Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-30

arisen out OF the late contest on the otate HOUSE
question. In that contest Mr.. Merrill had won
the honors and now perhaps it would be just,
as well as courteous and generous in him and
his friends to tender the olive branch, and leave
an open field. Acting upon this ground, Mr.
Merrill was not candidate for the Speakership.
These views were highly satisfactory In all quar-
tiers, and the friends of Messrs. Pierpoint and
Deane acted in the same. No name was pre-
sented but that of Mr.. Edmunds, who was
unanimously nominated by the Caucus. Our
readers have seen how that nomination was rat
flied by the House. and the honor received by
Mr.. Edmunds
On taking the Chair, Mr. Edmunls used the
following language
81 accept with gratitude, and in the spirit
ia which have no doubt it was offered, the un-
solicited honor you have rendered me with so
much unanimity. take it as a token that
whatever Of temporary and local causes may
have created for time feeling of sectional
jealousy among us, Vermont is yet, and is to
be, in her General Assembly unit, indissoluble
in the light of her noble history, and of a rising
future, fraternal and harmonious"
81 then the " olive branch" spoken of by
Mr.. Bradley. was not only sought and tender
ed, but accepted; accepted not privately or by
one man merely, but with very great formality
and in transaction most important in its eff
fects upon legislation.
Later, when the bill making an appropriation
was pending in the House, Mr.. Edmunds took
the floor, and used the following language;
4" Now he would say that Burlington is out of
the ring as to location and moreover cares not,
so far as she herself is concerned, one copper
whether the bond is paid or not. Her people
are ready to pay their proportion, just as the
State chooses to levy it."
He advocated an appropriation of 900 in
stead of $4,000 and said he would prefer to
raise it by tar then.
This whole transaction, during the session of
1857. was statesmanlike, and honorable alike to
Montpelier and Burlington, and to Mr.
Edmunds. And the recent embittered and
complicated embarrassment has been ca4lseSI>
by Burlington and her friends recodins from
| tHcl pOnlll0n tllcn E,XGn.
Prior to the session of 1858 consultation was
had between the citizens of Montpelier and the
leading men throughout the State as to the ex-
pedloncy of Montpelier paying some sum into
the treasury, without reference to the question
Of the maturity of the bond.
The advice of the Chairman of the Commit
tee appointed to prepare plan of the House,
Hon George P. Marsh of Burlington, was solic-
tied and he advised against it decidedly, ut
tering statesmanlike views as to the true
policy Of the State, which policy be be-
ieved would be pursued But it was said
by Others, that if Montpelier should thus come
forward and pay $40 900, itwould be token
of the highest faith, and would so be received
by the State. Here, too, as well as in giving
the bond, Montpelier yielded to the advice and
suggestions of others, and paid SIC, 600 before
the maturity of the bond and before she had
expected to pay; and that, too, in a time Of al
most unparalleled stringeacy in monetary affairs.
Might she not reasonably expect approval and
confidence for this conduct, rather than abuse?
But, at the last session Montpelier was sur
prsed by neio contest for the State House for
it is either disingenuous, or an ill-inforned
mind that does not admit that the contest has
been fer the capitol, rather than for the appro
pration. The forces of Burlington were organ
lied as compacty as at the extra session. They
were compressed into unity, by Il process recently
! introduced into the legislative tactics of YER
f mont, which threatens to annihiate the last
remnant of personal independence 80 that it
was common excuse by members that they
, must go with their counties, although their
| judgments were the other way
A bill was introduced and passed the House
, to have the next sessions, until the completion
, of the House. at Burlington and Rutland A
majority of the Committee on Finance. was
f from localities opposed to Montpelier. That
committee surprised every one. except those in
| the secret of this combination, by reporting a
S bill whcl would cause the work upon the State
5 House to be suspended unless Montpelier should
| pay $55 600 FORTHWITH. This bill passed the
House and the Senate proposed an amendment
, which made an unconditional appropriation and
left the bond in full force The House dis
agreed and a Committee of Conference was ap-
pointed on the last night of the session. consis t.
: ing of Senators Butler, of Windham County,
Gleed, of Lamoille County and Davis Of Gale
donna County, and Messrs, Linsley Of Rutland
/ X lllorr If pr, and Nil ,,o ,c IL.
ford Senator Gleed having been favorable to
the location at Burlington. This commtte
met, and four of the committee agreed upon
r and proposed an amendment which required
: Montpelier to pay $4,000 in addition to the
$ Sl0,00O already paid in, making $4,000, and
D left The bond in fM force ; all amendment which
was regarded as quite severe upon Montpelier
Messrs. Linsley and Kellogg disscnted, because.
as we assert, and as was very evident and not
disguised, that they were opposed to any COM
promise, and ,cere appointed for the purpose Of
, defcafing an appropriation at all hazards SO
, that it could be called committee of conference
: only by courtesy.
t Upon this report being made to the Senate,
$ they receded from their former amonlm mt,
: adopted the amendment recommended 10y the
{ committeeof conference and sent tito the House
Q But 1t hadbeen theeoncerted plan to stop the
work uponthe State House in some way, and
therefore tho question must be Graded on some
t protext. And it WIS intact wholly evtlel by
} very y lroit syst, oispeclal pleading, maneu-
4 verins and f5i5nel issues.
The Speaker refused to r ec,re tie message
from the Senate for the reason MS he ruled, flat
: the committee of conference had made no re