The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-08-20

| iais iirst upon Inc hedrlS o. me people.
Mr. Smile has long been the leader of the Stat
Reform party, and such we propose to spea
of him in the remainder of this article.
He was first elected to the General Assembly
in 1925 and since that time, period of ffteei
years. he has been member ofour legislative coun
ellis, four years, only excepted; the three of which
us member of the Senate. 1t is not unworthy o
remark, that his elections, have always been con
trary 10 his private wishes. His family and hi
farm, have always been dearer to him than the tur
molle of party politics, or the toll of Legislation; YET
he has always been willing to advance the good OF
the state TO the sacrfce of his own private feelings
When first elected 10 the Legislature, the party OF
irresponsible corporations and partial legislation
was in lis days of glory. An inaclon, on the part
of the great body the people. had allowed few
selfish men to bring about an opinion that corpora
ted wealth was the blessing of the state that gran
ting exclusive privileges to few from which the
many were shut out was the only way to make the
state prosperous, 4 happy and wealthy state
The manufacturer, the Bank man, and almos, all
men, were yearly paying out charter after charter,
intending to advance the interests of the few and
with no security TO the many. The vortex had
sucked in whole Of the state and except now and
then an individual "solary and alone" who lifted a
warning voice against such ruinious proceedings,
all went smoothly on; no man cried, stand ho!-
No man heard the roar Of the cataract which the
people were approaching Mr. Smile took his seat
in the Legislature with firm conviction that all
this was wrong lie reflected deeply upon the
whole subject, and upon the proposition to charter
the Bank of St. Adams. in his own county, Mr. Smi-
lie stepped out the fearless champion of the people
and refused to give his vote for the charter, unless,
the corporators were bound by law, to make their
notes as secure as individuals were obliged to make
theirs; and unless they were bound to redeem their
bills AS individuals are bound TO redeem their notes.
The system, he said, upon which that bank asked
was unsafe, the people were not secured, and he
would not vote 10 grant privileges to Il few which
by law were withheld from the many. lie voted,
ALONE, from franklin CO., against the bill, and
was sligmatzed as "d-n Radical" VIVA,
was that 10 him. lie had done what ho thought
was right. His constituents watched his movements
no s",e 'hom he 60. ,.o u.,,
turned him the next year triumphan,ly.
In 1927 we find Mr. Smile at his post steadily
guarding the interests of the people. A proposition
to incorporate the Bank of Bennington was intro
duced into the Legislature this year, and ;CJeMR
SMILE MADE THE FIRST FORMAL PROPO-
SITION EVER MADE IN THE STATE TO
MAKE TIE PRIVATE PROPERTY OF THE
STOCKHOLDERS LIABLE FOR THE RE-
DEMPTION OF THEIR BIIIS.eH,
We make the following extracts from the Jour
nails 10 give the amendment OF length and in the
words Of the mover.
"The House resumed the consideration of the
bill entitled, "An act to incorporate the president,
and directors and company of the bank Of Benung-
ton," and the question, pending at the adjourn
ment in the iourneen, viz: Shall the bill be read,
second time was again stated from the chair--when
Mr Smile moved to amend the bill by adding an
additional section, MS follows, viz.
SEC. 81. 1t is hereby further enacted, That
the private property of the president, directors and
stockholders of said corporation, shall be holden to
redeem the bills or notes, BY them issued, and he
subject to mesne process, whenever said corpora
ton shall suspend. or refuse payment, in gold or
silver coin, for any Of ISIS notes, bills or obiga-
tons"
Mr. Smile had always been opposed to The prac-
tice that had prevailed in the Legislature of ex-
emn,;,y forerer from oytaion n cprtain anon nj
of property in acts of Incorporation. The friends
of that system, in 1929 failed in their attempts to
continue i, longer. Mr. Smile was one of the lea
ding opposers of the system.
To make this subject clear we will give an ex-
tract from the Journal of 1889,
The engrossed bill entitled, can act establishing
m academy at Manchester, in tho county of Ben
ninelon was called up
Mr. Brown Of Swanton, moved that said bill he
committed to member, for the purpose Of amend-
ing the same, by erasng the following words in the
sixth section thereof, viz
can such estate, whether real, personal, or
L" mixed, as is or hereafter shall be. sequestered
"to, and for, the use Of said institution, for the
promotion of education therein, shall forever be
" free and exempted from all taxes."-
And inserting in lieu lhereollhe following words,
viz
can the necessary buildings Of the institution,
" philosophical apparatus, and library now belong
+" ing to. or which shall hereafter belong to said in
/" stiiu,on shall forever be exempt from taxation.
Page lOi. The proposed, amended, passed by
the unanimous consent Of the House. The bill
as amended was sen, 10 the Gov. and Council
and returned to the House with amendments non
concurred in, but proposals to amend certain ex-
tent.
Page 1903. The House took up the engrossed bill
en,i,led' "An act establishing an academy al Man.
chester, in the county of Remington, which had
been returned BY the Governor and Council con-
Cured with proposals Of amendment. The said
amendments and reasons assigned were read; and
the first amendment proposed was concurred n-
The second amendment proposed by the Governor
and Council was then rend as follows, viz:
Afier the word institution p the third line
Of the sixth section. insert the words, and such
" sum or sums Of money as are, or hereafter may
tho seoues,ed TO- and for the use of said instu-