Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-20

they have undergone during the existence of
our government.
The floor of the Senate has been the base of
a yet unfinished discussion of Freedom and the
inalienable rights of man in general, and the
necessity for the enactment of some law to pre-.
vent the rendition of fugitive slaves in particu-
lar. Senator Nicholson is the appointed cham
pion of those who desire further and more
stringent legislation on this extended and, in
some respects, rather indefinite subject. have
not had the opportunity of hearing him more
than five minutes, but even that short space of
time was sufficient to convince me that if his
matter is as strong as his manner is forcible, he
must force conviction upon the strongest class
of doubters. The democratic Senator, Mr..
French of Essex, is perfectly inexcusablc for af-
fectng to treat this serious subject with any de-
gree Of levity. A day or two since he moved
to add another section to the bill introduced
and advocated by the Senator from Rutland. as
follows:-
"SEcr1oS = All parts or the Constitution and laws
Of the United States inconsistent with this act arc
hereby repealed"
1t is perhaps needless to remark that this very
unwarrantable amendment received but one
vote, but the fact that it was offered ut ali
is sufficient evidence of the manner in which
prejudced minds will attempt to put wrong
constructions on such very necessary legislation
as is proposed by the Senator from Rutland
Every man should be permitted to indulge with
out let or hindrance in his pecularities when
no one else is injured by such Indulgence.
The Senate have under discussion bill re-
ported by Senator Butler as an amendment to
bill referred to the Committee on Roads, en-
titled, "An Act in addition to and in amendment
''of An Act to incorporate the Vermont and
Canada Railroad Company. Approved, Octo-
"ber 81, 1916" The gist of this bill is to COM
pei the Vermont and Canada Railroad Company
to construct a road connecting with their road
at Milton to Burlington, within four years from
the 3lst of October 1868, and to expend $50
900 thereon within nine months from the last
named date.
1t appears that the Legislature of Vermont,
in 1S43, granted, simultaneously, two railroad
charters one for the Champlain and Connect
cut River Railroad Company, (now known as
the Rutland and Burlington Railroad Company
which was to connect Burlington, passing
through the valley of the Otter Greek River.
with some point on the Connecticut River; the
other for the Vermont Central, which was to
start 'from some point on the eastern shore of
Lake Champlain, thence up the valley of Onion
River" and extending to the Connecticut River.
All parties and all interests concurred in grant
ing these charters, and from the legislation of
that period and since it is apparent that each
OF these roads was to be placed upon an equal
footing with the other so far as the business
north of Burlington was concerned.
In 1915 the Vermont Central claimed the
right under the wording of its charter, to extend
Its road along the entire eastern shore of Lake
Champain, north of Burlington, thus control
ling all the business of that section, 10. bern
New York and Canada, and dyei,irs the same
from the Rutland and Burlington ruat Under
these circumstances the Legislature of 1916 was
called upon for remedy. As result of
compromise the Vermont and Canada Railroad
Company was chartered as an independent cor
poration. This charter required this road to
connect with the Rutland and Burlington sat
the village of Burlington, and that its adjust
ments with the Rutland and Burlington and
with the Central should be such as to" secure
no unreasonable advantage to one corporation
over the other.
In 1919, the Vermont Central leased the Yer
mont and Canada road for % years, which lease
was extended the next year % years more, or
90 years in all. This enabled the Vermont
Central to operate continuous line from Wind
sor to Rouse's Point, thus shutting out the Rut-
land and Burlington road from participation
in the business of the Vermont and Canada, in
stead of giving it advantages equal to the Cen
trail as was contemplated by tine charter of the
Vermont and Canada.
The time for the completion of the connec-
ton between the Vermont and Canada road with
the Rutland and Burlington, expired on the list
day of October, but has been extended since
the Legislature assembled by special acts week.
ly passed to the close of the 18th instant With
out this extension the charter of the Vermont
and Canada road would have become forfeited.
The friends of the latter road contend that they
have already formed such a connection at Essex
Junction, but it seems that they hardly believe
it sufficient from their subsequent action.
The lobby is well filed by Boston brokers
and representatives of Boston interests, and
the excitement attending the discussion of the
subject in the Senate is not inconsiderable. l
am informed that the bill will pass the Senate
and that it will be vigorously assailed and as
vigorously defended in the House. What will
be the fate Of the measure l cannot say. You
have the facts as l understand them and, as
most of them are derived from the able report
of the Committee on Roads, presume they are
substantially correct.
Since writing the above, learn that the bill
in relation to the Railroad connections at Bur-
lington, passed the Senate by vote of l6 yeas
to nays-all the Senators from Windham
County voting with the majority