Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-11-16


seem to TIC to have good deal of The p,t,ifsgg
in them. g.
For the Tree P5essl
Hess7s. Editors ottas Ire F.as.
wish to make a few su sgezt-
ions through your paper in relation to the Iropo-
sition now pending before the Legislature. 20 re-
fund to the people Of Montpelier tie money By
them advanced under the bond referred to IN the
act fo- the rebuilding Of tie STATE Hou-a had
something to DO with that matter il tho outset.
ard I wish TO say here that, during the ne AID
excited contest waieh preceded the passage Of tlat
BILL there was nothing done U the part Of Bur
ington that was not straightforward an q in good
faith. As one OF her ciuzeus, I ar fully prepared
70 justify her course
The manner in which tie bidding CT ,le part @.
tie two towns began, vas this a claim was
urged on the part Of Montpelier, more particularly
by members residing out of Washington County,
crow.H- ont Of the original contributions e. taa,
town 90 the former State House and It's grounds.
Burlington vas unwilling tina; any claim should
be advanced On that ground, All il was then pro-
posed that Ae- citizens should pay enough 60 iaale
Lsr equal g. Montpelier IL that respect. This was
the beginning. A. the excitement increased the
bidding went on until those who favored Bu1.ius-
ton finally proposed tia, her citizens would pay
the whole expense OF tlildins the House. TAe
friends u Montpelier made the same oLer. and the
bill was passed. The question of location was
decided ia favor Of Montpelier; and as ! then be-
ieved, aud still believe decided v-5a7.
But, in justice 70 Mortpelie-. Y Lave .hi= t5say.
Tho decision made Ar favor OF AIontr eIier
because Lc- citizens agreed 70 pay this money. A.
matters stood when tie offer was made tic bill
would eventually have passed without tai. qrovis-
Ion. The Legislature never decided this question
uPon suca narrow grounds. II such L-- been the
view Of It's members, taey would have thrown tie
location open &c public competition. But vhaa
the offer was made, in the heat Of the contest, it
was accepted. some acting from one motive an
some from another ! thought myself th-, II
would modify the ezultation of our 7penelts. 70
know that thei7 victory was had st such az ez-
pense while 81 would soften tae modification u
The other party 20 consider .ll- those who daH'ed
would be obliged TO pay me fiddler"
Blu :he whclequesoa was taea settled The friends
Of Burlington made as good fight as they could .
ard Trey were beaten by the hostility Of those
Who ought 70 have acted with then. But in
al this We have never had Any quarrel with
Moutpeiie-, aud az to tie men who betrayed Us,
thar constituents have settled with them.
What nov Is the course which Burlington .
should ass ler friends to pursue Ny answer to /
THE question is Just the course which NJ. MOVES
her he preventative. Las initiated. Pay back 20 /
fie p,c5.e Of H5ntDehs- tas aon,g 'ssy haze a9u1ne
Cd, AID % IL a7u. # this bill is to be defeated, I
do not let its defeat rest with rs What citizen Of
this county desires to havs his native State
ask C the pe pie Of any town 90 make contributions
to any Of the public interests or necessities Is
the STAT, tesgar, depending for her subsistence
upon voluntary Subscriptions that she must 60
hat in hand from village 70 village t. beg such
contribution DO the people q this town and
Co. wish TO have l. sail Of hor When they visit cur
State House, that they visit house which the
State OWES to the muuidccuce q Montpelier l
d. not for enc, and think feel on tais s1bjec.
as the people Of this County fee. : d. not wish
to be placed at this disadvantage, 50 that it may
justly be said that Montpelier has any claims
upon the bounty or gratitude Of the State superior
to cur own.
Another consideration. Since this controversy
CON 1enced there has not &c important measure
been assed il, or defeated By our Legislature
there has scarcely an officer been elected or can.
iidate for ctice before the Legislature defeated,
unless this question has in some way been mixed
up with it, and so !; always viii be until the
money Is repaid. Is town liae 70 be changed
The question at once comes up, how Is Montpe- I
ie- On this sui sct OF is the town affected Tor or
igzinst Montpelier Is Judge to be elected,
ne same thing comes UP like BalqUo's ghost, and
will not down at the bidding Of any nan. Il such
contest, the victory Is sometimes one side and
ometimes or the other. As often as otherwise il I
5ill happen that man will be sacrificed II ne hap
,ens to live il either locality, and that measures
which either may desire viii be defeated on /
he same grounds The last i've years ,
are been fruitful in illustrations o. the truth
f these remarks. For one, 1 10 not desire that
-ermou; should be divided by Any such sectional
inculties. The trifiIg sum Which each town
as 10 pay, Is too Inconsiderable 10 be msatioae3
D connection with the subject beleTe that it
inconsistent with the honor and integrity Of the
sste. that this demand should be longer outstard-
X. st least hope Chi;tendsn County will l
i've an united vote for the pending bll, and thus
COW the rest Of the State, shat they will not per
1T the recollection OF past grievances any 9TH
personal considcrat tons TO prevent them from Il
eEforuing al act Of generosity, u well As jus -,
ce
We are told, however, that this must not be =
1ne now, because of the alleged dsfalcation Of u
e Treasurer. In other words, the State must a
II perform al act OF justice because one Of her Ii
rvants has proved unfsithful. I do not see
e force Of this reasoning Here is claim al
,ree that we shall pay it at some future time,
It'll interest. prefer to pay it now, when We ,
4 discharge it without any interest at all. There c
Is 8 man who once deposited a small sum of CT
oney in Bank, which failed, and whenever he o.,
Is subsequently asked to pay debt, could not
it, because lie had lost his money by the fail :,
9 of the Bank. His neighbors, after the lapse u
some yearsused to laugh stthe absuraity Of his II