Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-11-23
THE LEGISLATURE.

postpaid, to the Editor.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The Legislature, which adjourned last week,
will compare very favorably for general intelli-
gente and capacity for business, with almost any
one that has preceded it. The House being
composed, to an unusual extent, of new mem
bers, it was not TO be expected that all its gen.
eral or individual talent could be developed in
one Session, or that talent so assimilated as to
produce those results in action which second
Session Of the same men would accomplish. A
great deal of useful business has, nevertheless,
been done, with little or no mischief. The
number of public acts passed is 81; private and
local acts "a; and acts Of new interpretations
and additions and amendments to old ones, Az !;
making in the whole lSl acts, as the results OF
the labors of the Session. Multitudes OF
other bills &C., were introduced, discussed
and fairly disposed Of by dismissal or otherwise,
so that long before the hour Of final adjporn-
ment arrived, the Speakers table was complete
ly cleared-a case quite unueual in the history
of our Legislatures. there having almost always
been at the close of the Sessions, a large amount
Of unfinished business lett on the table. For
this result, as well as for the gaining of much
valuable time. and the good order that was so
generally maintained through tho Session, the
House were not little indebted to the admira-
BILE presiding talents of their Speaker, the Hon.
George W .Grandey, whose clearness Of method,
rapidity, and dispatch, combined with the un-
varing courtesy and self possession, best caleu-
lated to command respect and ready compliance,
made him one of the best officers who ever fitted
the Chair of Vermont Legislature.
Among the ablest debaters and strong men Of
the House, were Thomos Bartlett of Lyndon,
who spoke seldom, but never in vain Charles
X. Field of New Fame, with his unmerciful
tongue, which might profitable be pitted in Con-
gress against the fire caters Of the South. John
Mclean of Cabot, Washburn of Woodstock,
Deane of Cayepdish, Kirkland of Brattleboro'
Stoughton of Rockingham, Judevino of Hard
wick, Hunton of Bethel, Hotchkiss Of Water
Vile, James of Waterbury, Edmuds of Burling-
ton, and Beckwith of Middlebury, the two last
named OF whom, though new members, and
comparatively young men, gained standing in
the House which argues brightly for their flu
ture careers And there were yet many other
and new members, who occasionally mingled in
the debates, and therein, and in other ways, give
evidence of powers and general intelligence,
which brought them into favorable notice, and
made them valuable members Of the House, such
as Ferrin of johnson, Brigham Of Fairfield, Of
whom we spoke last week, Davenport of Bran
don, Congdon of Dandy, George of Calais,
Fletcher of Townsend, father Beecher Of Hines
burgh, Wheeler of Craftsbury, Lynde of Will
Jamestown, and others. This way, however, as
usual as it is, of singing out the debaters of a
Legislature for notice, as if the only valuable
members in it, is, we are fully aware, often u
very unjust one for, in every public body, as
in the one of which we are speaking, there are
always found men, who make no set speeches,
and perhaps never speak at all in public, but
who, ON Committees and otherwise, often pre-
pare and digest the most important and useful
matters which are brought before the House,
and of which the talking members only get the
credit.
On the whole, then, we regard the House of
this Session fully an avafags one, for intelligence
and appreciation OF their duties, and more than
an average for moral worth and correct and
gentlemanly department
OF the Senate, our duties keeping us mostly
elsewhcrc-we can speak less certainly from
personal observation, but readily perceived them
to be, from the worthy President downward, 4
discreet and highly intelligent body, and the
best looking set of men, as whole, We think,
that we have ever seen assembled in the Senate
Chamber.
The Legislature, following the advice of tho
Governor and his Message. have made little in
novation on our Judicial System, but, as will
be seen by the character of the public acts pas
sed, have pretty faithfully mended up the old
one; so that their faults, if any, will be those
OF omission rather than of commission.