Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-11-05
To the Gcnerai assembly Of thc S0ie Of u
mont, nor IN session:


To the Gcnerai ASsm,Jiy Of the state Of Var
mont, NOR IN session:
In public document addressed to His
Excellency by Thomas L. Powers, Supcrin-
tcndent of Construction, ut the new state
House, | am spoken of Us the person first
employed as Architect Of that building, and
as one whose taste and skill he had praised
in former report, ''under sad misappre-
hension of facts.
The Superintendent further informs HIS
Excellency that actuated by reasons known
to "him'-but mystcriously withheld from
the public,-l attempted to make an ar
rangemcnt to spend all my time at the work
that this would cause largely increased cx-
pensc to the State; that he had long before
discovered my inability, ur incompatency,
&c. Then follows some well affected cynJr-
ton for his mistake in having employed me.
and the statement that, without detrimcnt
to the interests of the State, he gladly ac-
! cepted my resignation.
| This memorial is no fit occasion for speci-
| fying the number of ialsehoods contained in
the document to which reference is made
Their number and magnitude will in due
time be discovered by those who make the
Investigations.
was employed to perform the duties Of
Architect for the Capitol, from beginning To
end, for which service | was to receive u
specified sum, and was to hold myself in
readiness to go to Montpelier whenever re-
quested by the Superintendent, provided it
should not be ottener than once in two weeks
the State paying my expenses of travel and
board while at Montpelier. Being aware
that Doct. Powers had no architectural edit
cation, or experience in the construction of
buildings, other than what he obtained in
building a Court House, OF which | was
| Architect, 1t never OccuI4ed npssi-
BILE, that he would install himself as architect
of the Capitol, keep me at distance Of two
hundred miles, laboriously answering his
written questions, and make me responsible
for his blunders, without an opportunity of
protesting against them. |, therefore did
not stipulate to be aiiotced to vioit the work,
on successful accomplishment OF which my
reputation as an Architect depended
Al the firot Of March last, one year had
expired, and had been called 10 Montpelier
four times only,
My labors and anxieties had both been
greatly increased by this mode of procedure,
and felt that we We're approaching por-
ton of the work when such course would
ruin my reputation, and deeply iniure the
interests of the State. seriously believed
that the State would be the gamer, to pay
me what the railroad fares and my board
would amount to, and have my constant at
tendance at the work This is all have
ever demanded of the Superintendent in mat
ters pertaining to remuneration. Doct.
Powers thought the mode he had been pur-
suing was sufficiently perfect, and that if he
could only have me at what he called shear
ing distance - all would end well.
Despairing of changing his purpose, i then
proposed that | should be allowed to resign
my situation as Architect, To this he repli
ed in letter evidently addressed TO my fears,
informing me that was mistaken in the
supposition that could "bow myself out of
a contract deliberately made
| next informed the Commissioners of my
situation, and received hOni them through
their Chairman the advice that since ! was
holden by contract for the performance oi
services as Architect, and resignation OF
that trust was not permitted, that recall
nv tender ofresignation, and remain, faith
fully performing my every duty to the best
of my ability, and to attain the end in view
should visit Montpelier, not merely so much
as Doct Powers should invite, but as much
as my own Judgment informed me the inte-
rests of my real master, the State of Vermont,
required,
That advice | followed, and have constan t
ly performed my task with the best abilit
| could command. From time to time, a
particular occasions have required, hav
protested against what appeared to me to b
errors, and have generally succeeded for the
most part, however, it has been but with
great difficulty that have obtained cor
rection of the errors against which protest
ed.
My services of this nature have incurred
the displeasure of Doct. Powers. While
was willing to remain in Boston, and stanC
sponsor for his acts, was praised and t1atter
ed When | could no longer dare to do so
am publicly abused in an official docu
ment addressed TO His Excellency, the Cover
nor.