Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-21
THE VERMONT MULTIPLICATION ACT.

We have sincere pleasure in being able to lay
before our readers the following explanation Of the
manner in which the Act of the State of Vermont
passed the Legislature Of that State at its late SEES
sion; confirming fully, as it does, the opinion ex-
pressed by US on first hearing it, that il was not an
act OF elaboration, but surprise, by which the
Legislature was entrapped into an act repugnant to
the Constitution of the United States, and which is
of course mere bratum f1lmen, and will never be
heard in court OF law but to be pronounced such
BRArrIEnono. (vr.) DrcEmBER is, 1850.
TO the Editor Of the Journal of Commerce.
SIR In behalf OF many Of citizens, take liberty,
through your Journal, Of explaining the legislative plot by
which, the last day Of the session. most odious and UNI
law foisted upon the people of this State regard
ing the surrender Of fugitive slaves It came upon the pso-
pie like thunder clap and many our Senators and Repre-
sentaves were entirely ignorant of its existence until they
saw in the news prints and all declare that never could
have passed had been brought before full house. The
facts are these On Tuesday before the adjournment all the
most important bills passed, leaving few minor bills
pass the Senate on Wednesday morning, and then aoun
sine die On Tuesday evening large number Of the
bers ncludng Of the influential and Conservative
took their departure in the cars. On Wednesday morn
Ocudc lnusOr county, rec
soil Whg introduced string Of patriotic resolutions, toge
Their with this law, which passed Immediately and
down to the House, which, like all Houses the closing
hour OF the session. with members in great hurry to take
the for their homes like bear garden than de
Lucrative body So the bill passed and the House adj
journed.
This is the first instance in Vermont legislation where
bill Of this importance passed without mature discussion
and goes show that trap by few dsorganxers
and sprung at the last hour of the session. The people
have been caught, but you may depend upon that will
remain but year blot upon statutes. More than
ourhs of the people Of Vermont when fully informed
Of the facts, will repudiate this law and all deest the
juggling trick by which it consummated. But now comes
the question: how Gov Williams to sign it, the able
jurs our former chief justice Why, upon investigation
it turns out that it his whole embodmenhis idea
was informed by Senator that Judge Williams was con-
suited about all the details Of the and you will observe that
it is well and cautiously drawn 1t not the work of
moment, but mature and deliberate plan. This accounts
for the large vote Governor Williams received You will re-
member that Vermont has not elected Governor by the peo
pie for years and when Judge Williams waa nomi-
mated by the Wings informed that he would carry the
Fee-so Wings generally, which proved true although
ndusrousy denied by the press during the canvass
You the fix in which the Wing press is placed
throughout the State Thy dare attack this law as was
made by Wing Legislature Though they all wish to- yet
dare throw the first stone So you hear nothing
Vermont papers present against this law excepting
he Burlington Sentinel, and other organs of the
Old Line Democrats But tell you the evaporation Of
the peope-of the conservative Wings and Democrats the
true friends of the Unon-knows bounds and will break
forth before another election in be misunder-
stood at u.s. suffer for year the odiun which
we richly deserve for carelessness. A. G.