Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-01-14

upOn the altar OF our noble commonwealth
And while so offering herself as a sacri-
flee, she will only lament that she has been
leaning upon broken reed but viii gather
up the resources that remain to her, and
hope to be sustained by those elevating sem
timents that always attend and bless patriot
ic sacrifices. ALI that she objects to is, to
be made a sacrifice to the interests of any
one town--or to the pride of any prouder
rival.
On the afternoon of February 26ih, the
final ballot was taken, and a majority was
found in favor of Montpelier. Thereup-
on, the bill for rebuilding at Montpelier
was taken up and referred to committee
Of five, composed Of Messrs. Merrill of
Montpelier, Stacy of Burlington, Barnes OF
Rutland, Powers of Woodstock, and Stew
art of Middlebury and at the evening ses-
sion this committee Mr.. Stacy only dis
senting) reported a bill providing that
Montpelier should give security to pay
-- thousand dollars, one-half in one
year and one-half in two years; leaving it
for the house to fill the blank, and not
do,tJtiay, from the indications Of sentiment
as to the true policy Of the State, that some
reasonable sum would be inserted.
But, before the evening session last,
desperate attempt was devised and organ
lied by the friends Of Burlington, which
was to push Montpelier to the EXTREMIST
offer, and clog the bill with impracticablc
conditions, in order if possible TO defeat IT..
Accordingly, Mr.. Stacy reported, as mi
nority Of the committee, provision for
Montpeliers giving bond to rebuild with
such alterations in the internal arrangements
as the committee shall direct" And if
Montpelier did not furnish bond, then
Burlington might furnish bond TO build a.
house equal III structure, proportions and
accommodations to the one destroyed by fire"
1t is remarkable fact, which somehow
seems to have escaped notice, that the ofer
of Burlington never went beyond building
a House equal to the one destroyed. They
never offered to build one equal to the one
now in progress of erection.
Mr.. Powers thereupon argued that the
State must 90 forward and build.
Mr. Kutredge thought, he said, the bils
ought to embrace the offer of Montpelier,
saying:
"The gentleman from Woodstock pro-
poses to let Montpelier off. In that he
might agree But he wished to know
whether Montpelier holds herself bound by
her Offer If so, the matter can be easily
arranged in the bill though he apprehend<
ed that after all it will not be convenient
for any Of these towns 10 pay what they
agree to, and that the State win have to
relieve them
Mr.. Merrill Of Montpelier, said that
"As an iadividnat and as o legislator, he
was decidedly opposed 10 allowing amp
town TO build or contribute to build a State
House; he would be opposed to it whether
the house is to be at Montpelier, Burling-
ton or any other town, and he had always
SO expressed himself That as the repre-
sentative Of Montpelier he would say, that
Montpelier evaded nothing, withdrew noth~
ing from its offer
Mr.. Kittredge thought Montpelier should
fill the blank. For one he would vote
against making Montpelier or any oiheT
town build the house"
Mr.. Bradley Of Brattleboro, said:
"For his own part he despised from the
bottom of his heart, and below the bottom
of his heart, this system of sponging the
towns. But the State has got into the dirt;
we must roll in it let US roll in it tittfe,
and fix some sum. He would fix a reason
able sum"
Mr.. Kimball of Putney, Jealous oppo-
nent Of Montpelier, talked with loud clamor
and charged that there was equivocation
and lodging, and called on Montpelier TO
carry out their offer.
The excitement now ran high, and on
consultation it was deemed advisable to
stop at once this attempt to defeat the bill
by indirect and hypocritical objections, and
Mr. Merrill then moved an amendment to
strike out the words requiring the payment
of certain sum, "one half in one year
and the ether half in two years" and insert
a provision for a bond to secure the pay
ment of certain sum, some half in one
year and the other half in two years" and
insert provision for a bond to secure the
payment of the expense, (but from hurry
and inadvertence retaining the provision for
the payment Of one-half in one year, &c,
which Of course was nugatory aid a blum
der, as it is Of course impossible to ascers
tain The half of IN anknoaca sum-
This amendment was made solely in or
der to have the location decided upon ifs
merits by having the offers equal, trusting
10 future Legislature to act dispassionate-
ly and wisely in regard to the time and
manner Of enolrcing the bond.
On this amendment Messrs. Barnes OF
Rutland, Kittredge and Spencer voted ia
Tie negqtive.
On the 27th. the struggle was continued
by Offering amendments, the schols and eos-
dent purpase of which was to defeat the lo-
cation At Montpelier. Mr. Spencer moved
an amendment requiring Montpelier to pay
in II om time to time as necessary, the State
never to'pay over $4,000 in advance.
Mr.. Powers objected to this amendment
because the State should secure a House
Independently of any town.
Judge Kittredge (who was then Circuit
Jndgc) said be thought the courts would
not enforce the bond, because Montpelier
has Paid enough. and that the loss OF the
properly was Pyorsdentiai-not the faulf
! Of Monfpeler