Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-26
THE LATE SESSION or THE LEGLSLA-
TIRE

The adjournment of the Legislature on the
mc.+ning OF the ODD, after a session of nearly
Nix weeks was speedily followed by the exodus
from Montpelier, of not only the members, but
also of numerous claimants, attorneys, agents,
and the entire list of those composing the
Third House, The "hurrying to and fro,"
the packing of baggage, and the rapid exchange
of valedictories occupied three or four hours
and then the ordinary business of Montpelier
a town succeeded the more extraordinary
business of Montpelier as the capital of the
State.
The amount of business performed is no cri-
terion by which to Judge of the ability, industry,
or faithfulness of those in whom the wisdom
and virtue of the State is for the time conferred.
1t often requires large measure of ability and
no little skill in management, to secure the en-
actment of Just and wholesome law but quite
as often a much larger measure of these same
qualities are requisite in preventing the passage
of bills which, if suffered to become laws, would
be productive of evil, of evil only and that con-
tinually. An individual representative or the
legislature generally, then, cannot be correctly
and fairly estimated by the amount of new bus
mess he has initiated or by the number of new
laws that have been made. Neither can the
seal of APPROPRIATION nor that of condemnation
be appropriately affixed until time, the great
demonstration of almost all excellence and the
certain exposer of all wrongs, shall have pre-
pared the appropriate certificate
The general machinery of government in
this State is much less complicated in its char
acter than that of most of the older States
hence no nconsiderable share of the business
that comes before the legislature relates to per-
sonal and local interests. In this class may be
enumerated all acts for the changing of names,
acts of Incorporation, and matters connected
with the adjustment of town lines. Probably
two-thirds of the bills which passed both
branches of the General Assembly during the
late session were of this character.
The number of general laws made will, we
think, be found less than usual, although some
of them are of great importar ce as they in
augurate new principles in the administration
of public affairs Among this latter class may
be enumerated he acts relating to States At
torneys, and that relating to Probate officers
Hereafter States Attorneys and Judges of Pro-
nate are to receive certain fixed salaries, which
salaries are to be in full compensation for all
their duties. The fees accruing to both offices
are to be paid through these officers into the
State Treasury if all is found correct, they
draw their salaries The fees for all probate
business are established by law; and every
person who does business with that Office will
know precisely what he is to pay. Judges of
Probate appoint their Registers, make such
terms with them as they shall see fit, and are
responsible for all their official acts
The school law remains essentially unchang-
ed, notwithstanding the introduction of half a
score or so of bills to alter, modify, Or repeal
various provisions of that enactment.
The liquor law also remains intact. A bill
was introduced to abolish the office of County
Commissioner, and to give the select men of
the several towns the power of appointing the
town agents for their respective towns. 1t
seemed to meet with considerable favor at first,
but an ardent friend Of the present law warned
"the temperance men against having their heels
trpped up in this clandestine manner; there
upon the bill was defeated.
BY the terms of the act making provision for
the support of government, a tax of seventeen
cents on the dollar was laid upon the Grand
List of 1859, being an advance Of three per
cert over the tax of 1858.
An act was passed to remedy the construc-
ton put by the Supreme Court upon the effect
of chattel mortgages in other States, when the
property thus mortgaged is brought into this
State and attached here. Under the ruling of
the Court such an attachment would not hold,
but under the operation of the act of this ses-
sion the property mortgaged elsewhere cannot,
when found in Vermont be holden under such
mortgage as against mn attaching creditor.
Other changes in the statutes might be in
stanced, but the general laws will soon appear
in full in all the papers.
The matter Of town lines occupied no small
share of the time Of several committees and ex-
cited good deal of discussion in the House.
Tue Only act Oh tnut SORT OF interest TO the IN
habitants of this county, is the one supplement
tary to that of last year, annexing q part of
Somerset to Wilmington and part to Stratton
This act provides that the paupers who have
legal settlement in any of said portions of the
original town of Somerset, shall be supported
by the towns to which such portions have been
anne&ads but a proviso was attached which
preciudes this act from affecting any suit or
suits now pending in any of the courts of the
State.
Bills were before the legislature to annex
part Of Tinmouh to Wells, Ferrisburgh to
Panton, weybridge to Addison, Shelburne to
st. George, Elmore TO Morristown, Norwich to
Thetford and petitions for the annexation of
parts Of Rochester 10 HttsGeld and Moretown
to Berlin. Mornstown gets slice from Ell
more, provided a majority of the inhabitants of
both towns will agree to tau event not like
ly to happen at present AN thc other at
tempts at changing town lines did not amount
Inn .Io A