Inaugural address of Julius Converse As it appears in the Journal of the House of Representatives Biennial Session 1872 Friday, October 3, 1872 Inaugural Address To the Hon. Senate and House of Representatives, constituting the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: After a vacation of two years we are again assembled, agreeably to the requirements of the Constitution, to deliberate with reference to the welfare of our beloved State, and to adopt such measures, within our constitutional authority, as in our best judgment will promote such welfare. The two last years have been characterized, in a marked degree, with the blessings of a kind Providence. Peace and quiet have reigned throughout our borders. An unusual measure of health has prevailed. Unsurpassed prosperity has attended our people, and crowned their industries with success. The earth has yielded her harvests in abundance. Moral, religious and educational privileges and advantages have been continued to us. The various departments of our government, filled, it is believed, with competent and faithful public servants, have steadily and quietly moved along in their respective spheres, performing their duties with diligence, ability and fidelity. STATE FINANCES. I congratulate my fellow citizens on the favorable and highly encouraging condition of our financial affairs, as presented in the Treasurer’s Report, to which I respectfully invite your attention, an abstract of which I here insert. Under the wise policy adopted by previous Legislatures, and carried out with scrupulous fidelity by our accomplished and faithful Treasurer, it seems that the time is not far distant when the public debt will be wholly paid and extinguished, and that, too, without any severe burden upon the people. The Treasurer credits the State as follows for 1871: Balances, Sept. 1, 1870 Bonds in Treasury, Sinking Fund, Cash, Recd. For Military Stores, by Qr. M. Gen., “ Extra State pay refunded, “ Fines in liquor prosecutions, “ from Auditor, for land sold, “ “ Sec’y Board of Education (refunded) “ for Statutes sold, “ “ Circus Licenses, “ from J. & J. M. Poland, “ “ Income Ag. College Fund, “ “ Foreign Insurance Companies, fees, “ “ Railroads, for Commr’s Salary, “ for Interest – On taxes overdue, “ On balances, “ from County Clerks, “ “ Judges of Probate, “ “ Temporary Loan, act of 1865, “ “ Balance of State Tax, 1869, “ “ State Tax, 1870, “ “ Registered Loan issued, “ “ Sinking Fund, (borrowed) $43,000 00 196,194 02 48,338 78 ------------------- $288,532 80 137,729 71 15 86 101 77 150 00 71 00 1,111 56 3,000 00 100 00 8,260 00 495 70 567 75 $195 15 6,769 20 6,964 35 ----------------- 25,035 91 8,956 50 25,000 00 5,546 34 555,642 82 136,000 00 38,746 60 ------------------- $1,242,027 98 BY THE TREASURER CHARGED TO THE STATE $49,401 20 For Debentures of General Assembly, 1870, “ Extra State pay of $7 per month, 2,900 00 836 00 “ Allotment pay, 227,811 67 “ Auditor’s orders, 62,872 60 “ Court orders, “ Temporary loan, act of 1864, 25,000 00 $14,345 00 “ Int. paid on registered loan, 289 92 Allotment acc’ts, Surplus Fund, 658 29 Temporary loan, 16 67 45,285 00 Coupons of bonds, ----------------- For Discount on Taxes, “ Premiums on coin, “ Registered loan (cancelled), “ Coupon bonds (cancelled), “ Sinking fund, $16,536 52 8,724 25 138,000 00 471,500 00 177,849 73 ------------------ $1,242,027 98 60,595 88 REPORT ON TAXES The amount assessed and collected on State Taxes are as follows: $540,538 37 Tax of 1869, 50 per cent. on $1,081,076 74, is 537 30 Add tax on gores and unorganized towns, ------------------ $541,075 67 24,053 96 Deduct abatements and collection fees, ------------------ $517,021 71 $511,475 37 Accounted for in 1870, 5,546 34 Accounted for in this report, ------------------ $517,021 71 $1,176,314 73 588,157 37 Tax of 1870,50 per cent. on 708 76 Add tax on gores and unorganized towns, ----------------- $588,866 13 26,172 99 Deduct abatements and collection fees, ----------------- $562,693 14 $555,642 82 Accounted for in this report, 7,050 32 Balance to be accounted for, 562,693 14 ---------------- The above balance accounted for is due from several towns named in the Treasurer’s Report, the aggregate amount of which is the sum of $7,050 32. