The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-11-24
AFFAIRS AT MONTPELIER.
Sprrtal Correspondence of the Caledonia

MONTPELIER, Nov 10, 1855.
The Legislature adjour ned on THURSDAY
and went home with what was left of thei,
debentures after paving their hotel bill
Wednesday was pretty busy dav, though
but little of consequence was enacted. Ev.
cry bill was acted upon, and by one o'clock
OF Thursday morning, they were ready to
leave
The bill to pay the Iroquois was lost, as
expected, in the House, ard the 4" poor Indi.
an must wait another year to receive con,
Pensation for the broad hunting grounds of
their fathers. which our ancestors took, bu,
did not purchase. lngrattudc in individuals
Is contemplate enough. but it has some a.
Pology in scfishnes>, which is an individual
trait but when commonwealth indulces in
meahncss and ingratitu.le, refuses to be oen.
erons and liberal where the honor of the
State IS concerned. it is without apology and
without excuse. The Iroqnois are importu-
nate to be sure-have been bore year after
year lave no claim except through heir
ship-yyet it would be fair. and honest. and
OF good report, in my Judgment, for the State
to pay The children for the broad acres which
we're once owned by their fathers. when the
dnsky race pursued their game. and smoked
their pipes, and sun. their war sonps under
the shadows of their own forests. and over
the sou OF their own country, unlisturbed hy
the encroachmenfs Of the cra>pins pale-ta~e.
After locking over the enartmrrts Of the
session. there seems TO have been li.tl, diam.
that might not n-t As well have been lrt, nm
done, except fifty or sixty acts Of incorrora.
ton biennial sessions of the L.oi.,a,ur.
Will never be established, probably, but once
IN two years is often enough for the wisdom
and virtue vi the State to meet IN Gener,,
Assembly
lh" mock session, Which from time i'm.
memorial has been the excitement Of The. l,>,
night OF the session. was made unusually wi,
" ana rth-TroNoklnc. The Representa-
uvc> Hall was crowded 10 IL, utmost c.,,,;.
". an! The l'or of tn, house. me. o,n,,;...
every 'drant seat among the members. were,
occ"pird hv the beauty of the State, I.au,i.
July 'n'er>p"r>"d and MIXED Mp will, the wis
dom thereof Pl,mp'on Of Wa-d,horo'. with
ms r"n'cA looking phlz, and nose Ike an
apple dumping, WAS unanimously elected
Speaker (hy as many As fifty votes y and ON
'"F III. IN" char. made very eloquent. rat.
ii''ic, and appropriate allrc>s. whith. br,rg
'h''r''v ex'rmpo'anr"n>. has not appeared
IN PRINT For an hour. wit. huuor sarcasm
fun and folly. held und,>Iu.c, rc,cl. Field
and Powers suffered somewhat. as they came
I'D LOT pretty larg" -L.r- 1T ,h.. ;,k, ~.
SEES cheney sung IA SOM in his best (.or;;>,i
mol style, ana at / O'Clock. i. VI ,h, Hons.
was again called 10 order. 10 transact th,. 20.
business Of tue session. Tn, las,
SAW OF these men noted for wi>!o. WIS
about O'Clock Thursday morninr. vhr,
those who remained IN the Hall were, ANN.
>'ng themselves by pcltins each other with
paper balls apple cores. and pamphlet laws
l'n' the members engaged in ,hi, Lu,;r,>s or
'"SS"'g laws. were chiefly of .ha. ,Ia>, Of
representatives. who Lad hitherto done moth
inG but to doze in their seats and ,,.
when their names were called and r.r,1;r
y fclt the necessity Of doing sou,,ij,,1 to SAT.
sly their constituents.
Now that the smoke and ir>, of Tho 60.
non has passed away, and it has l,c,n. :,
natter OF history. We may safely BE allowed
o pass Judgment upon it, and determine
whether it has been wise or foolish: and
""sed by Its acts and department. it NAV
afely be called a fair, average body of men,
With respectable ud gment, and rood common
cnse. No party. whether Hcpul,ii,a an or A.
"er'can, will suffer with the people for be
ng majority in this Legislature. They
ave not been radical on the tcm,.r,,o.,
nestion, nor ultra. :hoa.h firm and decided
n the aSgressions Of Slavery. If thew have
ot been brilliantly wise, neither have they
cen stnpldly foolish; though am half in
lined to think that Their praise is rather that
hey have committed no plumbers than tb,,
hey have been lngeniou, and subtle in de-
'slng new schemes of genera! advantage
heir merit is more negative than positive.
Inch, II nauscating in ethics. is bv no ;
leans SO IN politics. In legislation to avoid A,
DING damage, - after The example OF the |
st Massachusetts Legislature, isa po;;nt
AIMED, and more than can be always proph
sled. !,
The number of speaking men was not d
reat, but the debaters in the House were of q
re best quality. Field is always equal to y
re best on or oil the floor of the House
larp and severe in his sarcasm-rlear. dec;-
ve' and direct in his arc uments-more ex-
'rlenced IN debate, more ready to catch the Il
mPer OF the House, and better acquainted :
'th the calibre OF Legislative bodies thar I
~ other man in the State-yet wanting in /.
rength and influence with the House when 81
und out, because suspected of not being
ncere or earnest in his positions. ne cares .
tie what side Of question he lakes and .
I" never DC calculated upon. Altogether
harles X. Field was the most noticeable /,
an In the House. Perhaps next, as a de. :
tier, should be ranked Julius A. Reckx;tb /.
M'dd'ebury, straightforward, though Il