Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-10-31

care on the part OF Mr. Merrill Secretary of
Civil and Military affairs. The disbursements
appear under appropriate heads, as "Forward-
ing troops" "IIorses, Harnesses and wagons, -
"Recruting Stations" Equipments" &c., &c.,
and everything being straightforward and sat
tfactory.
There is little of wit and very often not much
of wisdom in the legislative proceedings of a
days or of weeks sitting, at this stage of the
session. The bills of the most practical impor-
lance are, if introduced, either in the hands of
committees, or are in process of dissection in
one branch of the Legislature. Those of no
general interest like such as are for the protec-
lection of fish in certain localities, or for the
Incorporation of Company for the manufac-
ture of Yankee Notions, slip through like
small boys in crowd, without exciting any
particular remark
The bill repeating the appropriation to County
Agricultural Societies has passed the House by
a vote of 1888 to 10. Mr.. Barrett of Grafton
said all that could be urged against the passage
of the bill, while the advocates of repeal showed
very conclusively that this grant had become
quite valuless so far as the promotion of Agri-
culture or the Mechanic arts are concerned.
County Fairs are generally in the hands Of pri-
vate companies, or are at best but the rep
resentation of three or four towns in the i'm
mediate vicinity where they are located. Be-
sides, no fair can be sustained without horse
trotting, and it was thought TO be bad policy
to appropriate money to pay for an amusement
forbidden by statute The only noes to the bill
from members from Windham County, were,
believe, those of Barrett of Grafton and Saw
yer of Townshen |. The House have also re-
pealed the bill granting bounties for the des-
truction of bears and other noxious animals.
A bill repeating the act of last year, author
izing the sale of CIDER small beer, &C., in Wet
ualling houses and groceries, has passed both
Houses by large majorities. Mr.. Balch of Lud-
low has introduced a very stringent bill in
amendment of the iquer law, which is intended
to cause all the streams and rivelets of simu-
lating or Intoxicating drinkabes to "dry up"
His bill is reported to Select Committee of
which he is chairman, and they will undoubted-
ly report in favor of the bill. 1t is in all re-
spects precisely like the one introduced last
year by Mr. Tabor of Concord, and which failed
for want of a majority of votes in its favor.
A bill has also passed both the Houses which
provides that in case of the disability of the
Governor and Lieutenant Governor from death,
resignation, or otherwise, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall act as the Elk.
ecutive until another is duly elected and quail
fed. AS the law now u.s. the Secretary of State
is the third person in the State, being but two
removes from the Executive. AS very young
men are often elected for Secretary, it was
thought that should the contemplated contin-
gency arise, it would be safer to have the Ex-
ecutive chair filled by man of more expert
ence.
A bill has passed the House of Representa-
tives postponing the next Congressional election
in this State, until the first Tuesday of March,
1868. The object of this postponement is to
await Congressional action upon the number of
Representatives to which Vermont will be en-
titled during the next decade. BY the act of
1912 the number of the members of the pop
uar branch of Congress was permanently fixed
at 234. If that number should not now be
changed this State will hereafter be entitled to
but two members, leaving very large fraction
unrepresented. bill has already passed the
national House of Representatives. fixing the
whole number at 239-the same that it would
have amounted to in the present Congress,
owing to the addition of new states, had there
been no such thing as secession. 1t is thought
that this bill will pass the Senate at the next
session. If so Vermont will still continue to
have their Representatives. As it is not wise
to District the State alphabetically the only
practical way seems to be to postpone the
election.
The appointment of the Senatorial represen-
tation of the several counties in this State, is a
matter that is to be settled during tho session.
bill for that purpose is now before the Sem
ate, which divides the representation as it now
exists, with two important exceptions. Wind
ham and Windsor counties each lose Senator,
and Orleans and Washington each gain one.
The following is an authentic copy of the re-
turns of the population of the several counties,
under the census of 1860, as certified to BY the
Secretary of the Interior, and lodged in the
office of the Secretary of State: