The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-04-07
THE REGISTER.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 7. 1852.
The State Superintendent of Common
,t.... Schools

e. .. SCHOOLS.
We remember no &C, Of The Leyi,la.
lure which has excited such universal
disapprobation as that Of the House Of
Representatives, last Fall, in multiplying a
positive law Of this State, by refusing to
meet the Senate for the election of a
State Superintendent Of Common
Schools. II was a revolutionary pro-
ceeding, without shadow Of juslihca-
ton, aud for which no pretext Whatever
can be offered in paliation. The spirit
manifested, in this case, would overiurn
all law and order, and trample under
foot every security Of our rights aud lib.
critics. The law wa, plain. The duty
Of Representatives Was unmisiak cable.
Their duty as loyal citizens, ss well as
their official oaths, left them no alterna-
tive.
Hitherto, We have abs,ained from all
comment on this subJect-.psrtly because,
from our personal relations to tive chose
10 wait for an expression from the peo-
pie unbiased BY any appeals through
the press; and partly because we wished
to have the yeas and nays before us
whenever we spoke Of the course of the
majority. that the responsibility might
rest there, and there alone where il prop.
erly belongs. The people have now
spoken nut very plainly and decidedly,
and, as we believed they would, quite
unanimously, on this importan, matter.
We have not heard or seen a single AZ
tempt 10 defend this lawless proceed
ing. The recent publication of the
Journal of the House enables us to give
history Of the TRANSACTION, and to fix The
responsibility on the actual leaders. We
Say on the leaders for we know that many
voted with the majority. wilhou, a clear
apprehension Of the question: poor
excnse, certainly. but the only one the
case admits. ..
On Wednesday. Oct. 10Th. Mr.. Bar
low Of Fairfield (ilunker Dem.) intro
duced bill, abolshing the office OF
State Superintendent Of Common
Schools which, on his motion, was re.
ferred TO the General Committee. AZ.
ter an Incubation Of nearly three weeks,
that Committee reported the following
substitute for Mr.. Barlow's bill-HfrG-
tim ct verbatim - which has been widely
circulated in this and other states, as a
literary curiosity:
''SEe. I. So mulch of an act Approx
ed november 9Th, lS45 as Relates 10 The
appointT ent and Dulys of Stale Superin.
tendant of Common Schools Is hereby Re-
peaIed.
"SEc 2. So match of IN act Apprpv-
ed november l2lh ls49 as Relates to The !
Dutys and compensation OF the State Su>
pc rintenlant Of Common Schools and the |.
third Section Of said acct is hereby Repeal /,
ed.'
For the time being the bill was order
ed TO lie upon the table. Several days
later, twas called up. aud was finally
passed on the day before the session
closed. Yeas l4I. nays AZ. In the
Senate. it was promptly rejected, as an.
nounced BY their Secretary, the follow
ing morning. We will now return. and
trace the e~xrse Of proceedings in the
House IN relation to the election of the
officer in question.
On Monday. Oct Goth, Join, reso-
luton was transmitted To the House from
the Senate. providing for join, assem>
bly, 10 elect sundry aGicers, among which
was Stale Superintendent Of Common
Schools. on the "Wednesday following
On motion Of Mr.. NJ as,in of Landgrove,
Free Soil Dem..) il as laid on the Ia
BILE. Wednesday having arrived. with.
nut any consultation as TO the several Of
fees proposed To be filled. 1t was me-
eessary 10 defer the election day or two.
for that purpose. The resolution was
called up, g. a motion made to amend by
striking gu, Wednesday and inserlin. 10
lieu thereof Friday-which was agreed
to. On motion Of Mr.. Kellogg of Ben.
son. free Sod Dem, SAID resolu.
ton was further amended by sirik>
ing out the words State Sapcrinten,
dent Of Common Schools"
The above resolution having thus fail
ed, the Senate again passed on their part.
a resolution for the same object-lhe
joint assembly to meet Oct. 30lh. This
was transmitted 10 the House on the
27ih Of that month. II being well un,
derslood, from the recent failure OF a
similar resolution, tina, this could not
pass, while the question Of abolisking
the office was still pending. the resolu-
lion was laid on The table, without OPP
position. i
"Wednesday. Nov. IMh, as we have
sees. ii,e concurrence Of the Senate in
The ,passage.sfth bill abolishing the Of
See Of S,ste Ssrperinienden, was an.
nou6eed in iLs JIoase. During she
:. 40 l.,fUnnr A. Rs.,.,Iau IWhinl in