Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-11-13
Letters from the Capitalize. 5
MONTPELIER, Nov. z,

I
military affairs provided that fifty COM
panies Of eighty-three men each shoul'
be organized, armed, uniformed, ant
: drilled, and should constitute the activ,
militia of the State, to be first ordered
into service whenever there should be {
call for militia, while the remainder
should constitute the reserve militia, t.
be called upon only in special emergen
cies. This bill was discussed for severa
successive days, amended to suit the wish
es of everybody, and at length dismissed
by large majority. Mr.. Deane's bill
for the same purpose was also rejected
The enrolment law Of 1862 will there
fore remain the law for another year, not
however without having some of its weak
places strengthened and some of its
"loopholes of retreat" stopped up.
The attention of official persons seems
greatly absorbed in the question how to
raise the Vermont quota of troops under
the new call. Every possible effort will
be made TO raise the whole number by
volunteering, and great confidence is felt
that the effort will be successful. With
in the last week, general orders" have
been issuing from the adjutant-generaPs
office, "thick as autumnal leaves that
strew the brooks in Vallambrosia." One
of these conveys the intelligence, which
will be welcome to every town in the
State, that in case of future draft, the
draft will be by towns and not by sub
districts. This makes each town respon-
sible for its own quota alone, and relieves
it from all liability TO be drafted on ac-
count of the deficiencies of other towns.
Under this arrangement, it may reason
ably be expected that every town will
promptly make up its quota, and save
the draft. Orleans County has hereto
fore responded so nobly to the cali for
volunteers that its liability under the
present call is very light, only 76 being
required from the whole county of which
Barton has to furnish 16, Albany and
Greensboro 10 each, Glover II, Morgan
z, Coventry and Westmore A each, and
Craftsbury 8. Every town in the coun-
ty, however, with the exception OF Sa>
lem-gallant little Salem-is in arrears
upon the draft, and the county must fur.
nish l29 men to make up the deficiency.
Selectmen and others who are interested
will need to bestir themselves.
There has been some smart debate,
both in the House and in the Senate.
upon bill to repeal the law requiring
the intention of marriage to be published
Several ministers living in Bennington
County petiioned for repeal of the law,
and select committee of fourteen, to
whom the petition was referred, reported
a bill in accordance with the prayer
Some members were so discourteous as
to vote against the second reading, and it
was not till the vote was twice tax en- that
a clear majority in favor of the bill was
Two votes were also neces-
sary before the opponents of the bill
would let it pass to third reading
When the question came on the final pas
sage there was a skirmish of an hour, in
which some of the able speakers and
more of the weak ones participated.
The bill passed the House by fair ma
ority, but was defeated in the Senate
Another bill, which proposed to substitute
he Massachusetts law allowing certif-
Gates of intention 10 be filed in the town
Jerks office, was then presented, ard
mother smart debate took place, but the
bill was dismissed by large majority.
Yet another bill is pending to The same
intent, and another discussion is to be had.
There is not much probability that the
obnoxious law will be repealed this ses~
ion, but sooner or later it will be reno
red from the statute book which il dis
traces.
The question of the union of the col
ages is coming up in new form. A
i'll has been introduced by which Hon.
S. Morrill,, Gov. Smith, Elk Cows. ?
Iall and Holbrook, Gen. p. T. Wash ,
urn, Hon. Davis Rich, Rev. Pliny II. {
White, Hon. Paul Dillingham;, and Rev. =,
!. A. Thomas, d. D., are incorporated +
J the university Of Vermont and its /;
.ssociate Colleges" and power is given q
, the existing colleges to become mem a
ers of that corporation by vote transfer a
ing to it their corporate existence and
Il their rights and franchises. Upon :
his corporation the bill bestows all =.
lnds given by the United States govern.
len; for the endowment of an agricul> :
iral nnllana The nnasfinn of lncaiinn |