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

Ol DiOiipeilef, Huu Ttau III llle llOuSe an
estimate made by Mr.. Slloway, the Archi-
tecs, stating the expense Of rebuilding to
be S45,7o5. The opponents of Montpelier
argued and claimed that this estimate was
delusive, being altogether too low. And
for the purpose of removing all doubt up
on this estimate, ON the 2lst of February
Mr.. Merrill offered, in behalf Of Montpe-
lier, to rebuild the House, and pay all the
expense over $45,300; in other words, in-
Idemnifying the State against any excess Of
expense over S45,S00.
i Mr.. Howard of Danville. said:
Vermont should build her own House
it should be the property of the people, in
which every tax payer should lave an in
terest."
February 23d Mr.. Wentworth of Rock
ingham, introduced bill TO locate the State
House at Bellows Falls, conditioned that
the town furnish the grounds and prepare
the same.
Mr.. Stacy of Burlington, repeated, ''that
Burlington did not come to bid against
Montpelier, especially at this stage she
only wished to be considered without preiu-
dice as to dollars and cents" lie then re-
peated his proposition, which was, as he
said, to make Burlington equal with Mont
pelier.
4 Mr.. Stoddard of Waterford said:
Now, | ask, gentlemen, dignity these Of
fers with any language we will, if the hate
fal intent TO purchase our support is not
apparent? If this sort of thing is TO 90
on, and TO control legislation, the time will
come when the only morning salutation will
be, what is the price Of stocks ? These
offers are injurious to the small towns, and
tend to monopolize and centralze all the
favors of the State in few large towns"
Mr.. Spencer, Of Castleton, a leading OPP
ponent of Montpelier, said:
True, Vermont has got properly at
Montpelier, fit to go into new structure,
and he thought it right foi Burlington or
Rutland to contribute IN offset to that prop
euy; and while he said this he protested
from his heart against the States depending
upon either of the towns for State House.
He would not accept dollar beyond the
value of the property at Montpelier. II
aoould Be a stigma upon the Legislature and
the State"
Mr.. Bradley of Brattleboro, said:
''Ths is not an auction. Neither of the
three prominent towns regard it as such, or
expect the Capitol to be struck off to the
highest bidder. 1t is perfectly obvious that
the State, If 1giiiing to do so, can extort al
/ most any sum it pleases from either one
which it shall select for its Capitol. But /,
for one, do not feel like raising revenue
from the loan of our misunderstanding a
town in our grasp, as | would take a half of
lemon. squeezing it dry, and then throw
ing away the rind and trying another"
4 February 25ri, Mr.. Underwood of Hard
wick. said:
"Even if the citizens of Burlington offer
TO reimburse the amount, it would be wrong
for us to allow them to do it,
On the same day, Wednesday, it was
generally conceded that the prospect was
dark for Burlington, and as the last resort,
Mr.. Stacy offered, for Burlington, to build
a State House free of expense to the State,
as good as The one consumed By fire.
i Mr.. Powers of Woodstock, said:
"Why, it is said that Burlington proposes
to give house! Does anybody believe
that the people of Burlington, or any other
town, viii build suitable house at their
own expense, and present it as gratuity
to the State He would caution gentle
men against laying any such fattering une-
ton to their souls. If they did, they might
be assured that time viii not only disclose
to them their mistake, but their peculiar
cerdancy. For one, he did not believe the
people of Vermont, (whatever majority
of their representatives might do, in their
zeal to crafty their preferences or their
prejudices,) were yet prepared to render
themselves supremely ridiculous in the eyes
of the world, as they would be sure TO, by
even a manifestation of willingness on their
part to accept of such a gift at the hand of
any town or community. As one of the
representatives of magnanimous people,
he would here wash his hands of any such
niggardly penuriousness as such an act
would be sure TO Indicate
After Burlington had made its last bid,
Mo ,tpelier was applied to by friends from
all parts Of the State, to make an equal of
fer, they saying that this game of 'brag'
! was all for "Buncombe," and that the State
would make it right, but that Montpelier
nuSt make the offer in order, as Mr.. Stacy
said in making his first offer, to have the
question settled upon Its merits. And for
that purpose. and in compliance with solicit
ations thus presented, at the evening session
of February 25th, AIr Merrill of Montpe-
lier, said:
That bidding was distasteful to him; but
if the Capitol is to be put up at auction,
then Montpelier wished TO be heard. Bur
lingion has made another bid to-day, and
| would therefore say said Mr.. NJ. that /
am authorized by the Committee of tie
citizens of Montpelier to say TO the House.
dictinctly and emphatically, that Montpelier
now makes an offer in every respect equal
to that of Burlington"
And upon another point he added:
: "Alr. Chairman, | regret that gentlemen
have said upoh the floor that Montpelier IS
begging of the Legislature. deny it.
| emphatieally. When and how has she ta-
ken this position? Who has in her behalf
asked your mercy? All that she asks Is
that the State should consider the whole
matter as il is, in view Of the past action
, of the State. And if Won say TO her that