Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-05-03
0lre Mee pteas
NCRLTNGTON
r8IDAY MORNING, MAY ,, 1861.
n.EIE srECIAL SESSION

2t course oe too much to say that no tim
was wasted, nor bl1ndcrs made; but on II
Who'll the Houses did their duty veil The
were s-nt to provide for raising mcn an
money with dolay. and they did 50.
The fist day was devoted to the appropr
alton bill, and million of dollars was neve
voted more cheerlully, or to better object
That passed. the next all important thin
wls 70 secure The immediate organization O
thc Regiment already called for by Prcsiden
Lincoln This, which for while wa
m danger of most undesirable, not to "a,
d'sreputa6le delay, iram complication in tn
lIus7 with various other militia measures
was disposed of on Wednesday aiternao b,
SPECIAL act introduced and carried through
by Mr. piokerman, Of Charleston. unde,
Rhieh the Regiment could he. and was, a
once othcercl aud organized.
The main interest Of the session thence
forth ceutaTod about the sreolal reriuent
and militia Bills.
l: was probably the original Intention of
tie House to keep separate the IeSislation
necessary for this particular crisis and that
needed for the general resuscitation Of our
militia system. Il accordingly added three
members. Messra. Field. Allen and Gleed. to
the Old military committee (Which. formed
without anticipation Of the present state Of
'llnSs' was not one Of any particular
strength, At least after he departure of It's
chairman, Gen. Davis, who LETT to purchase
Arms on the second day of the SESSION.. to
whom various bills were referred. and from
Thom some simple aod effective general mill
ia b'l va expected Furthermore. select
committee, (appoiuted by the Speaker was
raised, Of one from each County, from
which was expected bill for the i'm
mediate organization and support of the
additional regiments likely to he called
81 by the Government. The select
committee performed their duty aud
reported such bill. The standing military
committee exceeded the expectations ofa good
portion Of the House, by reporting sort of
Omnibus bill combining in one sundry
features Of the several bills referred to them,
and including, in addition to provisions for en-
rolling and returning the militia Of the state,
provisions for the special regiments, already
provided for by the tin reported by the other
committee. The two bills differed, SO far as
these regiments were concerned, in various
details hat especially as to one vital point.
The bill Of the select committee provided that
the field officers, the Col, Lieut.. Col, and
Major should DO appointed by the Governor.
The bill Of the military committee provided
fiat those officers should be elected by the
commissioned officers, the Captains and
E.ieutepants, Isl and %. Of the companies.
Thursday was for the most part wasted in
motions and debate upon the bills, the House
becoming more and more confused between
the two, and showing indications Of unploas
ant complication and delay.
Thursday evening, however bill, agreeing
as TO its main provisions with the bill of the
special committee, came to the House from
the Senate, introduced IN that body by Sena-
tor Woodbridge, and which had passed the
Senate unanimously. The bill, we suppose
II IS revealing no secret to say, was drawn
by cur townsmen Hon. G. F. Edmunds and
Judge Smalley. This bill was taken in charge
rs Nj. Gardner, chairman Of the select COM
mittee An amendment TO provide for s'-
instead Of four-two only oE which
however, are TO be mustered at once. the re-
mainder being left for the Governor 70 call
out if required by the needs Of the State or
the Nation-and series of less important
amondments, were Pre- escd through by SLr
Gardner.
s provision to1 the immediate enrolment
and returna 70 the Town Clerks, and to
the Adiutant ami Inspector General, Of all
the able bodied citizens Of the State from IS
70 IS. from whom the dlafts contemplated
should be made, If volunteers should be lack
ing, was added-and the bill, thus made to
answer the purpose Of both the main House
bills, and II the opinion Of It's friends made
about r1gi,, was put upon its passage. But
at this point an onslaught on tie provision
FOR the appointment of the Regimental Off
-5rs BY the Governor, was made by the ad-
yocates CT the elective system, headed by
M Glead cf Morristown and supported by
Nr Field Of Newfane and Mr.. Morgan of
johnson. The bill as it stood was support
Cd bv Meesrs. Noyes Of Burlington, Smith ct
St. Albans and Gardner of Bennington but
their opponents, by steady hammering, and
ov asserting that Generals Baxter and Jack
ran favored the elective sys TEN, obtained
temporary victory, and by the apparently
decisive vote of ia to A. carried an amend
iaeat making all the officers, except those OF
the Colonels' staff, elective by the commis-
soued officers.
The Ssnate concure1 in all the other
amendments but made stand on this one,
and declined to concur with the Honsc-and
requested them to recedeirom tins amendment.
I rally was made on Friday cvenlpg in the
House by the friends of the appointment
plaD. and the slfopg nen came to the rescue
That feature was supported by Mr Smith Of
S.. Alhans IN a very easotive speech, oy Mr.
stoGiard of Townshend. who IS one OF the
clearest and ablest debaters Of ths House
bv Mr CanGed Of Arlington, stroug and
straight forward legislator. by Mr.. Dennisor
of Royalton, who always speaks to the poin
and always has the car of The house. aud b,
Nessrs Stewart Of MiddlehuIy and Doker
man Of Charleston, both able and edectiv'
speakers. Ii was cornhatted stoltly by Dir
Gieed, who urged again the various argu
ments on his side OF the question. They
were that IT was democratic 70 elect the Of
fcers that the men who perilled their live