The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-10-16
Letters from the Capital.
MONTPELIER, Oct. 10, 1868.

MONlfELlER, OCl. III, 1000.
FRIEND STONE: Again the hand upon
the dial Of time, points to the annual session
Of the legislature, and thus reminds me Of
the weekly letters from the capital, due the
dear old CALIFORNIAN.
On Tuesday evening, large delegations of
members from the south part Of the state
began to arrive, and on Wednesday morning
the number was greatly increased, so that
when the Representative Hall was opened it
was rapidly filled, and at - o'clock NJ, when
the seats were selected, nearly every member
was present, holding his seat by the right of
"squatter sovereignty" The seniors occu-
plying their old ones, the juniors and sophs
as near them as possible, while freshmen take
their chance for such as they can get. On
Thursday morning, after the roll call by the
secretary, the House organized by the choice
of Hon. A. B. Gardner of Bennington, al
most unanimously, as speaker, Messrs. DeaDe
ana Chandler having Withdrawn their names
as candidates. A smart competition arose
for the clerkship between Messrs. Stewart
and Cummings. the friends of each vouching
for their superior qualifications and patriot
ism; lat the precedent of reelection was
too strong to be easily overcome, SO MIR.
Stewart was 'lecieu. Rev. A. S. Cooper,
resident Methodist clergyman Of the place,
was chosen chaplain of the House, and Rev.
L. IL. Stone, the very popular cha plain CT
the Senate last Year, was unanimously re-
elected; as was also Secretary Clarke.
Business moves heavily, partly from the
reluctance old members have to being on
tie floor all the time. and partly from the
delicacy new members have in presenting
business; AID if the beginning is sample OF
the speed to be attained in running the
machine" then the hopes of shor: session
are all "gone up" surely. Especially is it
SO, if the work indicated IN the Governors
Message is accomplished,-such as vital ling
the militia law, SC as to organize and arm
the militia, establish an agricultural college,
&C., though presume his suggestion will be
adopted, to appoint commissioners to irves-
tigate the subject and report at the next an
nual session CT the legislature.
a bill was introduced to-day to incorpor-
ate the Wood ,ock Rail Road Co., " ..ich ev-
eryboty would be glad to vote for. an, have
built before the next draft.
the business on he street ell c,on da,
was duly attended to by much larger crowd
of men and aoys ti.an last year, with tn.
usual amount Of drunkenness, arrests, &C..
AID sill many si.h COR the good old DAYS Of
military display, ia psdjler<. gingerbread,
and apple cider at ,nc cent ylls~
Amusements as Yet are sc.rce, 0ush the
Messrs. Whitney & Rix have ei en two high.
Iy satisfactory concerts during the week t.
large and intelligent audiences. The dis
casting and disgraceful murder case from
Worcester which was commenced las,
Wednesday week, drags slowly along. and
will probably occupy all next week.
The old Pavilion, whose history has so
long been identified with that of the legs
lature, as usual. is packed from cellar to gar
re, few new members so fortunate as TO Sc
cure rooms. The gen,lemanly attention of
the chief clerk Mr.. Palmer, who by his
twelve years experience in the management
of the House, has become an indispensable
fixture, together with that Of the EMPLOYEES
Of the house generally, make, it a very ac-
ceptable and pleasant home, and well sus-
tans its long established good reputation
a bill was introduced this morning to in
corporate the Essex Co. r. r. Co., Tor the
purpose of bringing Island Pond down to
ST. Johnsbury, which, may we be there TO
see. Very little business of Importance as
yet, is presented.
The message cf Gov. Smith, and the ad-
dresses f speaker Gardner ard Lieut. Gov.
Dillingham;, are highly spoken Of by all, and
lo equal justic" to tn II heads and hearts.
Yours, &c, kRTTIE0s.