The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-10-26
The State House Question.
the Edjtuy. of The CNiedOHiaR.

I r. tie Editor of The Caiedon,an.
/ | have noticed number of articles in The
CALIFORNIAN from time to time, advocating
the surrender of the bond given by certain
citizens of Montpelier to the State, condi-
toned for the building of the new State
House. Allow one of a different opinion to
state some of the reasons which seem TO MIN
to warrant other conclusions than tho Sc your
self and your correspondents have expressed.
If these views are just, your readers will lose
nothing by their presentation. If they are
unjust, then their very evident fallacy will do
service to the truth.
! That the State of Vermont is abundantly
able to meet all obligations that justly come
against her 10 one denies. We believe it to
also true that the people of Montpelier are
able to meet their obligations.
TIE undertaking of the citizens of Mont
peler to build the new State House was one
they voluntarily assumed, and for which they
receive a valuable consideration. The State
had perfect right to locate the State House
at Burlington, Or St. Johnsbury, or in Groton
if they saw fit. 1t was under no obligation
to rebuild at Montpelier.
! The location of the capitol at Montpelier
was and is pecuniary benefi. to that place
That village is much richer to-day than i,
would be if the State House had been re.
moved.
1t would be better off, even, If it had to
build two State Houses, than it would be
were the capitol removed to St. Johnsbury
This the people of Montpelier well knew
when they made that contract with the State
and this was the reason they did make it
Now they have received all their portion &C
cording to the terms of the contract. Thei,
real estate is made more valuable by the ex.
penditare of State money, their village is in.
creased in population, their hotels and board
ing houses are filed with the members and
visitors of the Legislature, their merchants
are growing rich out of their trade, and then
whole village is made prosperous and flour.
/ ishins, as it never was before All this i,
the result Of that contract with the State and
yet they claim to be relieved from their share
of the burdens Of the contract They claim
that the State should give them all these
means of prosperity. Why should the State
give these things to Montpelier ?
! When | once saw one of Your representa-
tives settling his board bill at Montpelier
and paving four times as much as a great
deal better accommodations would cost him
at the st. Johnsbury House. | thought he
was not much the debtor of Montpelier, more
especially as he had been one of her ablest
advocates on the floor of the House.
When one man makes trade with anoth-
er, and he receives the valuable consideration
for which he bargains. if he refuses to pa,
the stipulated price We have means to enforce
the fu!f;llment of the contract, and but few
men will deny the business of this COURSE
Now why should not these men do as they
agreed with the State
The citizens of a great many villages be
sides Montpelier, believing it to be for their
interest to encourage institutions that tend
! to promote the prosperity Of their villages,
make liberal offers to parties to establish DIFF
ferent branches Of business in those villages.
Now party who accepts these offers and on
The strength ofthese indIceme nts invests his
capital for the benefit Of the place he locates
in, has right to claim the fulhlIment of
these promises, even though he be abundant
~ able to do without it. SO it is with the
State and the village of Montpelier.
The people Of Eurlinston, believing that
the prosperity Of their village would be in
creased by the introduction of manufacturing
establishments in their village, established a
Pioneer Mechanics shop company and erect
ed large buildings, and furnished them with
steam power, at a great cost, the use Of
which they gave to responsible parties to in
duce them 20 locate their business in tina,
village.
Now these manufacturers were able to own
their shops or to pay rent for their use, but
when the citizens of Burlington engaged to
furnish them for the increase they afforded to
the prosperity of tina, village, they had no
further claim on those manufacturers than
that they should perform their contract. 1t
was not their generosity, but their business
calculation and shrcwdne,s that induced then,
to do SO.
a city is undoubtedly able to build its
streets, but when the city authorities assess
property that will be benefited by the estab-
lishment of new street, that assessment is
approved by every one.
A few years since there were highways es-
tablished which many citizens of your village
believed would materially benefit you. In
order to induce the proper authorities to es-
tablish those highways some of your citizens
made liberal offers. never heard of their
refusing to do as they agreed in the matter.
Again, some of your readers will recolect
that in one of your neishboring towns there
was some years since, highway established
through an unsettled portion of the town.
one Of your citizens owning lands on the line
of that road that would be made much more
valuable, gave largely towards building the
road. l never heard that the public were in