Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-03
THE SESSION.

THE SESSION.
The Annual October Session OF the Legs
lature is near at hand. The session will be
a very important one. 1t is usual to have
the wish 20 around the State that the session
may be short one, and hope Of that sort
sometimes finds its way into the Governors
Message. For our part the wish is that the
Legislature may do its business icel, and to
that end time for deliberation il indispensa-
bic We have never been able to see any
economy IN half doing business-in occupy
ing days in preparing and discussing bills OF
great public importance, and then, because
IN a moment OF Impotence both Houses have
passed joint resolution to adjourn at GER
tain hour, having them Oyer-slaughed by
host of little matters, and finally thrown out
or left on the table, simply because there IS
no time left to perfect them to the approval Of
majority of the members. OF course at the
next session all has to be gone over again,
and quite often with like result. And if,
by chance, in fit of desperation bill is
hurried through its several stages and passed,
because the feeling is that pass it must IN
some share. too often it becomes nee1lul to
expend ten times the labor in after years to
correct Its defects that 1t would have taken
to avoid them al the outset. The waste of
time and money which has been brought
upon this State from the common practice of
the Legislature to fix the hour Of final ad
iournment, while some Of the most import
ant bills of the Session remain unsettled, is
incalculable. Almost every session brings
with it some gross waste Of this sort. The
one Of last session was a fragrant one. Say
ing nothing of other measures Of importance,
the one Of enacting MILITIA iaw Of a prac-
teal and efficient character. one adapted to
the present exigencies Of the times after con-
suming a large amount Of time failed utterly
from that cause-to the modification and
displeasure OF all sensible men m the Legs
lature and OF the people generally. That
subject has got to come up again this year
The military business Of The State has
swollen to unanticipated proportions. Some
of the Legislation Of the last two sessions
regarding it was done far too hastily, and
great extra expense to the State has been the
unavoidable result.
The character of the Legislature tins year
will be peculiar in one respect. We believe
there II not a man elected u either House
who is not returned as firm upholder Of the
National Administration in its great duty Of
putting down the rebellion, no matter at what
cost of treasure and blood, without jot or
title of compromise with the rebels and all
who favor them, and as a supporter Of the
great and distinctive measures OF that Ad-
ministrstion for that end. Differences Of
opinion about this or that General, the ex-
pediency OF this or that subordinate act of
war policy, no doubt there are. They are
unavoidable, and they are consistent with
the purest patriotic feeling and the most I'M
Ainchlng support Of the President and bis
declared policy. In this point of view there
will be no party in the legislature; for all
will be Of one mind and 60 shoulder to shout
der for the support Of the Government,-for
the preservation OF the liberties and unity Of |
the Nation against all enemies at home or !
abroad.
As all are aware, there Is an important |
election to be made by the Legrslature-that |
of U. S. Senator. In few papers of the |
State the subject was briefly adverted to,
some months ago but since then We have !
seen no public allusiou to 1.-THE reason be- |
Ing, We suppose, that the reelection of Hon: |
SOLOMON FooT has been looked upon by the |
people Of the State generally, as a matter
beyond question. The demands Of the pub !
lie service are such in these days that the
remark - lie has been ele ted twice. and
some one else ought 10 have a chance will
not carry much weight with the patriotic
portion of the community. They realize that
important Offices are to be assigned to men
because the public good demands thar serrioes.
Mr.. Foot should be reelected for that reason.
The ability of Senator FooT, and his IN
firing industry and devotion to the public
service, not only during the sessions of Con-
gress, but during the vacations, are well
known. Whatever any man IN his place
could do to uphold the free principles of our
Government, to protect it from the dire eff
fecis OF the weakness and treacherT which,
during the last administration, brought the
government tO-tho very verge of ruin, he did.
Whatever he could do to assist the present
Administration in its countless and arduous
duties, be has done. The proper interests Of
his State and the welfare Of its soldiers in
the field, have received his unremitting and
efficient attention at all times His eminent
services have been acknowledged by all.
We do not doubt that the State con-
tiins other men. perhaps many men, of equal
ability industry and patriotism, but they lack
the experience and personal influence which
Mr.. FooT has acquired. The Free States
have suffered enough by dropping abe
men Just to give somebody else chance.
The Slave States gained only far too much
by bein0 carefnl IN lose no innnanea in Con