Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-10-14
ll)ccEtln frec Dress.
BCRLINGTON, FRIDAY, OCT. II. 1853.
The Opening of the Session.

The Legislature convened Yesterday
What will it do, is the qucstion,-a question
which no one can answer ut present with any
confidence. of the three political divisions
Of the members, not one of them is 50 made
up that all its individuals can be expected to
vote alike on the three subjects, around which
are to gather the special cxcitemcnts Of the
Session.
The wings would agree at once in the
choice of governor and other state officers il
they were in Il clear majorty-and 50 of the
democrats and the trcc-solcrs.
On the choice of L. 5. Senator, agree
mcnt would not be easy among the members
of either party, even if the power to elect were
wholly in its hands though in that case it
would be brought about after a short trial
The parties being as they are, the case is
much more difficult to be disposed Of
The state of mems minds on the subject Of
the liquor law will double the difficulty of
action on the other two points.
Take that question by itself and each party
will find itself irreconcileahly split into two
parts at the outset and as soon as discussion
is fairly under way, we may look to see at
least II half dozen squads Of disputlnts among
those who call themselves friends of the
- Maine law and as many among those
called its enemies. The pressure which
bound those together who voted for the law
when it was cnact,d last year. and also those
,-l,.,
exist in the preliminary talks and movements
of this Session The law is II complex one of
thirty or more sections. and some of these are
crude and vague enough Comparatively
few, even Of those who have talked most
iicrccly about ii, have any clearly defined
views about all its several parts. Though at
first each one may take it for granted that
himself and all the rest are thinking and
talking about just the same thing, they will
soon find themselves in IL condition some
thing like the builders of Babel after the
confusion Of tongues.
We think it most likely that in the end
the law will bc modified somewhat made
better we hope in som" things and worse in
none. But whatever is done will not be done
by any one of the three political parties
No one Of them passed the law. No one OF
them can repeal it or alter it.
Whatever use has been made of it in the
election, the law will not attach itself to an,
one Of them, nor would it be for the good OF
the people of this state or for the cause whicl
it was intended to promote, that it SHOULD
do SO.
The first practical step then brings up al
these difficulties. The House must be or
ganiscd before it can stir Il foot in the progress
of business. The Secretary of State call
the members to order and directs them t,
bring forward their ballots for a Speaker
, At once, all the opinions clear or confused
and all the feelings from lukcwarm t.
fever heat, which exist in the minds of tn
members on the three great subjects o
, excitement, with the addition of persona
+ likes and dislikcs and the influence of loca
10 questions, come into play.
: If Speaker is chosen the first or the sccon
day, it is more than we look for, nor shal
1 we bc surprised to find the House unorganize
T. at the end Of the week.
l. The choicc of Speaker will not dccid
!, beyond doubt the three great questions
d probably neither of them, although it will b
It influenced by them all
- \ Speaker must be had to do any bushes,
ii and to choose one men will yield more readil
- than they will on matters which will bea
n delay. Without any new choice, the preser
II Governor holds his seat to the end of Il
;, Session. The United States Senator can !
d chosen as well the last day as ON any prev
= Gus one. On pinch, the election can !
~ altogether dispensed with.
re We do not believe, however, that the ele
!, ton will be put of altogether, We do NJ
u believe that it ought to he, The election
- United States Senator, undor existing ci
IN cumstances, is evidently intended in the pr
r. visions Of the constitution, and that intcntic