Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-10-17
Editorial Correspondence ofthc Free Press.
NO. ii.
MONTPELIER, Oct. 10, 1851.

MONTPELIER, Oct. 10, 1851.
With single exception, the proceedings Of
both Houses of the Legislature, to-day, were
devoid of special interest, being mere matter
of routine. After calling the Senate TO order,
the Lieutenant Governor elect, Mr.. CONVERSE,
sirnfed his acceptance of that office, and the
oaths of Office were administered to him by
the Secretary. His Excelency, Governor
WILLIAMS, then appeared in the Senate Cham
Der, and was sworn into office by the Presi-
dent.
On the motion of Mr.. CURRlER, Of Windsor
County, the Senate then proceeded to the cleo
ton of their Secretary and Assistant Secretary,
and Mr. SAMUEL NJ. CoSANT, Of Brandon was
elected Secretary, and Mr.. -- DIcKERMAN,
of -, Assistant, by the unanimous Wing
vote of the Senate. Mr.. CoNANT was the AS
sistant Secretary, last year, and possesses cx-
cclent qualifications for the Office to which he
is elected. lie is young gentleman of the
finest talent, methodical and correct in bust
ness habits, and cannot fail to make himself
popular and accomplished Secretary. Mr..
DlcKERMAN, his Assistant, has been member
Of the House, is quite familiar with the Rules
Of Legislation, ready writer, and will contrib
ute literally to the easy and pleasant transact
ton of the business of the Senate.
Mr.. LoRp, the Pastor of the Presbyterian
Parish in Montpelier, was elected Chaplain of
the Scnte. Mr.. LORD is gentleman of very
| high ability.
The Message of Governor Williams will be
transmitted to both Houses tomorrow morn
ing Saturday at 10 o'clock AS hope to be
able to furnish it for the Free Press of to-mor-
row, shall make this letter a brief one. No
body doubts that the forthcoming Message will
be Just and manly exposition of the Plat
form" Of the gallant, patient, unconqucrablc
and Union-loving Wings of Vermont. The
! Free Press can have no hesitation in cordially
endorsing it in advance. If there is a true and
high-minded National Wing in the world, and
one who is entirely competent to sustain and de-
tGnd tho principle and opinions of the great mass
of his constituents, it is CHARLES X. WILLIAMS,
"A statesman and .iurist whose deliberate con-
victions OF duty no inducements can disturb, and
whose fidelity to principle no excitement" can
weaken. Gov WILLIAMS approved and signed
the much-rcviled Ilabeas Corpus Act of the Lee
rislature of Vermont and the v orld will grow
greyer in inlquity than it now is, (f possible),
before Vermont Legislature will rcpudiate, or
repeal that act, until it shall have been pro-
nounced unconstitutional by the appropriate
constitutional authority. The time will come
lit ought to be now when the State of Yer
mont will be HoNoRED for passing this very
Law. 1t will forever remain on our Statute Book
Constitutional or unconstitutional, a tribute OF
the People of Vermont to "the spirit of univer-
sal emancipation" If it be found to conflict
with the Suprema Ter of the Constitution, it will
of course, be dead letter but, dead OF
alive, it will be perpetual memorial of that
ncXtnguishabc love of FREEDOM and JUSTICE
which Vermont has more than once illustrated
IN the forum and on the battlefield. Vermont
never did nobler act than that which, by heat
c | and partisan Judgment, has placed her le
gislation in apparent conflict with the lcgisla
ton of Congress on this exciting subject. IfeI
laws, until the Supreme Court of the UnlteC
States shall reverse them are of cqua! validity
within her balliwick, with the laws ofCongress
Both are amcnable to the Judgment of tn,
same high and acknowledged Tribunal, anC
, both are fact or a nullity, as that august Tri
| I,n Ia
the glorious position ofhaving erred IF she ha
erred on the side of freedom and humanity
With the Legislature of Vermont, therefore
the constitution loving and constitution obeyinG
Legislature of Vermont, never felt more vii
ling to stand or fall. Those who see fit to de
nounce the alleged unfaithfulnoss of the Stat,
to her constitutional obligations, will probably
, live long enough to find Memory more unman
ageable opponent than Reason,
Editorial Correspondence.
NO. III.
The Gorernor's .Message-Ihe legislature
The new Districiing bill Of .W. Grandey-
.ihirtss Of he State Superintendent Of Com
mon Schools Glastonbury represented Isl
LA Mott still in the ,tog-State Conreniion-
Central Rnlroad .uceting-and so forth.
was sorry to be obliged to send you tn
excellent Message of Governor WILLIAM
without word Of accompanying comment
Those who have read the Free Press for tn
past twelyemonths however, will have. very lit
tie doubt as to my views upon the Message
| need hardly say that regard it as the bes
possible vindication of the course of that pa
per- in reference to the exciting but really cor
tcmptibe topic which has occupied so much o
= country, since the last adjournment of Cor