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FUND. The Treasurer’s account with the Agricultural College Fund is as follows: Balance to credit of income account, 1870, Amount of income from State loan, Amount of premium on bonds sold, Paid Treasurer of College, Auditor’s order, CURRENT LIABILITIES. Auditor’s orders outstanding, estimated by Auditor, Due towns on U.S. surplus fund, Due towns on U.S. surplus fund, interest, Due on allotment accounts, Due on extra State pay accounts, Due on outstanding checks, Due on interest on allotment accounts (estimated), Due on overdue bonds, matured June 1, Due to sinking fund, $68 40 8,070 00 190 00 ------------- $8,328 40 8,328 40 $3,000 00 11,176 18 24 26 3,721 91 14,857 71 1,877 73 1,000 00 24,500 00 38,746 61 -------------------- $98,904 70 Due on tax of 1870, Sinking fund appropriated for funded debt, Excess of resources over liabilities, CURRENT RESOURCES. $7,050 32 177,849 73 ------------------ $184,900 05 ----------------- $85,995 35 FUNDED DEBT, AUGUST 1, 1871. Certificates of Registered loan under acts of 1867 and 1870, issued to amount of There has been redeemed of same, Leaving outstanding at date of this report, Which becomes due as follows: December 1, 1874, December 1, 1876, December 1, 1878 June 1, 1890 The coupon bonds not yet due mature as follows: December 1, 1874, December 1, 1876, December 1, 1878, $383,500 00 147,500 00 ------------------ $236,000 00 $26,000 36,000 38,500 135,500 ------------ $236,000 00 $91,500 168,500 51,500 ------------ $311,500 00 FUNDED DEBT, AUGUST 1, 1872. Under the authority of the acts of 1867 and 1870, certificates of registered loan have been issued to the amount of $388,000 00 150,000 00 From which there has been redeemed, ----------------- $237,500 00 Leaving outstanding at date of this report, Which becomes due as follows: $26,500 December 1, 1874, 36,000 December 1, 1876, December 1, 1878, 39,500 June 1, 1890, 135,500 -------------- $237,500 00 The coupon bonds outstanding not yet due will become due as follows: December 1, 1874, $82,500 150,500 December 1, 1876, December 1, 1878, 45,000 The amount of funded debt maturing at different dates, including registered loan and coupon bonds, is as follows: December 1, 1874, December 1, 1876, December 1, 1878, June 1, 1890, After deducting loan of 1890, held by the State, Leaves to be provided for, During the year past the Treasurer has paid the balance outstanding in1871, of bonds due in that year, Due in 1874, Due in 1876, Due in 1878, bonds and registered loan, $109,000 186,500 84,500 135,500 -------------- $515,500 00 135,500 00 ---------------- $380,000 00 $24,500 00 8,500 00 18,000 00 5,500 00 ---------------- $56,500 00 ESTIMATE FOR 1873. Extra State pay and allotment accounts, Interest on bonds, &c., Ordinary State expenses, $3,000 00 31,700 00 316,000 00 ---------------- $350,700 00 ESTIMATE FOR 1874. Extra State pay and allotment accounts, Interest on bonds, &c., Ordinary State expenses, Bonds due in 1874, There will therefore be due of the funded debt as follows: $117,500 December 1, 1874, December 1, 1876, 204,500 90,000 December 1, 1878, $2,500 00 31,000 00 $250,000 00 109,000 00 ----------------- $392,500 00 Making $897,291 29 $144, 246 32 56,502 18 ------------------ $200,748 50 135,500 June 1, 1890, -------------- $547,500 00 The Treasurer says: “As the bonds due in 1890 are all embraced in the Agricultural College fund, of which the State is by law the trustee, for all practical purposes they may be said to be provided for, which being deducted from the amount above stated, leaves the debt to be provided for $412,000. TREASURER’S ACCOUNT, 1872. The report of the Treasurer, of August 1, 1872, shows a total credit to the State of The items of credit are specified, and embrace avails of military stores, received since the estimate of 1870, Also from the United States, on account of war debt, The balance of funds was derived from the usual sources. The above credit is accounted for and balanced in the following manner: For extra pay of $7 per month, For allotted pay, For Auditor’s orders For Court orders, For interest paid: On allotment accounts, Towns on Surplus Fund, Temporary loans, Registered loan, Coupons of Bonds, For discount on taxes, paid, For bonds due June 1, 1871, “ For bonds due Dec. 1, 1874, “ For bonds due Dec. 1, 1876, For bonds due Dec. 1, 1878, “ For bonds due Dec. 1, 1874, registered, For bonds due Dec. 1, 1878, “ For U.S. Fund paid to towns, For U.S. Fund paid to towns, in new appor’nt, For paid temporary loan of 1864, For paid temporary loan of 1868, For paid registered loan due 1878, redeemed, For paid A.L. Miner, Receiver Bank Safety Fund, For balance, Sinking Fund, For Balance, cash in Treasury, $89 71 645 17 636 38 14,493 00 18,480 00 --------------- $24,500 8,500 18,000 2,500 500 4,000 ------------ $13,000 50,000 $63,000 00 -------------- 3,000 00 10,363 89 184,351 02 178,179 14 ------------------ $897,291 29 $2,414 76 330 00 236,452 96 58,760 52 $34,344 26 $15,768 44 $58,000 00 2,299 13 50,023 17 REPORT ON TAXES. The amounts assessed and collected on State taxes are as follows: $588,157 37 Tax of 1870, 50 per cent. on $1,176,314 37, 708 76 Add tax on gores and unorganized towns, ----------------- $588,866 13 26,172 99 Deduct abatements and collection fees, ----------------- $562,693 14 $555,642 82 Accounted for in 1871, 7,050 32 Accounted for in this report, ----------------- $562,693 14 $526,918 21 Tax of 1871, 45 per cent. on $1,170,729 34 664 33 Add tax on gores and unorganized towns, ---------------- $527,582 54 23,447 86 Deduct abatements and collection fees, ---------------- $504,134 68 500,685 20 Accounted for in this report. ---------------- Balance to be accounted for, $3,449 48 This balance consists of balances due from various towns mentioned, amounting to $3,449 48. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FUND. This Fund is all invested in the Registered Loan of this State, and amounts to the sum of $135,500, on which the interest for the year, amounting to $8,130, has been credited to account of income of the Fund. Amount paid to Treasurer of College on Auditor’s orders, $8,130. CURRENT LIABILITIES. Auditor’s orders outstanding, estimated by Auditor, Due to towns, U.S. surplus fund, Due to towns, interest on surplus fund, Due on allotment accounts and interest, Due on extra State pay accounts, Due on outstanding checks, $3,000 00 11,687 87 29 55 4,302 20 12,442 95 1,877 73 --------------- $33,340 30 CURRENT RESOURCES. $3,449 48 Due on tax of 1871, 184,351 02 Balance to credit of Sinking Fund, 178,179 14 Cash in Treasury. ----------------- $365,979 64 I would recommend, however, to your favorable consideration, the suggestion of the Treasurer, of the inexpediency of making appropriations for anticipating the payment of immature bonds. However desirable it may be to discharge our entire debt, and however compatible with the economical habits of the people to be and remain free from a public debt, it seems to be very doubtful economy to burden ourselves with onorous taxes for the sake of purchasing our bonds at a large premium, which have only a few years longer to run. It seems to me specially improper, in view of the fact that many towns in the State are still indebted to considerable amounts, and therefor liable to heavy taxation, for debts contracted in furnishing men and other means for suppressing the late rebellion, and for repairing damages by floods, fires, etc. The redistribution of the United States Deposit money, made necessary by the census of 1870, under the provision of the statute was effected in a very satisfactory manner by the Treasurer. That officer in November, 1871, collected of one hundred and eighty towns and gores the sum of $50,023.17, and disbursed the same to sixty-eight towns and cities. It is apparent that the burdens of taxation are still quite unequally distributed. Is further legislation necessary to remedy the evil, or is it chargeable to the improper, unfaithful, or imperfect execution of the laws? The subject is worthy of the serious consideration of the General Assembly. EDUCATION. The cause of Education will ever claim of the General Assembly a most careful and watchful attention. It requires no argument to convince an intelligent Vermonter, that it is poor economy to withhold from any class of our citizens, and especially the youth, the means of acquiring knowledge, whatever reasonable expenditure of money is thereby made necessary. On this important subject I can not better express my views than in the language of my distinguished predecessor, in his message to the General Assembly, October 1870, and which I take leave to again present to your consideration: “There is a growing interest in our public schools, and the truth is generally acknowledged that the education of the people is an indispensable safeguard to the preservation of free government. For the general diffusion of education, reliance must be had, primarily, upon free common schools. It is, therefore, of vital importance to the welfare of the State, that the instructions afforded in these schools should be of the highest character attainable.” “Experiment in all the States foremost in the cause of education, has proved the great value of Normal Schools in training teachers of common schools. Good teachers are indispensable, and the Normal School is the instrumentality which can be