Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-11-14
SENATE.

Adjourned.
Monday. Nov. 3.
Senate called to order by Assistan. Socre-
tarv.
On motion of Mr.. Currier, adjourned.
Afternoon.
Called to order by Assistant Secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Keith, adjourned,
SENATE.
Tuesday, Nov. i, A. NJ.
Prayerby the Chaplain.
The Senate passed the bill relating to Say
ings Banks; also, the bill incorporating the
llydcvlllc Slate company.
The Senate considered the bill relating to
salaries and fees, fixing the pay to sheriii's for
distributing the laws Journals &c. at 50 per
annum, and the bill passed to third reading.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Engr0SSed BWS.-To prevent the dcstruc-
ton Of certain small birds Mr.. Martin of
Landgroye moved that the bill be dismissed :;
lost and bill passed. Enacting that if the gen
uineness of original papers in evidence is de-
MED an order may be granted for inspection by
Judge; all passed.
Reports Of Committees. BY the Joint com
mttee on the Library, to whom was referred
the communication from the Secretary of State,
asking instructions in regard to the purchase
OF the Compiled Statutes the following resolu-
t!On.-''that the Secretary Of State exercise his
privilege given to him IN the contract with
Chauncey Goodrich, to purchase 300 copies
ami raise the price for the sale of sad copies
ID - cents per copy" After some Discus
sion, Mr.. Richardson moved that thcrcso.u
be laid on the table, as there appeared to be
some misunderstanding IN regard TO the matter,
and the motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Kellogg called up the bill cnpcting That
no person shall be incompetent as witness uu-
less from the conviction Of perjury, suhurna-
ton of perjury, or cndeuyornr 20 procure 9TH
erS to commit perjury, provided that nothing in
the act shall affect instruments required to be
attested, but where persons are convicted Of
crime. involving legal intamy, evidence may be
received to affect the crcdibllity of such per-
sons. The committee reported in favor OF the
bill with an amendment by striking out the
provlsC, which was adopted. Mr. Kellogg
moved further amandmcnt by striking out
the words illegal intnmy' and inserting the
words moral tlrpitudc," which was also adopt
ed. Mr.. Barrett suggested that the bill be
corrected, as 1t makes witnesses competent not
withstandlng their religious belief, AMI thought
1t mockery to administer an oath to such per-
sons he therefore called for explanations.
Mr.. Kellogg, the mover of the bill, gave
the views expressed by several legislatures and
the British Parliament in regard to tins sub
icct, vino have entirely abrogatcd the common
law rule in regard to religious belief, and show
ed satisfactorily by conclusive eXlmplc, the ne
ccsslty OF adopting provisions similar to those
in the bill. The bill was further discussed by
Mcssrs. Adams, Grandey, and EvertS in favor,
and by Messrs. Packer and Barrett in opposi-
ton, insisting that 1t is an imposition and moe
kerry to administer an oath to an Atheist Mr.
Barrett then offered the following ancndment
by adding to section lst the following: "no
person who does not believe in Il Supreme Be
ing exercising moral government over the hui
man race, shall be required to take the oath as
a witness" Mr.. Kellogg again asserted that
an oath OF witness Is mere obligation to tell
the truth. Mr. Gilbert wanted more time to
consider this matter which all agreed is all in
noyation upon established custom, and moved
that the House adjourn, which was agreed to-.
SENATE.
. o'clock, p. NJ.
Mr.. Seymour called up the resolution rra
, ting to the publication of the Compiled Stat
utes, and directing the Secretary of State to
exercise his privilege in the contract with Mr.
Goodrich, and raise the price - cents per vol
une on the %, vols. contracted to Nj. Good
rich.
The memoranda of the contracts with the
! publishers, Mcssrs. f. p. Walton & Son, were
read, from which, and the information given by
the Library committee, on the contract with
Mr. Goodrich 1t appeared that by adding l5
cents per volume the books would be sold at
@l,5 per copy, and without the addition, at
y 30. Mr.. Royce hoped that the Senate would
not act upon the resolution now, as it might be
construed so as to etloct the contract with
MessrS. Waltons, or as dlscharging Mr. Good
rich and his suretcs from the bond given, and
on his motion the resolution was ordered to lie.
HOUSE.
Reports Of fCommriets.-By the committee on
Agriculture in favor of the bill creating a state
society for the promotion Of agriculture, horti-
culture, and the arts, with an amendment. re-
qulrlng the treasurer of said society to furnish
SIN copies of the annual report Of the society to
be deposited in the library adopted. Mr.. Gran
dey spoke in favor of the object but was oppoS-
el to the appropriation Of $1,000, which the bill
asks for, and thought thatth annual fair could
ubnndantly pay all expenses, that the agrcul-
tlral interest Is able to take care of Itself an
LH'IS IA Hu ItdAol WHY lllll interest or that
clcty should receive an appropriation more than
any other. Mr.. Woodward thought the farm
, ing interest is not benefited in reality by the
bill, and moved that the section which provides
f for this appropriation be stricken out MIR. Bar
, low as a farmer said, he did not wish for this
appropriation, ana moved that the bill be dis
missed, which was agreed to, So to 81. BY
the committee on Banks, against bill to in
crease the capital stock and extend the charter
of the Bank of St Adams; I'D reading refused.
BY the same, in favor of Incorporating the Mer-
? camille Bank at st. Adams, with amendments
4 adopted, and Mr.. Kellogg moved that it be laid
on the table, which was agreed to.
The bill relating to the competency of wit
! ncsscs was tIken up, the I'd reading of the
same having been suspended by Adjournment
this morning The question was upon the
amendment OF Mr. Barrett, which was lost
Mr. Gilbert moved the bill be laid on the table
for the purpose of amendment. Mr. Packer Il,
+ well as Mr.. Barrett considered there is a mani
+ fest absurdlty and inconsistency in an oath /
II tins bill Is passed. Mr.. Davis was in favor o
= the provision, and considered that the law a,
S now established, Is IN direct conflict with tn,