Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-11-27
LEGISLATURE or VERMONT.

= Mr.. MARSH said that before proceeding Ia
submit any remarks to the House, he propos-
cd to put question to the Chairman of the
Committee Of Ways and Means. He would
inquire Of the Chairman if the Committee had
IN contemplation another appropriation bill TO
report to the House at this session, and if so
how large and for what purposes;
Mr. PIERPoINr, in reply, stated that the
Committee would, he presumed, report a fur
ther appropriation bill Of some sixty or seven
ty thousand dollars to meet the current ox-
ponses Of the year.
Mr.. MARsH.-IIas the Committee ascer-
tanned what the State tax for this year will
be, and if so, how much on the dollar;
Mr.. PIERrorNT.--lt is supposed the State
tax ior this year will be 6 per cent.
Mr.. MARsH.-Nr. Speaker er-When the gem
tleman from Chelsea Mr.. Martin, intimated
yesterday that had strong desire TO speak
on the subject Of the bin before the House, |
can assure the gentleman that he could have
said nothing further from the truth Moth
ing could be further from my inclinations or
desires. ! had hoped, and the people of my
section Of the State had hoped. that this dis
turbing topic would not be introduced at this
session Of our Legislature. have letters
from them strongly expressive of this hope,
and we did cherish the belief that nothing
would occur TO disturb the general harmony
existing among the members of this body
a general impression had gone abroad that
the subject would rest for this session. and
nothing but an absolute necessity, a duty to
my constituents, that dare not disregard,
induces me to say word on this question.
/ Mr. Speaker. when | took occasion, the
other day, to enter my earnest protest against
the bill reported by the Committee of Wavs
and Means to authorize the State Treasurer
TO borrow ono hundred Thousand dollars an
long credit Of five or six years and nor
haps. issue treasury notes. or some otbcr form
of shin plastors for the same. did not imao-
inc or dream that they would. in "a few, short
davs. report another b1l appronriating fny
thousand dollars 10 continue tba work an the
State House. The ink is hardly drv which
records the beginning of permanent state
debt the annual interest Of which is to he
rolled up for wears against the peonle before
another bin comes in here from tho same
Committee for flty thousand dollars more
Forty thousand dollars az the extra session
one hundred thousand dollars the other dav.
on time. and fnv thousand dollars more now
And what next: Who knows how soon we
shall have another bill. or batch of bills re-
ported. asking for 6ftv. sixtv mr. an hundred
thousand more: Over and above all these
we appropriated $4,000 last fall 70 moot an
demands AGAINST the State--to mako onr-
selves Gran with tho world. But instead of
being even or ont of debit ve find oprselvcs
in worse condition than ever Tho leakags
still goes on. notwithstanding the S75 000
and is still ipcreasin, M fearful rate in sn;to
of the 500 600. one hundred thousand dol.
lars.) which we are about to borrow.
When. sir, an individual fails to nav his
debts, when he attempts to raise he r,nd
by borrowing money 90 keep up appearances
il is generally Sc; down as a failure. So too
of the banks or other corporations. or mor-
chants who fail TO meet their obligations
And If the State, instead of meeting the cri-
sis maufully, and at once, with a State tax
large enough TO cover its Indebtedness, re-
sorts to a loan on time, dag Of reckoning rU
surely como, sooner or later, when every dol
lar Of this money must be paid. principal and
interest, in a tax on the grand list and then
what will an abused people say TO their repre-
sentatyes who have imposed these heavy
burthens upon them.
When | said that the report ofthis bill op-
Grated as a surprise on the members of this
House. | think | spoke the feelings and sem
timonts of many others besides myself Sir,
the stiffness of death has pcryadcd this whole
subject ever since the commencement of the
session, to the time the Committee made their
report. have made numberless enquiries,
and have other members, but could learn
nothing in relation to it. Sir, this subject
has not been called up in Committee at all,
as one of It's members informs me, until with
in day or two and this report is thus sud
denly sprung upon us near the close of the
session. A question of most vital impor-
tance in pecuniary point ofviow to the whole
people Of the State--a measure requiring de-
liberation and close scrutiny, on which time
should be taken and full discussion had, is
thrust in here unexpectedly. without notice.
without warning, to be considered if at all,
/ in the few expiring moments that are still left
to this session Sir, had hoped that this
ycxed subject, this frebrand, would not thus
suddenly be thrust upon us to create disirust
and distraction to break up and destroy that
good feeling and cordiality which has hereto
fore prevailed among the members of both
| Houses.
And here let me say, Mr.. Speaker, that
entertain no sectional feeling in this matter.
The question of location for our State House
a.. "a