Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-08-26

LEGISLATIVE "RELIEF."

Messrs. Editors:-A notion of what is wanted
Of Legislature is sometimes got most clearly by
throwing the views and aims of petitioners into
the form of an Act. In that view, the following
we suppose viii meet the case of the "Relief," to
be petitioned for by the Vt. and Canada Railroad
Co., at the Legislative Session now near at hand.
The legitimate Office of preamble is to make
clear to the courts and the public, the grounds,
character and scope of the Act itself and sometimes
to vindielte to posterty the Legislature for pass
ing it. In that view the present one is none too
long.
AN ACT for the reIiefof the Vermont Canada
Railroad.
Whereas the charter Of the Vt & Canada R.
R. Company, of Oct. 81, 1s45 contained coNDI-
TON requiring the Company to construct their
road from Highgate through 81. Adams village to
Burlington, to meet there the R. B. R. r.,
within - years, the charter to be forfeited on de-
fault Of the condition And
Whereas, on petition Of the corporation, the for
FIXTURE was RENTED on The condition, among
others, Of expending $4,000, towards construct
ing the road, by Ist Sept. lS53-which act was
formally accepted and the condition again for
feitcd And
TVtre1s the Vt. & Canada, in 1919, sold out its
interest for 50 years in its road to the Vt. Central
for rent Of per cent its cost, which the lat
ter secured by mortgage on its entire property
valued at sc, 600 600 ,-assuming also the formers
charter obg ations. And
Whereas near 5000 900 is now due for rent, and
there appears to be abundant means to build the
road-yet it is represented that the parties in in
tercst, a large minority Of them non-residents Of
this state-haying already made a junction with
the Vt Central at Essen. can perceive no interest
offl.irs in making the road to Burlington, as the
charter roquircs-on the contrary it viii create
competition, discoucert the very object Of the 'lion,
and break down the monopoly they have so long
enjoyed. And,
IVhaeas, though the stocks and bonds were pur-
chased and held. subject to the conditions, yet
they never expected nor meant, nor do they no7
mean 10 perform it, and thus sacrifice large sum
Of money to the romantic idea Of good faith. And
U-4rrle. the r. and B. r. r. Company have
got on some how or other, for many years-and
its rights and those Of Western Vt, have become
stale-and it is against the policy Of conservative
governments to enforce obsolete rights or correct
established wrongs. And
Whereas, the principle Of comfy as now ex-
pounded by the Supreme Court of the L. :. and
other tribunals SO justly enjoying publicconfdence'
onjons kind regard for non-residents who have
manifested such respect for the laws Of the State
and the injunctions Of good faith. And
Hbveas, the Legislature should by its action
and example, admonish and encourage citizens
faithfully to fulfil their Obligations to each 9th
er and to the state, and TO respect and obey its
laws. therefore, TO promote the various ends and
purposes expressed and unexpresscd:
1T is HEREBY ENACTED BT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
oF THE STATE or VERMONT.
SECT. l. The forfeiture and disabilities in
Cured by the Vermont and Canada K. K. Com
pauy by reason Of non compliance with any con-
iition the Acts, passed Oct 81, ls45. and Nov.
u.s. 1888, are rcmitted, and all the rights privil
yes and immunities conferred by the said act Of
1855 are hereby restored Co., and re-ycsted in said
CORPORATION rs fully they were possessed before
said forfeiture occurred.
So. .. So much of said act required sara
c1rpura-i1n 10 construct "A road 70 meet the Rut-