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

Itau. nc Dill itself IS read once. fcicc. and
Is about to be read three times. and its final
passage to be engrossed, all in the space Of
pre- minutes. This is certainly unusual in the
history of legislation, even on the most triv-
ial and unimportant subjects Not even
iish bill, dog bill, OF muskrat bill would
be thus hastily crowded through the house.
may be mistaken, said Mr. Marsh, but it
did look to me as if there was a design some
where to act upon this bill hastily and with
out due consideration II was frequently OBJ
served at our former sessions, by a gentle
man not now a member, when his suspicious
were excited, that There was a cat in the
meal, and he did not know but there might
be a "cat' here
Besides, we have a select committee, said
Mr.. Marsh, appointed on purpose to examine
the works on the State House, 70 investigate
the whole subject, and report to this House
what legislation is necessary, aud whether. in
then Judgment, an appropriation is necessary
at this time for the purpose of prosecuting
the work. Yet, without waiting for the re-
port OF that committee, or learning what in-
formation they have collected. or what lcgis-
lntion is, in their opinion. needed, tho Ways
and Means committee made their report
Sir, said Mr.. Marsh, | agree exactly with
the gentleman from Cavendish on one point
] am glad that the naked question is at last
presented stripped of all considerations that
do not belong TO it, Is it expedient TO make
this appropriation at This time Is the State
or the people, or the members of the lcgsla-
ture, going 70 suffer or be damaged if we wait
until materials are cheaper and the walls more
compactly settled, while in the meantime we
are paying up some of our debts But gem
tlemen seemed determined to lug in this qucs-
tion of location, this question about the sup
posed interests Of Montpelier as if that would
be likely to affect the decision of the qucs-
tion.
Now, said Mr.. NJ, have had some little
past experience in this business, and do not
desire to make Montpelier party unless nee
cssary. Because, if she consider herself
party, | know her faculty and her power to
wipe out maioritics against her here too well
to desire that any difference of opinion we
may have in regard to this bill shall be made
TO turn on this point.
Gentlemen tell us about the contract, and
say that we are under obligation to Montpcl-
Ter, by the terms of that contract, 10 mako
this appropriation. Look at tho law Of last
February, and see if you can find such CON
tract there Not a word said about the State /
being under obligation to make a cent of ap-
preparation at any time. It is true an appro-
priation Of $4,000 is made. but it is equally /
true that it was almost universally supposed. |.
at the time the bill passed. that the State
would never again be called upon for dollar.
The inhabitants Of Montpelier by that act,
are 20 give a bond to pay one-half the whole .
cost of the State House in one year-which .
will be on the first day of next March-and /
the other half in two years. or on the COM I
pction of the work. The $4,000 it was
supposed would carry on the work until those
who executed the bond would be ready and
willing to make payment.
But tho gentleman from Rochester, Mr.
Webher, informs us that the State does not .
owe more than S26.O0O in all should like .
to know, said Mr. Marsh, what kind of in
ycsti CATION that gentleman has instituted to
lead him to this conclusion. Docs any intel
lgcnt gentleman this nvor believe that the /
State debt amounts to only $4,000: | ask /
that gentleman what he has to say to the .
$ 90, 900 we are about TO borrow, if we can .
get iti-the $4,000 we appropriated last
fall to pay the debts against the State the
$4,000 debt we created last winter, and how
much moro since, and still morc how much
dobt we are about to make, and how much
money we are about TO squander no one knows
| trust that, for reasons before stated, it will .
not be so expended by this appropriation at
this time