Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-11-24
mac Lnst General Assembly.

The last session Of the General Assembly
of Vermont II worthy Of special notice on
several accounts. Ii came together under
peculiar auspices. The democratic portion
OF II was too small 10 be at al, in the way OF
any political action which the others should
agree upon, YET there was no disposition TO
annoy the minority by taunis at the small
ness Of It's numbers, or by giving II practical
proofs OF i,s weakness. The mai riiy too,
as opposed TO the democratic party, was
made up somewhat heierogeneousyd liierent
divisions Of Il having for few years past
found occasion 10 call each other by very
hard names. But the events of the last year
had taught them-ihe most OF them at any
rate-lhat there were far stronger reasons
for them 20 be friends than 10 be enemies
Friends they determined to be last summer;
as friends they came together at Montpelier,
and as such they acted together during the
session. A few men Of extremes there were
who, for few days at its beginning, seemed
to think marfng was better than mendlng,
but the mass did not sympahise with them.
/ A like move was made on the last evening,
which was sIgnally foiled by the joint action
of those who held tr:ckery IN contempt, Tor
whatever purpose il was resorted 10.
Thus II came about, that saving short
and irregular strife about the election ofone
or two oficers--a strife based more on per-
sonal than on party grounds, and eceompan-
led with very little irritation of feeling
there was less of party differences seen IN
the conduct of the business of the session
than had been Witnessed, probably, for many
years before. The natural consequences
were less waste OF time than usual in
those efforts Of political clques to check
each others movements, which are so often
made where party faction RACES strongly
remarkably close attention 10 the proper bus
mess of the sessiOn-and general preva-
lence Of good feeling among the members.-
This was a subject of frequent remark.
pleasanter session, taken as a whole, did not
seem to be in the memory Of any one--or
session where a greater degree OF Industry
had been seen.
The session was exactly five weeks long.
This has been about the length for some
years past, though last year II continued
eight weeks-a longer period thaa was ever
known before. Efforts were made by some
TO bring the one of this year within four, and
even within three weeks but to no purpose.
Considering the amount OF business before
the General Assembly, 1t ought to have been
continued at least three days longer than II
was. The hurry Of the last two days was in
no respect influential for good. The haste
with which sub ects were necessarily dlspo-
sed Of, allowed no one time for any far
consideration of most Of them. Some,
therefore, caredayery little how they voted,
or whether they voted at all. Others said the
only prudent course was to vote no on all
questions. In that way, they should at least
avoid helping to do mischief, if they were
not able TO aid in doing any good.
Many persons no not consider how largely
the business OF the State has increased
within few years, how many new interests
have sprung up, all calling for increased leg
islatiye action. A session Of SIX weeks
now would not be as long for the business OF
these DAYS AZ one of four weeks was for the
business twenty years ago. There were
about four hundred bills brought before the
Legislature this year and if some OF them
were such az to call for little attention either
10 pass or to reject them, there we're an IN