employed to secure the needed supply. I venture to suggest that the time has come for the adoption in this State of a more settled and effectual policy on this subject.” In corroboration of the views above expressed, I earnestly recommend to your favorable consideration the report of the Board of Education, and the suggestions therein made, confirmed as they are by the suggestions of the Secretary of that Board. It is believed these suggestions meet a hearty response from teachers, and all others who have given the subject a careful examination. Whatever necessary increase of appropriations may be required for the carrying out of the above views and suggestions, will readily be granted, I doubt not. It is believed the Act of November 23, 1870, No. 12, Session Laws, has received little attention from the towns in the State. I would respectfully refer the General Assembly to the Reports of the Board of Education for 1869 and 1870, recommending the enactment of such a law. I would suggested the propriety of allowing the system therein provided for to be fairly and satisfactorily tested, with such modifications, if any, as appear to be necessary or desirable. It seems to have engaged the attention of many considerate and reflecting men in the State, and to have become their settled conviction, that military service, in its various departments, should in some measure be connected with and become a part of the education of our young men, and with a view to this end the institutions in this State in which this science is taught, should receive more liberal pecuniary aid from the State. I would respectfully ask your candid attention to the subject, and take the liberty to refer to the published report of the doings of the National Agricultural Convention, held at the city of Washington in February last, where the subject is much discussed. STATE INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITIES. I am happy to see that by the reports of the officers of the State Prison, it appears that the financial condition of that institution is greatly improved, and the prospect is favorable for a still greater improvement hereafter. It is believed the duties of the several officers have been well and faithfully performed. I respectfully recommend an appropriation, out of the surplus earnings of the prisoners, for the purpose of fitting up a convenient room in one of the unused work-shops, to be used for a chapel for the prisoners on Sundays, and other occasions. The Reform School, I take pleasure in saying, commends itself more and more to public favor. It is believed to be one of the most valuable of charitable institutions. Under its excellent management it is accomplishing incalculable good. For a full statement of its present condition in all its varied interests, I refer you to the reports of the officers having charge of those interests. The encouragement and promotion of the great agricultural and manufacturing interests of the State in their diversified ramifications, will not be overlooked by the General Assembly, if within the range of constitutional and reasonable legislation. That the immense water power afforded by our numerous streams should be employed in some profitable industries, must be apparent to all. In this connection I refer the General Assembly to the first Report of the Board of Agriculture, Manufactures and Mining, for interesting and valuable information. The Asylum for the Insane should ever be watched with a vigilant and scrutinizing eye. Is it not to be feared that the institution at Brattleboro is wanting in some respects in those accommodations and appliances necessary for the health and proper care and treatment of the unfortunate class confined there? I respectfully and earnestly call the attention of the General Assembly to the Report of the Commissioner and his suggestions. On this important subject, I am persuaded no member of the General Assembly will neglect his duty. While the State has made adequate provision for the deaf, dumb, and blind, I the State, it is thought by many that provision should also be made for an equally unfortunate and equally meritorious class of our citizens – the imbecile or weak-minded children or youth of poor parents. If anything can be done, in any degree, to ameliorate the condition of that unfortunate class, within the authority of the General Assembly, I have no doubt that authority will be exerted in their behalf. For the purpose of aiding the cause of temperance among the people, laws have been enacted and are now in full force, prohibiting the traffic in alcoholic or intoxicating drinks. It is to be feared that in some parts of the State at least, these laws are lamentably neglected, if not wholly disregarded. I respectfully submit whether some plan may not and ought not to be devised which shall secure the more faithful execution and enforcement of the laws. From a source entitled to high consideration, I have been requested to recommend that provision be made by law for the establishing in every town in the State a public library of suitable and well selected books, for the use of the inhabitants of the town, under proper regulations. I would recommend the subject to your candid and thorough examination. