Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-10-26
lFrom an occasional corre,pondent'I
FROM MONTPELIER

MoSrrELIEB, Monday, Oct. IS, 1860.
Respected Free Press.
take pleasure in continuing an old &C
quaintance by an occasional correspondence. IL
my journeyings l reached your State Capitol Just
as your Legislature was convening. How forum
ate the circumstance How pleasant to one who
in early life, knew something Of Vermont, and
whose sympathies have been kept alive in all her
interests, by many ties and associations Of kim
dred and early home. For the thrift, the intelli.
gence, the moral worth, and the freedom loving
spiri: Of her people, have always entertained a
high espect. love her everlasting mountains,
unsurpassed in grandeur and beauty. 1 love her
deep rich valleys, her bounding streams. her
silver lake, with its green isles,
"0erhung with purest skies
Hove her school houses her colleges and SEN ius-
ries of learning, and love her boys and girls,
Who from generation to generation fill them,
making strong men and beautiful women. l love
her church edEoe,, and her church going people
love her educational system, the good, practical
common sense Of her Board of Education, and the
ability and untiring devotion of its Secretary.
love her temperance law, and her exclusion Of
circases, those travelling embodments Of folly, o
vice and vicious tendencies. l love her Free
Press that advocates fearlessly the great interests
of the commonwealth, and Of humanity at large.
To me then it was q matter Of interest to be here
at such a time, when I could look in upon the
Legislature Of Vermont, the present guardians
aul promoters Of her welfare. And permit me to
say (although I have had but little opportunity
to form aequsiEtlnces with the body, and it has
had bat little opportunity yet to disclose its
ability, it being mainly engaged in organization
aad the usual preiminaries for action) it fully /
meets my expect4 4tions-both Houses presenting
the appearance Of intelli gence and moral worth
men whom it probably would be difficult to bribe, /
to buy, or intimdate.
elections thus far have been effected without /
for the two houses. There was an open discussion
ia the Hall Of the Representatives, on motion /
which think was introduced by Mr.Gleed to this
effect, that the clergy Of Montpelier be invited to
oficiate as chaplains in rotstion-which was ul-
tmately carried by a decisive vote. The Senate .
(as it was apparent there was difference of views
cn tie mattcr), called caucus il which it is said
there vss a somewhat protraeted and interestir
discussion which terminated in the rejection by the
Senate Of 3 resolution similar to that which pre-
vailed in the Hoase. Saturday morning the Sen
ate proceeded to the election. Senator Fish nom-
mated Rev Leland Howard of Rutland, which
was seconded by Senator Aldrieh sonator Wood
bridge nominated Rev. Wm. II. Lord Of Montpelier
seconded by Senator Beattie. The ballot result
cd in a tic-whereupon the President by his vote
decided the matter in favor Of Mr.. Lord. So the
Senate has a chaplain and the House has many
sharlains. In relation to this subject it seems
to me that the course pursued by the House is Ii
able to serious objections. 1t hardly comports
with the dignity and independence Of the body
The chaplain is clearly an Office in the gift Of the
House, and it should have the dignity and inde
pendence to make its choice, and not shift. of its
responsibilities by giving it to a swarm Of anxious
expectsnts, without regard to fitness. In the Iext
place the course Of the House is one to weaken the
good effect OF the service. The service regarded
in any proper light should result in bringing the
House into closer sense Of its responsibility TO-
and its dependence upon God and lead it rever-
emily to the fountain Of wisdom, and strength and
grace But this constant change viii feed the
love Of novelty, and lead to comparison Of the
relative merits of those who oficate, and to crit
lcism as to manner and matter, thus to great
extent frittering away the good effects Of the SER
vice.
And finally it seems to say it matters not who
Dravs-prayer is Of little consequenee-rotat the
5fice Of chaplain about among all the clergy.
Does any people, does any Legislature do this in
relation to any other Office in their gif' While
an writing these things prayer is being oTerod
in the House by Roman Catholic Priest, and if
there is Mormon Priest residing hero, he may
5iiciate tomorrow. VIAroR.