Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-12-04
Town Meeting.

Inc. hon. J.. d. EnglesDy was CHOSEN NOu-
orator
Hon. Geo. F. Edmunds offered the follow
ing resolutions
Resolred, That the Selectmen be and they are
hereby authorized 10 pay a bounty not exceeding
two hundred and fifty dollars 10 each volunteer
VINO shall be mustered into the United StAtes
service before january 5, 1864, and applied on
the quota Of this town. 70 be raised under the
last call Of the President Of the United States for
volunteers.
Resolred. That said Selectmen be further au-
thorized to promise to every such volunteer the
further sum Of fifty dollars, contingent upon the
event that the full quota Of volunteers IN behalf
Of this town be raised and mustered in SIS sforo-
said.
Resolued, That 4 tax Of sighfy-fkres cents on
the dolllr Of the grand list Of this town is here
by ass ,ssed, TO lie collected and paid into the
treasury for the purposes aforesaid, on or before
the first day Of February, 1884.
Resolued, That said Selecrmen are hereby au-
thorized TO borrow for the time being on the
credit Of the town. such sum as shall be needed
for the payment Of bounties as aforesaid, before
said tax can be collected, not exceeding fifteen
thousand dollars.
Resolued. That said Selectmen be and they
are hereby authorized 10 cash, out Of the funds
aforesaid, and take the assignment OF the United
States bounties payable to such volunteers upon
proper diminution Of said bounty hereby voted,
as such selectmen shall deem e1pedient.
Resolued. That the bounties aforesaid are
voted upon the confident expectation that the
honor and patriotism Of the citizens Of this town,
hitherto unsullied, vii not now fail to bring
forward the needed number Of volunteers, ready
70 share IL the peril and glory Of the GROWING
victories Of the Union armies over the rebellion
e. 6. Benedict. Supt Of Recruiting Ser
vice, supported the resolutions. He urg-
ed the importance of securing our quota Of
volunteers, instead of delaying for draft
favored the payment Of liberal bounty in
addition 70 the [. ;. Bouniies thought the
sum named would secure the quota of the
town. and that this would prove TO be tie
last call for volunteers and replying to the
current objection that 1t would he unfair to
tax those who are at present free from draft
by reason Of having served term Of service,
and those who have purchased exemption
by paving the $500 Communication, he ex-
pressed his belief that neither class would
claim TO he exempt from the common duty
Of supporting the Government and the honor
OF our State and Town. but that all would will
Ingiy bear their share Of the public burdens
Mr. Edward Vansicklen was in favor of
paving a larger bounty than that named.
Rutland had offered $500 bounty and Bur
Lnaton ought To do as well Willi7ton had
adjourned her town meeting to sec what
Burlington would DO. He was willing 70 pay
$500 OF 5000, and offered auamendment to
the first resolution, substituting $3.50. in
the place Of -. 81 and thus increasing the
total to $500 in czse the full quota should
be saised
q. " BenedicJ, ESQ, thought the re-olu-
tons vel as they stood. TIE question wss
what would be at once liberal To tine soldiers.
and fair ana reasunabls for tax payers, in
view both Of the necessity Of the case, and
the example sc; by US to other towns. The
bounties thus far offered by other towns had
ranged from 500 to $500. Rutland being
an exceptional ease. A bounty Of $500, of
winch $50 should be contingent on raising
the quota, seemed 10 him. in addition to the
large l. 5. bounues and extra pay, to he
sufficient He considered that an extrava-
CANT bounty offered here would work an in
jury to towns in the vicinity considered less
able than Burlington.
Hon. Geo. Edmunds said there must be
a reasonable limit to the amount of bountiee
offered. Vermont mas already paid her SOL
diers better than any other State, and her
citizens were taxed at the rate OF 4 million
Of dollars a year, more or less, for the extra
pay Of the soldiers The $500 offered in the
resolutions would give the volunteer a
bounty Of over 5000 to raw recruit, and
500 10 veteran, which with his pay Of
nearly SIS q month would, if the war should
end as 1t was likely to, within year, give
the volunteer nearly 81 900 for his years
service. He thought this generous. Rut- /
land had double the number of men to raise. I
with a smaller population liable to draft, and I
might well offer larger bounty. Her case
was no precedent for US
J. 5. Adams, Esq, said that the fact as to
Williston was, that they were in doubt there
whether 70 offer any additional bounty, and
had adjourned their meeting to further con-
sider the question. Richmond had raised
half her quota without any town bounty. He
forcibly supported the resolutions without
and especially favored the second
by which every volunteer, as fast
Is secured, would become recruiting officer
70 induce others to 90 with him
The vote being taken on Mr.. vanSicklen',
amendment, it was lost BY vote of SIS to
lbs.
W W Walker ESQ proposed an amendment
IF the resolution, which should allow the
,electmen to vary the amount of bounty in
iiherent cases, at their discretion.
Mr.. Edmunds objected strongly to making
ny discrimination. He would pay all alike.
Mr. Shaw objected also to Mr. Walkers
mendment He should, ar a Selectnan. be
unwilling to serve under such an arrange
nent. f.,
The question beng taken on Mr.. Walkers
it was lost. /:
Judge Van Sicklen spoke at some length, -.
! favor of increasing the bounty He was .
illing to be taxed TO his last cent, for such
purpose, and if he was thirty years young
would take his place in the ranks himself,
I'd feel honored by having hand in crush il
g this goddess rebellion. G
Mr. Mai Davis thought the provision for m
aking $50 of the bounty offered condition 1
upon the raising of the full quota, i'll ad- Il
sed The S5( additional vould c,rps co. ii