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES. The people of this State are very deeply interested in the matter of insurance. A great amount of property is insured in, and large sums of money are paid to, foreign corporations. Many of such corporations have failed; some have proved worthless. Our citizens have been and are still liable to be defrauded and injured. The Commissioners, who have in a limited sense this matter in charge, receive no compensation for their services. Is not the subject worthy your careful consideration? Before closing this communication, I desire to say, that with profound gratitude to my fellow citizens for the exalted position to which their kindness has raised me, it gives me great pleasure and awakens a just pride – as I know it does in the bosom of every Vermonter – to cast a retrospective glance over the entire history of our commonwealth, and find that, with so few exceptions, the complicated machinery of our system of government has operated so harmoniously, each department being assigned to able, devoted, and faithful servants. Those entrusted with the financial affairs of our State have usually been honest, vigilant and trustworthy. The judiciary, always the safeguard of the people’s rights, and the conservator of the peace and good order of any community, have invariably been impartial, independent and upright – administering the laws with an unflinching fidelity, and dispensing justice with an even balance. That judiciary, for ability and learning, and other eminent qualifications, has ever commanded the high respect and consideration of the men of most eminent juridicial ability in this State and the other States in the Union. Our soldiery, peaceable, industrious, intelligent and patriotic as citizens, ever ready to shoulder the musket and buckle on the armor at their country’s call, from the days of Ethan Allen and Seth Warner to the present moment, have shown themselves as daring and invincible on the battle field, as they are peaceful, industrious and patriotic in private life. They have deserved and received the nation’s praise, admiration and gratitude. Education, ever the handmaid of morality and religion, has always been fostered and nurtured with parental care and a mother’s affection. The log cabin, the school-house and the church have reared up a class of noble men and women, who have adorned every art, trade, calling and profession throughout the land, from the honored tiller of the soil to the dignified and learned physician, lawyer, judge, statesman, theologian – thereby reflecting high honor on the State and nation, till the name Vermonter has become, as it were, a synonym for worth and merit, and a passport to confidence and respect. May this ever be her history, and this people continue that “happy people whose God is the Lord.” I need not say that economy, both of time and money, will be consulted by making as brief a session as is consistent with the due consideration of the several matters that come before you. I am not aware of any necessity for important changes in our statutes. Allow me to ask whether there is not greater danger of too much rather than too little legislation? Upon this question I would appeal to the experience of those upon whom is devolved the duty of administering the laws. I shall be pardoned, I trust, for suggesting that under our present constitution, requiring only biennial sessions, increased vigilance should be exercised to guard against hasty and inconsiderate legislation. I pledge my hearty co-operation in expediting the proper business of the session. I respectfully refer you to the reports of the various departments and to the suggestions therein, several of which without fault on the part of anyone, I have been unable to see. JULIUS CONVERSE. } EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Montpelier, October 3, 1872