Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-21
BURLINGTON, Aug. ls, 1916.


Sir: friend has forwarded me your paper of
the 14th inst, containing an article marked "com
muncated," to which you invited particular atten-
ton" The article charges Gov. Slade and myself,
IN substance, with a conspiracy with Chauncey
Goodrich Of this place in the matter of a "digested
index Of the statutes of this State published with
the Laws Of last session.
This conspiracy is charged as having produced
list, fraud upon the treasury, and Cd, crying IN
justice to an individual
The index as contemplated in tie resolution au-
thorzing its publication, was to cost not exceeding
500, of this sum | am informed more than $40
were paid for paper, printing, &c leaving about
S25 for the person who was to prepare the index,
and for the patronage involved in the dlsburse-
ment of this sum- Gov. 5. and myself are charg-
ed with conspirng to do ga crying injustice to an
individual" hardly known to me at least, and to
give it to Mr.. Goodrich, or to Mr.. Parmalec,
young man of undoubted merit but who could
hardly be known to Gov. SAde at all, and who d
not for six months, of which the time of preparing
his index was part, exchange with me ON an av-
erage word week. How far this preposterous
notice is justified, the public can Judge from the
following lacts
In August. 1914, as required by law, closed
contract with Mr. Goodrich for the printing of the
"acts and resolutions" of the session of lSl4.-
This contract was the necessary result Of biddngs
for said printing by law, closed on the LIST of AT
gust, and until then open to ALL In this contract
an "indeX"-nonc such being contemplated by the
law--none such being anticipated by me- and en-
tirely unheard of by me, until the resolution prov
ding for its publication came into my Office after
its passage. The Governor appointed Mr. Samp-
son, upon satisfactory reasons | have no doubt, 10
make the index. Mr., Goodrich under his contract
was to have q days. from the completion of his
copy to finish the acts, and to furnish him with this
copy at the earliest moment took the acts and res
outons with me to Burlington. On the 18th Nov.
Ireceived a letter from Mr.. Sampson, requesting
me to furnish him copies of the "public acts' other
than those Published in the newspapers or the
"proof Sheets" that with the latter he could have
the whole of his index done in two or three days"
As it would take me something like a week with
my then leisure to give the copies desired, and this
too, as Il mere courtesy, | sent Mr. Sampson ac
cording to my recollection, the proof-sheets, 1t is
charged that this communication (whatever its form
may have been) was "deayed for a long time" by
rne and then msdirccted, and an inference is en-
deavored to be raised that this was by Intention
Mr. Sampson informs me the letter from me was
directed to e. Sampson, Esq; it should have been
to G. c. Sampson, Esq. The filing upon the letter
Of Mr.. 5. to me is c. Sampson, and undoubtedly
occasioned the instruction. This, however, could
have occcsoned no trouble, as Mr.. SIS index was
received by me on the morning of The 2Sth as here
after stated. Mr.. Sampson las never in any way
complained to me of want of time, the long de-
lay never occurred, and the imputatons Of inten-
tional msdirection are entirely untrue.
About this time Nov. 20) | learned with some
surprise, that Mr., Parmalee was employed by MI
Goodrich to get upan index Upon the first oppor
tunity asked Mr.. Goodrich al ont his index, and
if he had the idea it was to supersede Mr.. Samp-
sons His reply was in substance, that he knew
MIR. s. would not prepare one which ought to be
published and that anticipating the result, he had
caused Mr.. Parmaee 10 prepare one which if the
Governor refused to have published with the laws,
he Mr. G.) should print at his own expense. re-
piled to him there would be time enough for con-
cluson Of the insufiicency of Mr.. SIMPSONS in
dex after he had finished it, and that he (Mr. g.
must understand that he must not ailiX the Parma
lee index to the statutes without the express
directions of the Governor. ] accordingly inform
ed Mr. Sampson of the preparation of Mr. Parma
lee index, mot TO supersede his your article false
ly asserts but for the purpose of further informing
him that his index must 90 to the Governor for his
approval. suppose that this refusal on my part
to take any responsibility in the premises, is what
your correspondent means by unwarranted inter-
ference and singular etlrontery." The reasons
why was obliged to take this course were MIR. G's
contract did not, as already said, bind him to print
any inder and he expressly gave me to understand
that he should not publish Mr.. Simpsons index,
without the Governors direction, whose sole bust
ness it was to " cause the index to be pubshed"-
] wrote Gov s. on Nov. 19, informing him OF Mr.
Goodrch's determination and asking his direction
His answer reached me on the Goth. 1t was that
he should write Mr.. Sampson by the same mail, di
recting HIM to send the index him that if it an
swered the purpose he should send it to MIR. Good
rich, with request to print it with the laws, and
that if Mr.. &. should refuse, he (the Cow having
done all in his power to carry ont the will OF the
Legislature, would be eXoherated from all blame.
On the 9th the Gov wrote Mr. G. saying that he
had written to Mr.. Sampson week before, reques-
ting Mr. S. to send his index to him (the Cow and
i r,,1, - Tho, forp
LEGATION, and in relation to Mr.. G's index of which
he had sent tof his own unaided motiye) proof
sheet, the Gov. says Your index may be good
one, but can of course have nothing to DO with it,,
provided Sampson furnishes good aud in sea-
son." On the same day (the 27th) Gov S. advised
me again of having written Mr.. sampson, direct
ing the index 10 be sent to him and of his commu-
nicaton to Mr.. Goodrich.
received the index of Mr.. S. on he morning OF
the 2Sh, accompanied by a letter from Mr. Samp-
son, in which he endeayored to reason me into the
conviction that upon me was the responsibility OF
publishing, abiding to the instruction. bnt saying
s. it was of no importance" as there plenty OF
time to print. This index of Mr.. SIMPSONS was
sent by inc to the Governor by the next stage
looked it through from curiosity. Mr. Goodrich
saw it for about ten minutes there was no use
made Of it by any body, nor was it open more thar
an hour in the whole time while in my Office, ou
ley sealed up ready to be forwarded ~T'he allega
ton that it "was wanted doubtless to assist in ina
king up Mr.. G's index or another work on whlcl
Mr.. q. and myself are said to be engaged" is en-
tirely untrue. The letter Of Gov $. to Mr. Good
rich from which your article quotes, gives The
reasons at length for the rejection Of the Sampson
index, lone sufficient one was that "it was very dc
fectye," and goes at length into the grounds Of hi
(the Goyernors) reluctance 10 give up the Sampson
index, speaks Of an examination Of the proof
which Mr.. Goodrich had volunteered to send him
and puts the acceptance ofGoodrich's index upon thu
ground of its being " the only alternative" by whlcl
he can secure the object contemplated by the Log
isature. All this is suppressed by your comespon
dent in gross violation Of the commonest honesty
1t is further charged that the Governor knew tina
Mr. Goodrich was getting up an index, and yet tina
" MIR. Sampson Goodrich 1t is supposed is meant
was suffered to 90 on with his index designed t
supersede that of Mr.. s." have reason to beey
that the fist the Governor knew Of Mr. G.'s move
nenl was from nv letter Of lhe l0lh Nov. and o