The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-10-25

OlItlOu providing Tor lne appointment VI d
committee Of five to investigate the accounts
of ,be Governor and other officers. which
was laid on the table to allow the compile
ton of the calling of the yeas and nays on
the bill providing supplies for the second and
third regiments, which was in order as un-
finished business.
The question being on the adoption of the
third amendment as proposed by the Senate,
the vote stood as follows-yeas IA, nays
90 and the amendment was adopted
Mr. Thomas of West Farlee called up the
resolution offered by him providing for all
investigating committee.
Mr. CuShman of Rochester thought it
would be simply al insult to that officer to
appoint a committee to do that which the
House has just asked the Governor to DO,
and for which they have authorized him to
employ clerk He hoped the resolution
would not be adopted.
Mr. Fletcher of Cayendish agreed that the
people had a right to receive an account
from their agents. lie hoped the resolution
would be adopted.
Mr. Lyndc Of WiliamStown said a large
amount of money. larger than ever before
expended By the state, has been expended,
and the people wished to know to what pur
poses it had been applied. He hoped the res
oluiion would pass. II is said We should in
fairness to the Governor allow him to make
his report. but We have other public officers
whose accounts should be laid before the
people
Mr. Nichols of Rutland thought the adop-
Il !, Il
fusion worse contoundcd. The books can
not be in three places at the same time
He thought the better way was to refer the
matter to the gentlemen from Bennington,
Burlington and West Fairle".
Nr Hallock of Casteton thought the on
X object of the committee was to look over
The accounts as exhibited by the Governor.
Such Il committee VII! sometime be necessa
-, and may as well be appointed now as at
any other time. He thought il was not i'm
pcachng in any manner the Governor.
Nr Re. nold> Of AIburgh thought the aspect
Of the affair was as i. We dare rot trust the
Governor and Clerk. but wished to appoint
still another committee to the same effect
Hence he opposed the resolution.
Nr Bean o: Pi,ts.ield concurred with Mr.
REYNOLDS, ard moved to table the resolution,
which was not agreed to.
Mr. IIubbell OF Fairfax thought an inves
tigation was due TO the Governor, to the
House and to the people. But. in his opin
ior, the House had no business to impute
any hing to the Governor but the most
thorough justice and integrity. Yet there is
3. sreat deal Of anxiety in the public mind.
ard they have right to kA0w that it is all
r.-,s' Hence he favored this resolution.
VI Baker of Enosbur.h would call atten-
tn. 10 the fact that the commission called
:jr bv the Governor is simply to examine
his accounts with view to the reimburse
NEXT Of the State by the general government.
Hence he thought it would in no wise inter
tere with the committee contemplated by
this resolution under discussion.
Mr. liallock OF Castleton said if the House
suspected the Governor. TO man on the floor
would vote for a commission of this kind
II the Governor We're fraudulent man,
could he not influence his clerk in the mat
ter? He thought the appointment Of the
committee matter o. nece ss;ty. Instead Of
casting any reflections upon the Governor,
It removes them. This was the method ad-
opted IN all our town meetings and school
meetingS-,he appointment OF a committee
to look over accounts. and he saw no impro-
prieiy in adopting it here.
Mr. Barrett of Grafton thought the APP
propiate time for the appointment of this
committee would be after the report Of the
committee, already appointed, had been
made.
Mr. Thomas of West Fairlee said lie did
not introduce this resolution to interfere
with the duties of the commission already
appointed agreeahly to the request of the
Governor He understood and insisted
that this commission was not appointed. to
report to the House, but to present vouchers
TO the Secretary of the Treasury Of the Uni
ted States.
He wished to say one word in relation to
the Governor. He had had occasion more
than once 70 say on this floor that he be!iev
ed the Governor to be an honest man-and
this he should continue to believe.
One word further SUI pose the Governor
makes repor, as required by the resolution
Of the gentleman from Bennington. Have
YOU satisfied the people? Have nou investi
gated TIE matter? The repor. Of the Gov
ernor Will be a mere ex-parte document
And was it thought by our fathers to be dis
trusting the honesty Of any man to appoint a
committee TO settle an account? 1t was due
TO the Governor that this committee be APP
pointed.
Mr. Moves of Burling ton thought inasmuch
as we are all agreed that We want this intor-
nation. the matter should be looked at in a
business light. five are 50 anxious about
spending money in so,:e respects we should
be in others. He believed it would be well
to see to it, in the appointment of all these
committees, that they did not get into a race
with each other and with the Governor him
sell. We all know that the State VIII soon
need money, and if we can draw back from
the general government money to provide
for new expenses, is not that thing to be
thought of?
In order to this it is that the Governor
asks commission. And so far as the Gov
ernor and his clerk &c, their accounts ready
for this House. they are ready to serve to
d,av back fumes from the general govern
=: mt. He could not see low there could be
embarrassment. He thought the accounts
4 the Governor should be examined bv
himself and those OF the Adjulant General
ari Qlartermaster General by themselves
Nr Ranney of Brattleboro' thought the
accounts Of the Governor and Adiutant Gen
ga and Qaartermaster General must of ne
cessi,v be examined together.
,Nlr Baker Of Enosburgh moved to table
the resolution, which was lost and the reso-
luton was adopted.