Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-02-27
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER,
&. A. - T. n VI d u Ie

MONTPELIER, Feb. 81, 1857. !
The vote to allow "the claims,' as the |
current phrase is, Of each town, to be made
the scat of government, to be presented be
fore the committee of the whole house,
occasioned some amusing calculations as to
when the hearing would be through with.
The number of towns spoken of in conncz-
ion with the subject being constantly in
creasing, the possibility of 2Il speeches Of
an hour each-occupying ten entire days
OF twenty-four hours each, even if there was
no knocking off for meals or sleep was said to
be ominous of long session. However
it soon was understood that only three
speeches would be made under that resolution
and that Judge Plerpont of Rutland. Mr..
Dillingham; of Waterbury and Mr. E1munds
OF Burlington, were to make them.
When Friday morning came, there was
the customary going into committee and
out Of committee and into committee again
before the points of order could be stuck in
their right places. Expectation was on
tiptoe the house was full, and all having
got seats who could. and the rest made as
easy as possible on standees, Judge Pier
pont, speaking for Rutland, opened the
debate.
lie reverted to the time when there was
no re guar place of holding the Sessions of
the General Assembly, when from..session to
session at the close OF one a vote was taken to
determine where the next one should be held.
The country was new stages even were
unknown two or three selkies comprised
all the riding carriages in the State, and the
members went to place of meeting on horse
back. Few knew anything of Montpelier.
and the place was designated at the instance
of some who lived there and near there as
being pretty central and members generally
supposed that if they went up from all parts
to Montpelier, they should be in sort of
commanding position to overlook the Whole
State. The disappointment felt when they
found themselves in so narrow quarters was
freely expressed, though Mr.. Davis lad
built new tavcrn-perhaps quarter as
large as the Pavilion. The State House
was looked upon as an Object of wonder for
its size, IN State whore every thing for
most of the people was on very humble
scale.
From that day to the present, the dis
satisfaction with the location had continued
and repeated attempts to change it had been
made. The fault was not with the people
Of M0ntpcicr who doubtless had d n, al
they could be expected to do, but with the
location. In 1870 perhaps the removal
came nearest to being Effected. In l-9a
owing to the peculiar state of parties in the
State, notwithstanding the wide dissatisllc-
ton. decision was made to rebuild in Mont
pelier. The expense of the structure far
outreached public expectation. Doubtless
the intention of those who controlled the
action under the law for rebuilding WAS to
anchor the STATE House so firmly in the
rocks that it would never he stirred. The
destruction of the building had, howcy r,
opened the case anew. Judge pierront
briefly reviewed the acts and showed Il at
the question was entirely under legislative
control. If the scat of government should
be changed, certain pccunary rights.
and rights TO pieces of ground, would doubt
less belong to individuals and must lie re-
garded. As to the value Of the old wool. n
State House he believed it was sIll for IL
bout seventy five dollars. When thes.
claims were satisfied there could be no claim,
by virtue of any legislative act,-nor, in
his view, on any other ground-that the
seat of government should remain Mt Mont
pelicr. No doubt, by change Of location
private interests near by would be ailec,e /;
but that was unavoidable in all cases of
change, and the private convenience must
yield to the public good.
The entire change in modes of conveyance
had taken away what ground there originally
was for building in Montpelier as geo
graphical center-and in the feeling of the
people abroad in the State, the State House
was peculiarly out of the way, to the injury
of the public convenience and the reputation
of the State,
Rutland, he said, was cmincnty easy of
access by rail road from all parts of the
State-the country was open and beautiful
none in Vermont moro SO ; though it had
not the popularity of water scenery which
was possessed by Burlington. The people
were comfortable iyers and ahun iantlv able
to furnish Accommodations Of all kinds to
those who should assemble there its pro.
perity was on the increase, and from COM
parison of the rateable polls he thought vas
going ahead of Burlington. 1t ahoundcd
IN ;.,uanle marble qnarres, and from all
considerations, was eminently well fitted for
the seat Of Government and if the legislature
should see fit to place the Capitol there, the
people would engage to do as much towards
the cost as the people ofany other town in
the State.
Mr. Dillingham; reviewed the legislation
Of 1905 and 1892 and had no doubt TIE
Legislature could legally remove the scat Of
government by making good the conditions
specified to those who furnished the lanl
and the old building; but il would he Il
great cost to the State to do 50. The sacri-
flee Of the llnd and the present building
he rNckonci up at a good deal more than
500 1000 about Sl2O coo, il we rcmem-
Der arighD all of which would he saved
by repairing the structure which had been
burned. Moreover he thought there was a
strong moral Obligation to the people Of
Montpelier to do SO. Thcy Lad given a
considerable sum- eco under the act
of 1852, ald above $1,000 b'sil's-in the
way Of getting satisfactory site, and en-
hrgementJ OF accommodations Lad been
made by indiYiu to meet the wants of
the public at the sessions of the Legislature,
which would lose great deal Of their value