Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-04

By Mr.. Bean Tor General Committee, fayorabiy,
sundry House bills, providing Tor adoption of GER
tain persons and changes Of names
Mr.. Edmunds said there would never be bet
ter time than the present to put a stop TO this
business Of changing names by special acts. The
general law was sufficient, and he hoped the SEN
ate would now decline to pass these bills. The
bills were refused third reading.
GENERAL STATUTES
Mr. Elmun1s for judiciary Committee, report
ed Chapters 81, 3s, 80, 40, Al, by bill recon-
mendng It's passage, and the bill was referred to
the Committee Of the whole Senate.
The Senate went into Committee Of the whole
on the bill.
The changes in this bill from the Statutes as
they now stand, were mainly verbal, and not
substantial. The bill provides, however, that a
party who has failed by accident or mistake in
securing an appeal from the decree of the Pro-
bate Court, may bring his petition to the Supreme
or County Court, instead of to the Supreme
Court as the law now is.
The bill also provides for striking out of the
section relating TO of.es in the statute as it now
stands, the paragraph which provides that no
sum due on account the balance whereof shall
not be ascertaned under the hand of the party,
except in actions brought and tried before JUS
tee" shall be allowed in Offset.
Sections s, 8 and 10 OF chapter 80 of the Cen
era Statutes do not appear in this bill. These
sections are not in the Statute law of the State,
but were inserted in the General Statutes by the
Commissioners of Revision. This bill also differs
from the present law BY not limiting the time
when plea in offset in book account may be filed.
The bill also provides that the lessor may take
oF ipoe iaaa for M M
rent. 1t also strikes out of the General Stat
utes the Section which corresponds to Sec. %,
Chap. SO, Z. S.
The bill was reported to the Senate with the
amendments made by the Committee of the
Whole, who recommended its passage amend
ments agreed to, and the bill ordered to be en-
ing.
Mr.. Stewart for Judiciary Committee, reported
House bills, (being portions OF the General Stat
utes) Adj.
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Druon. Journal read
and approved.
REPORTS.
BY Mr.. Reed for Select Committee, favorably
to Chapter 10 Of the Revision, OF towns, town
meetings and town officers"
On considering this chapter, the question 10
relation to the qualifications OF voters at town
meetings came up for debate.
MIR. Dyer of Salisbury moved to so amend the
chapter to provide that not only those who had
been ksted, bat those who we're liable to be listed
should have the right to vote. This would OF
course include many young men who have ar
rived at the age of q years bnt not been listed,
also other persons who have moved from one town
TO another, between the time Of listing and of
the town meeting.
Mr.. COmings, was opposed to the amendment,
because he would not admit reckless young men
who felt no responsibility to the privilege of yo-
ting sooner than now permitted.
Mr.. Lynde, thought that as others beside those
who had been listed, had taxesto pay, they should
have voice in appropriating them.
Mr.. Reed, thought there was difficulty inhe-
rent in the subject itself. There was no way to
correct the trouble complained Of but 10 put the
annual town meeting, after the time of making
up the list instead If just before it.
MIR. Henry, thought there was NJ wrong in the
present law for the one who hadn vote escaped
tax az he viewed it.
Mr. Shaw thought the amendment proposed
did not reach the root of the difficulty. Those
who were not allowed to vote at the March meet
ing might have taxes 10 pay in tire coming if not
in the pastyear and thus there would be the
same kind of injustice after the amendment as
now complained Of.
Mr.. Herrck favored the amendment
Mr.. Reynolds was not prepared to vote for the
amendment.
Mr.. Miller of Williston, thought the argu-
ment advanced by the gentleman from Williams
town lLynde), founded upon liability TO taxation,
was good one. There was a hardship in the
present law which the proposed amendment, as he
understood it. with perhaps modification making
1t apply to the succeeding, rather than preced.
ing year, would relieve.
On taking the question upon the amendment,
il was lost.
The Chapter was amended in manner which
limits the power given to towns, in reference TO
their action at town meetings, in regulating their
internal affairs. The bill was then ordered to
third reading.
THIRD READING OF BILLS.
Chapter IL Of the Revision, entitled " OF Of
fences against the lives aud persons of individuals
Mr.. Bale of Ludlow moved to commit this
bill TO member to amend so that Imprisonment
for life, instead Of the punishment now provided
should be the punishment for murder lie SUD.
ported his motion by argumen, reviewing at some
length the history of the death penalty as
provision Of law.
lie further took the position that the demands
of justice required that the existing law should
be changed in accordance with his motion. 1t
was very difficult to convict man of crime
where the jury knew that death would be the
penalty. lie continued at length to present the
moral and legal aspects of Capital Punishment,
urging that both religion and the true spirit of
law demandeda change like that under consider
alton.
MIR. Hubbell as one Of the committee report.
ing the chapter thought he might be INDUCED IN
few remarks lie did not promise to answer