26
1,108 33
111 30
$35,750 7S
Salarics duc, Oct. 1,
Duc towns lor inlciest on
surplus fund,
Total,
Thu Halancc iu the Trcasu
ry 011 the 13th of Scp
tcmbpr, was,
Halancc of taxcs duc,
$18,.118 97
23,232 50
$11,050 47
Total,
To what cxtcnt scrvicc oftho coming
ycar a portion of which ncccssarily con
stitutcsa draft on the prcsent balanccs in
lhc trcasury nnd 011 taxcs will permit thc
application ofa part of those balances
towards the extinguisliinent of thc indebt
cdness of thc Statc, may be dctcrmined
upon thc cnreful cxamination which ouglit
to bc madc into cvcry branch of cxpcndia
turc, with a icw to asccrtaiu whctlicr
Ihcre can bc any rcduction, consistcntly
with thc public intcrcst. In looking at
thc cxpcndiatures of past ycars, I havc
bcen stiuek with thc largc amount dis
burscd undcr thc hcads of "Siipremc nnd
Couuty Couit ordcrs," and "Clcrks of
Counls far thc cxpcnscs of Suprcme and
County Courts;" which havc riscn from
$20,405, in 1839, to $28,970, in 18 15.
Thc amount disburscd undcr those heads
dtiring tho last scvcn ycars, has been
$181,300, avcraging $2C,320 pcr annum.'
I would suggest tho propricty of an ex
pcnditurc in rcgard to which it may pos-
sibly bc found that, iu a course of years,
abuscs have crrpt in, rcquiring concc
livc Icsislntion.
Tho trcasury is happily relivcd from a
cliange which, formai.y years, hung upon
it, in thc form of'military orders," which
for lhc fivo ycars, previous to, and iuclud
ing thc year 18-13, wlicn they ceassd to
bc a drnft on the trcasury, amountcd to tbo
sum of $18,501. 1 nni happy to say, that
by ,1 law of last ycar, the pcoplc arc rc
lievcd from tho still moro burdcnsometnx
of annual trainings of cnrolled militia.
It mny bo rcasonably hopcd that, by n
practicablc, and not injurious rcduction of
of cxpcndilurcs, particularly in the heavy 1
tcms to which I havc refcrred, a sum msy
bc saved which, with a fixcd appropriatior
of tlic iucomo from thc bank tax rclicvcd
from its prescnl plcdge to the school fund
inight, withiu a mudcratc period, cx
liuguish ihe cutirc indeblcdncs of thc
Stato.
The rcfeience I have madc to the ilcins
of expcnditurc in connrction with thc su
prcnic and county coiiris a large portion
of which rcsults from criminal prosccutions
suggcsts a lopic of much intcrcst, to
which I would call your attcntion.
Thc grcat purposc of criminal law is
rclormnliou This purposc lics at thc
fouudation of lhc PcniteiUiary systcm,
which combincs with imprisonincnt, hard
labor, and n coursc of inoral disciplinc
suitcd to bring back ollendcrs to the paths
orrcclitudcand virtuc. Ilut this syKtem
is applicahlc, undcr our laws, only 10 thct
hhdicr ofi'enccs, lcaviug a laigc class of
ollcnilers wiihout tlic bcncfit of nny aucli
rcfoniiing proccss, and substituting forit,
confincnient in lhc county jails in somc
cascs, wilh tho altcrualivc of the paymcut
of finos into the county or town trcasuries,
for non-payincni of w hich, iuiprisonment
nccesarily foilows.
Whctlicr confiiicmcnt in thc county
jails is infliclcd as a punislinirntl or rcsults
from inability to pay fincs, it obviousljr has
an cll'ect cntirely the rovcr.c of rcfouna
tho pcoplo huvc a nght to protoction from