Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-19

MATTERS md THINGS SEEN, DONE, OR
TALKED or AT THE CdPITIL.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Termont PhGnirl
MONTPELIER, Nov. 18th, 1859.
Scissors; The bill making an appropriation
for furnishing the State House, paying out
standing debts to the amount of eight or nine
thousand dollars and completing the building
and its accessories, finally passed the House on
Friday by thirty majority. An attempt to linn
it the appropriation to 100000 and confne its
expenditure to paying for the furniture was de-
feated by nearly similar majority
The transit of this Till through the House
elected considerable discussion and no little
feeling. The friends of the measure contcnded
that these debts were contracted by an agent
duly appointed by the State, although there was
difference of opinion among those who voted
for the bill as the authority of the Superintcn-
dent for rebuilding the State House to pledge
the credit of the STATE for any such purpose.-
But all who supported the bill agreed that these
creditors were entitled to their pay, that the
State had entered upon the occupancy of the
building and that to the State alone could they
look for payment. Neither the citizens of
Montpelier, nor the signcrs of the much talked
of "ijond," were in any legal manner response
Die for the payment of these debts, any more
than is any other citizen of Vermont, The
State was legally as well as morally holden for
their payment, and the State could not refrain
from Or decide against their payment without
mourning the stigma of reputation. The sign
crs of the bond aforesaid are to pay whatever
money they are bound to furnish directly into
the Treasury of the State. They have made
no other contract. The men who have done
the work and furnished the materials look to
the State Treasurer, through the Superinten
dent for their pay.
The opponents Of this appropriation did not
contend that the State was not liable for the
payment of these debts, on any other ground
than that the Superintendent had exceeded his
authority, and transcribed his legal power in
making these contracts; and they did not sue
coed in making this point very well apprchcnd-
! ed nor to any considerable extent believed
! There was, indeed, but little said on this side of
the question, and for the best of reasons as very
! little could be said The simple naked question
| that presented itself was this Shall the State
of Vermont, which nobody can see. pay her
honest debts at once ana honorahy or shall
| she incur the-wc mcrited stigma that has so
| dishonored her sister States, by repudating her
debts? 1t seems to me that there could he but
one answer to this simple question; and ! am
happy to say that, far as the House of Rep
rescntatives is concerned, it was properly an
swered.
There is no sort of doubt that the bill will
pass the Senate by large majority.
The House have passed to its third reading
by majority of about two to one a bill proyid-
ing for remission of the penalty incurred by
the Missisquoi Bank for failing, in 1851, to re.
deem its bills in the city of Boston for a period
of more than ten days. There are three Other
banks in this State that incurred similar labil
tiles for neglccing to redeem their bills in cit,
funds during the panic of 1857. One of thes,
insttutions-the st. Ahans Bank--made Il sim
liar application to the Legislature last year, bu
was not successful. 1t strikes me that the re
mission Of this penalty is fraught with more Sc
rious consequences to our currency than an,
other measure that has ever been proposeC
in relation to the banking institutions of thi
| State. If it becomes optional with banks whcth
. err to redeem their bills or not, another rcyul
sion will leave us without any valuable currency
AS matter OF sheer justice to the banks Wh'
kept their credit in the city through that sever
, pressure, the State should pay to those institu
tons a sum sufficient to cover their eXtraordi
r nary expenditures rendered indispensable 10y
compliance with the law, if the penalties in
s. cured by the banks which suspended are re
| mitted.
Many bills have passed both Houses and hav
been approved by the Governor; but nearly a
of these are of minor or of local interest. Tn
most important business of the Session is yc
d but partially perfected. During the preser
; week these matters will come up for discussio
p and action; and as the General Assembly is t
. adjourn ut o'clock on Tuesday morning {
. next week, it is but reasonable to infer thi
something will be done during the few remain
- ing days.
d The Governor has re-appointed the gent,
. men, honorary Colonies, who composed his mi
itary staff last year, among whom is RICHARD
y BRADLEY of Brattleboro. G. {.