GENERAL CONDITION OF THE STATE.

The census of 1880 again shows that our rural population and wealth are decreasing, while our villages and cities gain only a little more than enough to compensate for the loss in the country towns. The reduction of our representation in Congress also forcibly reminds us that our beloved State is not keeping pace with others in material prosperity and development. This fact should cause every thoughtful and patriotic citizen earnestly to consider and study its causes and to strive to remove them if possible.

Have complaints as to railroad management, elsewhere mentioned, deterred capital from entering the State? Are our laws in regard to manufactures, quarries and mines such as to induce investments therein? Is it worth while to try to attract within our limits a portion of that vast stream of population which is pouring into this country? These are most pertinent inquiries at this time.

The scarcity of labor through the State is well known. Many, who a few years since were day-laborers, are now land-owners and employers, respectable, honest, law-abiding citizens. I suggest that you consider the propriety of making the Quartermaster General, or other State officer, the medium of communication between the commissioners of immigration at New York and Boston, and such of our citizens as desire to provide suitable homes and occupation for deserving and industrious persons arriving at those ports seeking for work.

Gentlemen: You are here by the recent voice of the people to deal with many important legislative and constitutional questions, and although most of you are new to the duties of your respective positions, I am confident that your acts will be consistent with the simplicity of our form of government, and that they will evince the highest regard for the welfare of the State.

I am deeply sensible of my own inexperience and deficiencies, and shall need your kind forbearance in our mutual efforts to benefit the State.

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

Montpelier, Vt., Oct. 5, 1882.

JOHN L. BARSTOW.

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On motion of Mr. Boyden, the Senate adjourned at four o'clock.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 1882.

Reading of the Scriptures and prayer by the Chaplain.
Journal of Thursday read and approved.

A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. Merrill, their First Assistant Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT:

I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have on their part adopted Joint Resolutions as follows:

Joint Resolution, granting use of the Hall of the House of Representatives to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Joint Resolution, providing for the publication of the valedictory message of the retiring Governor.

In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested. Mr. Ide offered the following resolution, which was read and adopted. Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns this morning it be to assemble again at two o'clock Monday afternoon.

The President announced the appointment of the following Joint Committee:

ON JOINT RULES.

Senator Bingham of Chittenden.

66 Dartt of Windsor.

Bills of the following titles were severally introduced, read the first and second times, and referred as follows:

By Mr. Burnap,

S. 1. An act to repeal section three thousand one hundred and thirteen, chapter one hundred and forty-one, Revised Laws—entitled "Repairs of Highways and Bridges."

To the Committee on Highways and Bridges.

By Mr. Ide,

S. 2. An act relating to the time of holding the Supreme Court for the County of Caledonia.

To the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Dartt, (by request).

S. 3. An act providing for the study of Scientific Temperance in the public schools.

To the Committee on Education.

Resolutions were offered, read and adopted as follows:

By Mr. Gilmore,

Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to Agriculture and the State Agricultural College, be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

By Mr. Kelton,

Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to methods of taxation, be referred to the Committee on Grand List.

By Mr. Boyden,

Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to Insane Asylum and insane persons, be referred to the Committee on Insane Asylums.

By Mr. Jones,

Resolved, That so much of the Governor's message as relates to the subject of education, be referred to the Committee on Education.

Mr. Burnap offered the following Joint Resolution, which was read and adopted on the part of the Senate:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That a joint Special Committee consisting of two Senators and three Representatives be appointed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, respectively, to whom shall be referred the subject of Court and State expenses and legislation connected therewith.

A message was received from the House of Representative by Mr. Merrill, their Assistant Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT:

I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have on their part adopted a Joint Resolution, providing for the printing of one thousand copies of the Governor's message.

In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.

The President appointed the following named Senators as the committee on the part of the Senate to canvass the votes for County and Probate Officers, viz. :

A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr.

Stickney, their Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT:

I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have on their part appointed as Committee on Joint Rules,

The President announced as the committee on the part of the Senate, to canvass votes for Members of Congress, the following named Senators:

Joint resolutions from the House of Representatives, as follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the Clerk be instructed to secure the printing of one thousand copies of the Valedictory Message of the retiring Governor.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the use of the Hall of the House of Representatives be granted to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Vermont, on the evening of Tuesday, October 10th, for an address by Mrs. M. H. Hunt, of Boston; subject, "Scientific Temperance Education in Schools and Colleges."

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the Clerk of the House be instructed to procure the printing of one thousand copies of the Governor's Message for the use of the Senate and House of Representatives;

Was severally read and adopted in concurrence.

On motion of Mr. Whitcomb, the Senate adjourned at eleven o'clock and twenty minutes.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 1882.

The Senate convened at two o'clock in the afternoon, pursuant to adjournment, the President pro tempore in the chair.

Reading of Scriptures and prayer by the Chaplain.

Journal of Friday read and approved.

A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. Merrill, their First Assistant Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT:

I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have on their part appointed the following named gentlemen as members of the committee to canvass votes for County and Probate Officers and Justices of the Peace: