Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-05-30


| Bill for public act enabling communities
to protect and defend their rights, read third
time and passed.
Bill for public act providing that If any
married man (his lawful wife being aIive)
shall cohabit, carnaly know and live with an
unmarried woman, as his wife, he shall be liza
bic to the same punishment as is by law now
provided for the punishment of adultery -
read first time.
| The order of the day on the bill for pub
lie act repeating two several acts entitled g An
Act for the support of Literature and Rei-
gion," and IAN Act in addition to an act, en-
titled, an act for the support of Literature
and Religion"
Mr.. GIazier was in favor Of repeating the
acts if they were in force he was in the neg
alive when the law was made, and he thank
ed God that he had lived to see the time
when he could again record his vote against
the original law.
Mr.. Lanman had no doubt that the law was
originally drawn up with an acute pen and an
acute head, and with special view to dis
pose of the funds in question in the most sat-
sfactory manner. He believed that the acts
conferred vested rights which could not at this
time be touched. He also claimed that these
acts were repealed at the time of the revision
of the statutes; and commended that repeal
was unnecessary, and if attempted could not
be operative.
Mr.. Mix did not agree with Mr.. Lanman.
He stated that the funds in question inv olved
a vast amount of money; and considered that
two questions grew out Of it-a question of
right and question of propriety. Mr.. M.
gave history of the origin of the indebted
ness on the part of the United States. and
stated that the sum Of GAS, 900 was original
ly due this State for military services, and
that about $95, 900 was still due, and proba-
bly, would in time be paid. He claimed that
as there was no consideration moving the Lee
gislature to make the original grant, conse-
quently it could not be considered in the light
of a contract. He did not believe in legisla-
ting upon matters of religion. He believed
religion was solemn matter between man
and his God, and that every body ought to be
at liberty to worship 10 their own way. That
the fact that this money was appropriated to
! the promotion of literature and religion did
not, in his estimation, go far in commencing
it to the favor of this or any other Legislature.
He also adyerted to the inequality of the dis
trioution under that law at the present time,
and that there were other objects, not provi-
ded for in the law, which had equal claims to
the munifcence of the State.
Mr.. Judson opposed the doctrine of vested
rights, advanced by Mr. Lanman, and illus
trated his idea of vested rights by snpposing
this Legislature should lay tax Of one cent
on the dollar for cOrty-fve years to come
He then proceeded to show the reasons why
the bill ought to pass, which we did not dis
tinctly hear.
i Mr.Haley remarked that he should not go
into the constitutional questions which had
been discussed by the gentlemen who had &C.
cupied the floor, but should confne himself
to the question Of right in the case. From
the fact that the money came from the peck
cts of the people. he argued that the law
ought to be repealed. He also drew an argu.
ment from the fact, that the mon ey dstribu.
ted to the several religious societies was APP
prbpriated to the support of Clergyman
men, in his opinion, the least of all entitled to
receive it. He was anxious that the money
) should get back into the pockets from whence
it came, but did not want it to go in fettered
in any manner whatever.
Mr.. Raymond offered an amendment ap-
proprating the money in question to the sup
port Of the poor in the severa! towns bat
withdrew the amendment. and the question
was decided by Yeas and Nays-Yeas 100,
Nays S.
Bill appointing f. A. Buckley Judge of
Probate for the district of East Haddam,
came from the Senate amended by substitu-
ting the name Of Stephen Cone, committee
of conference appointed.
Petitions of William Teller and Cesar
Reynolds referred to select com. of five.
Thursday, May %.
Report OF the committee on the petition OF
John Barnum, convict under sentence OF
death for the murder of his father, reporting
bill in form committing his punishment to
imprisonment for life.
Mr.. Hoyt believed the facts in the case
were correctly detailed in the petition and the
report of the committee.
Mr.. Mills, from the minority of the com.
mttee, stated that Judge Daggett was before
the committee, and stated that there were no
circumstances elected on the trial which
went to show that he was insane at the time
ofthe homicide. or for year and half pre-
yious; but that there was some evidence go
ing to show that the prisoner was rather be-
'owthe ordinary standard of Intellect.
Mr.. Tcknor considered the bare possibiii-
~ OF his being deranged sufficient reason for
interfering in his behalf
Mr.. Lanman considered this precisely the
case in which the Legislature ought to inter-
fere. The very facts of the case are evidence
Of insanity. The mind cannot resist the con-
cluslon that he mast have been insane.
Mr.. Fillmore was clearly Of opinion that the
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