Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-12-02
Glre 6ee nress
L!NGTOS:
FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 2 1853.
FROM MONTPELIER.
Montpelier, Nov. %.

Montpelier, Nov. %.
Nsssrs. Editors:
The Legislature has closed up its work for
another session. Trunks, carpet bags, and settle
ments of bills are the order Of the day rather of
the morning hour; and members all anxious
to get away in order TO look after neglected bust
/ ness at home, greet the families from whom they
have been separated, and prepare for the thanks
| giving festival. The last hours of the session
were exceedingly stormy-that is outside the
House. A fall of snow commenced about ten
o'clock last night, and continues without amend
nent or alteration up to the hour of this writing.
At ten o'clock this morning it is nearly six inches
deep and continues to fall heavily and fast.
The session continued up to half past four this
morning, when its ebbng life, which had
continued to wane gradually but senstly
from about ten o'clock last night, drew to a
close. The customary greeting between the diff
ferent members of the household took place, with
the usual soIemnity Of manner-but with less
than the usual amount Of emotional anguish sim
ply because there was not life enough to feel most
| deeply the solemn significance of the parting ce
remonies; and possibly, also, because some of the
parties were brooding over their disappointed
hopes in regard TO the last legacies Of the deceas-
ed. So much had been left undone by the dying
5ofy l must say, not s2lA,-so much had been
procrastinated and put of to the day Of decease,
that the dying body felt all depressed and dis
couraged, and could only move its hand feebly or
respond in scarce audible tones, necessary yes,
or 10, as question after question was pressed upon
it by deeply interested and e1pectant attendants
And moreover, such was the nature Of these ques-
tious, and such the expression nd demeanor of
those who pressed them upon the dying patient,
that it was difficult to determine whether tn at
tendants were really friends and kindred or stran-
gers and aliens. Whoever they we're, they were at
last compelled to turn away, only to reconect and
cherish the favors and mementoes left to them,
of whatsoever kind or value these might be
Those who have never witnessed the closing
hours of the legislature may get some idea Of
what the work Of the last night was, when told
that not less than srfy separate measures or bills
were brought forward and disposed Of in the House
after the evening session commenced, at seven
o'clock. I can give no adequate account Of wha-
all these were, nor how they were disposed Of
Many of them we're such as had been debated and
laid ou the table for further consultation, but had
not before been reached; these were nearly all
fused--on the ground that it was safer t, refuse
bills which had not been matured than Z, pass
them when their working viii be at least question
able.
Many were Senate bills sent back to the House
with amendments, some Of which were concurred
in, and abou. an equal number were noa-concur-
red in; some Of these last were afterwards passed
by the senate, and some failed. OF some of them
the writer knows not their fate and probably
many of tuo members are in the same predica-
ment. and will not know what laws have really
been passed. and what bill have been rejected, till
they read the laws Of the session, as they viii be
published in the newspapers The Probate bill
from the Senate passed the House, with an amend
ment striking out one scction-I ttias the tenth;
further than this have not traced t. The bill to
pay Dr. Powers, came back trau res senate,
amended by restoring the 5t.-1l ,.--s4I of the
Slips, as fixed by the House. tae House re-
fused to concur in the Senate amendment.
committee of conference was asked and granted,
and reported that they could no, a-ree, and this is
the last I know of that. Another large claim was
sent back from the Senate enlarged and the House
refused to concur. Two Senate bills came in, in
the night, one to pay Mr.. Aiken, reporter of the
Senate, for the Burlington Times, $50, and an
other to pay D. W. c. Clarke for teIegraphing the
reports of tho Senate to the Times, $50. The first
was refused, and the latter was only announced
by the Speaker as lying on the table, just before
the final motion to adjourn prevailed
Thus you may be able to guess what was done
and undone and how the Legislature demeaned
itself. But to write it all out is more than have
time, recollection or notes to do.