Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-02-20


mcnt. lie thought il was highly important
/ that we should decide whore we should go to
before we concluded to leave. lie was in
clined to think we should be making fools of
ourselves to resolve to remove without decid-
ing where.
Mr.. Pierpoint thanked the Senator MIR.
Benton for the amendment proposed He
said he was in favor of the last amendment,
decidedly, it was in accordance with his in
structions. laughter
On motion of Mr. Warner the resolution
wrs laid upon the table.
On motion of Mr. Underwood, the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
After waiting some time, Mr.. Kittrodgo Of
Farhaven. suggested that somebody must
open the dance He had no partially him
self, and preferred that somebody who IS in
tcrcstcd should take the first step: but as no
one seemed disposed to take the first step, he
would do it, lie therefore introduced the
following:
" Resoiced. That in the judgment of this
House. it is ineXpedicnt to repair or rebuild
the State House within the town Of Montpo-
Her"
Mr. Kittredgc said that he would be per-
fectly willing to present the resolution in the
affirmative form-that is to declare that it is
expediont, &c His sole purpose was to pre-
sent the question in simple form. embracing
one leading point, disconnected from other
propositions.
Mr.. Bradley thought it would be maniiestly
unfair to Montpelier to present the question in
this form. inasmuch as anybody who preferred
some other place, might unite in favor of this
resolution And it would, for the same rca-
son be unfair to Burlington or to Rutland, or
to Bellows Falls. or to any other place. He
would have this proposition, and all others,
referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Kittredge said his resolution was not
designed to prejudice the claims of Mont
pclcr. and he did not see that it would have
this effect. He supposed Of course that it
would be referred.
Mr. Dean of Grafton, moved to refer the
resolution to the committee of the whole ;
which the Speaker decided to be equivalent to
a motion TO go into committee of tho whole
at this time on the resolution proposed by
Mr. Kittredgo, and he presented the question
in that form.
The motion was agreed to, and the House
went into Committee of the whole, Mr. Dean
Of Grafton in the chair
Mr. Merrill, of Montpelier, said that he
did not propose now to discuss this resolu-
ton, but he would take the occasion so state
generally the facts in relation to the establish
mont of the State House az Montpelier In
1905 the state fixed the capital at Montpelier.
and proposed to make it the permanent capi-
TALL where all the sessions shall be holden. if
Montpelier would furnish land and erect the
buildings, provided that, in case of a removal
by any future legislature. the State should pay
for the land, buildings and property thereon,
at a fair appraisal at the time Montpelier
accepted this proposition of the State and
erected buildings, at a cost Of $4,000 in adj
dition to the land; and the property was deed
ed 10 the State in terms embracing all the
pledges and provisions made by the State to
Montpelier in the act Of 1905. In 1882 the
State provided for the erection of a new State
House at Montpelier. on condition that Mont
pelier would give $4,000, which sum was
paid. and an additional sum, exceeding SO 900.
in additional land. In the deeds of this land.
required and accepted by the State, the grants
are conditioned for the sole use of erecting a
State House, and for grounds around the
same. 1t thus appeared that the title of the
State to the present property rested on CON
dihons to pay the value of a part and. as to
all the rest, Of rcversion to the original own
ers, on removal of the Capital Mr. Merrill
then proceeded TO state the cost and value of
the State property at Montpelier, and the cost
of putting the present house in as perfect CON
dition as IL was riginally-showing that the
loss TO the State by removal would exceed
100000. To correct wrong impressions. he
added that no part of the money contributed
by Montpelier had ever been refunded. and
that the walls Of the building are -substand-
ally perfect-that. with the exception of parts
to be replaced, the walls airs as sound AS they
We're originally. He also added, that Mont
pelior had invested largely in property for the
accommodation of the Legislature
Mr. Kittredge said he did not doubt the
correctness of the statements by the gentle
man from Montpelier, yet they should be pre-
scented in a form so that they could be thor
oughly understood and fairly considered
He unaSiRad that other towns had PROPOSE
tiona iements to make, which should
also lered, and he hoped they would
be M fHhis time, as to bring the whole
subietf"before the comittee.
Mr.. Stacy of Burlington said the simple
question presented is, whether it is desirable
to change the capital. He was aware that
there are embarrassments in the way of this
questlon-as to expense, alluded to by the
gentleman from Montpelier, and as to other
offers, alluded to by the gentleman from
fairhaven. To remove these endorsements
he would say that Burlington stands ready
to furnish as good grounds, foundation and
building as the present, free Of expense to the
State. He did not do this to bid against
but to place Burlington on an
equality with Montpelier, and to diyest the
question of dollars and cents. This left the
question simply whether it is desirable to
change He supposed the gentleman from
Montpelier claimed three things-lst, that
the State is pledged to Montpelier by the act
of sos; ID, that the state has on hand real
estate which it will lose and 3D., that Mont
pelior has learned to depend great deal on
the capital for its support. Mr. Stacy then
showed that the sessions had been holden in
various towns, one year ormorc in q town. for
I years, and for so years since at Montpe-
Her In 1905 it seemed expedient to locate
in one place for the time being, and Montpe-
her was selected as being most central and
It was provided that il Montpelier would
build house, the State would occupy it or
pay for it. The word permanent" was us
ed, but he thought it did not imply perma-
nent location, but was used in reference to
the frequent changes previously If it did .
mrlK "a 1