Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-03
DEBATEONTIIE STATE HOUSE
APPROPRIATION BILL.

In senate NOV.
The bill making an appropriation for re-
building the Stale House, pending the amend
mcnt offered by Mr.. Nicholson that the
legislature meet alternately Mt Rutland and
Burlington, until the building shall be pro
pcrlv finished, was again considered.
REMARKS OF MIR. CIlITTENDEN.
Mr.. Chittcnden said hcwas very unwilling
" forced into is discussion, for reasons
before expressed He thought the matter
had been prccipitated upon Us in no judicious
manner, it being evident that the question
must be settled elsewhere but it was here
and must be met. lie approached, for one,
the subject with no spirit of anger, having
to consider only the bond connected with it.
and that in the spirit Of the oath he had
taken. This was IL matter in which the
State was concerned, and he was surprised to
notice thut some Senators We're FESTIVE under
it. He would warn the people Of Montpelier
AGAINST making this personal question,
feeling that no one upon the iioor OF the
Senate would be diverted from proper action
on such n measure lie hoped he had friends
in the town of Montpelier, and that he was
NOT about TO sever the ties of friendship by
his action. If the cords of that friendship
were not strong enough to endure a debate
upon a public measure, tho sooner they were
broken the better. lie liked to attend the
sessions of the legislature here, but no inlu-
cnce could be thrown around him winch
would change Il position taken IN accordance
with his highest sense of moral and legal
right and duty.
4 bill had been introduced into the Senate
that called for an unconditional aprroprla-
ton Of fifty thousand dollars for completing
the State Capitol. An amendment had been
offered by the Senator from Rutland (Alr. Ev-
crts) providing that this sum shall be raised
upon the bond given to the State by citizens
Of Montpelier, and an amendment to tho
amendment had been proposed by the Senator
! from Rutland (Nlr, Nicholson) that until thu
building was finished the legislature should
! meet alternately ut Burlington and Rutland
If he was to vote for the bill, he preferred
both of the amendments appended thereto
for without the former we should BE- calling
for funds that we had not got. We had beer
told 'that the times were hard and thu
amount of money required to be raised (ever
if legaD upon the bond was large; but witt
| thos. Senators, the sum asked to be appro
priated ont Of thc treasury, he thought, did
not have an equal weight.
There was no evidence but that the lious,
might be completed for one-half of the sun
cumstanccs, had we a right to vote an un
conditional appropriation? In reviewing
the question he should not 60 out of the re
| cords, but by them should examine the cause
of the question being in its present position
| That record was such as TO exclude any per,
sonal views
Here the Senator reviewed the abstracts o.
| Debates and the journal Of the Extra Session
of 81, showing the position of matters Al
that time, relating to the offers made by Bur
lington, Rutland and Montpelier, and th,
final one made by the latter town specified il
the act of location
After the matter Of location had been set
! tied, the question came up whether Montpe
lier or the State would advance the requisit,
sum of money, when Mr.. Spencer moved a
proyso which involved another point, to wit
| the validity Of the bond
Here the senator quoted from Mr. Kit
| trtdge's and Mr.. Bradley's remarks in sup.
| port OF his views.
The gentlemen Uhr obligors of the bond)
now owe tic State one-half Of the cost Of til,
! building, and he thought it best to use thosC
funds due to the State rather than make an
appropriation which must be met by a dis
tinct tax on the people. When the sgner,
of the bond ask to be released from the obliga.
tions he would consider it, but that question
was not now up before the Legislature
Again he quoted from the report Of tn,
superintendent of construction.
1t was time we looked this matter in tho
face and tested the validity of instrument,
executed in good faith, and by which q
question was settled in favor of the obligors
He thought when Montpelier entered int
this obligation that she meant something b,
it, for he knew they were gentlemen whC
lived up to their contracts in other matters
and supposed they would in this, That bone
was executed under full understanding @
its provisions, and the people Of the Stat
were now disposed to hold its signers to the
contract. lie maintained that one-half thesun
of thc,costof construction was due ON the bon,
in February last. lie had examined it at tn
time it was executed, for he thought tina
gentlemen might he found who would try t.
eyade it. To his mind it was clear, an,
now he should vote to have them pay it, lie
those gentlemen who want relief ask it. W
should not be legIslating relief TO those win
do not seek it. lie did not like the argumen
offered here that these were hard times T.
raise money. when our cities are flooded witt
funds whic upon good securities, can b
drawn out ut a less interest than known 70
many years past We might as well NEE
this matter now rs at any time, and TIA
question is, shall we make use of tho preson
time by the adoption Of this amendment t
collect that sum, or resort to suit on IN
bond The old subscription list bad to z
through all our courts and he thought it
warning 10 the Legislature to enforce Tn
bond without expense.
Mr.. Poland arose 10 correct the Senator o
that point Tine faith of Montpelier in tina
contract made was not broken her suhscril
ton list did not - through the courts o.