The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-09-17
Congressional.
IN SENATE,
Friday, Aug. 10, 1856.
ADVANCES BY VERMONT

the State Of Vermont the expenses in.
Cured by her in paying her militia call.
ed out in 1888 and 1889 to preserve tho
neutrality of the country, reported it
without amendment
Mr. FooT. l ask tho unanimous con-
sent of the Senate to put the bill on its
passage at once. There can be no OBJ
lection to it when it is understood
The PRESIDENT pro tenlpore. 1t re-
quires unanimous consent The Chair
hears no objection. Tho bill is before
the Senate as in Committee of the
Whole.
MIR. FooT. Mr.. President, l have on
ly to say that this bill apprOpriates the
sum of $4,000 Is to reimburse the State
Of Vermont for moneys actually appro
priated from her own treasury and ex
pehded in paying portion of her militia
called out at tho request Of the War De-
parlment of tho United States by the
Governor Of Vermont in 1888 and 1899,
for the purpose of maintaining our neu-
trality laws, and of protecting the per-
sons and property Of our citizens along
the frontier, between the State Of Yer
mont and the province of Canada The
claim is based upon appropriations actu
ally made and expended by the State,
and without interest, although the money
was expended some nineteen years ago
so that the interest, if computed, is more
than the principal But all we ask, aud
all this bill proposes, is the payment of
the principal. The claim has been IA
vorably considered by the House at diff
ferent times since 1889, and has failed
only for want of the concurrent action
of tho two Houses at the same Con-
gress, 1t has never been reported upon
adversely by either House. The claim
is a just one, clear one, aud rests upon
the authority of precedent, of principle,
and the observance Of good faith. 1t
would seem to be rather ungracious to
reject this small claim, when you are
appropriating hundreds of thousands and
millions annually to different States aud
Territories to indemnify them for cx-
peuscs incurred for suppressing Indian
hostilities. Nine hundred and thirty
thousand dollars have been appropriated,
at once, to the State of California Cor
this purpose. Other States have been
unidentified by tho Genera! Government
for expenses incurred in SURPRISING in
surrections along our frontiers.
The services out Ct which this claim
grows we're deemed necessary by the
War Department aud by the executive
authority of Vermont, in order to main
tain the integrity Of our neutral rela'
lions, which were seriously threatened
at the time, along the Cauada Dor iers.
twill appear,f from the corresp oudence
in the case, that the attention Of the
Governor Of tho State of Vermont was
called to the situation of the Canadian
frontier by the Secretary of State of the
United States, by letter bearing date the
7th December, 1887, and requiring him
to use every means and effJrt in his pow
CT TO preserve the neutral relations Of
tho United States, at that time threat.
eusd by armed refugees from Canada
who were collected upon the borders, but
within tho territories Of the United
States. 1t also appears, from the evi
dcnce embodied in the House report up
on this subject, that, on tho oh Of Jan.
uary, 1888, Governor Jenison, then the
chief executive magistrate Of the State
of Vermont. received directions from the
War Department to place such a militia
force under the orders of Major General
Scott, then commanding on the northern
frontier. as he might deem necessary and
proper for its protection Ii further ap
pears. from the evidence embraced 10 the
House report, that General Scott assign
ed the command of that portion Of the
frontier lying along the northern line OF
Vermont to Brigadior General Wool
and at the same time addressed letter
to the Governor. authorizing one brigade
to be placed under bis ordsrs, in case be
should deem it necessary
1t further appears, from the evidence
in the case, as collatcd in the House re-
port, that General Wool, on his first Wis
it, did not consider it necessary TO cal
any militia force into the field but that
in the course of the month Of February
1888, when Lake Champlain was i'm
pedcd with ice, and the crossing was haz
ardous, and General Wool being at that
time ON the opposite side of the lake, il
the State of New York, en- nsurgeut
forcc-or what was then called Cana
dian patriot forcc-having broken open
and robbed the arsenal at Elizabeth
town, in the State of New York. collect
ed in arms on the borders of Vermont
and within the territories of the United
States, while an equal number Of armet
men, under the authority of the loca
government of Canada. were collected
on the Canadian side Of the same from
tier. The report proceeds further t,
state:
"This undisciplined Canadian force, wleth
or prompted by the conduct Of the refugees Is
tablshed within our limits, or from whateye
other motive, suireptitiousy and in small band
crossed into the territories Of the United States
and burnt and destroyed a large amount o
property belonging to the peaceable citizens o
Vermont, threatening, in particular, the town
Of Swanton, st. Adams, Highgatc, and Alburg
that the latter town raised company Of milit
for their own protection, which was afterwards
approved Of by the Governor of the State Tn
rest of the towns applied to the Governor, au'
to General Wool, and at the instance Of the lat
ter, brigade was ordered out in the month .
February, 1898; but, before they were muster
.A.... ..lg.1