Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-24
From the Capital.
PASSAGE OF THE MILITIA BILL BY tbs
HoUsR.

The House devoted large portion OF
Saturday TO the consideration of the
militia bill, in committee of the whole,
II would be both impossible and unin-
teresting TO notice all the speeches and
all the varieties of opinion on this sub
Ject. There were certainly from twelve
to twenty members whose hearts APP
peared to be full and running over with
their "views," who, in their own esti-
nation, knew all that was worth know
ing about military matters; and who
doubtless believed that if their own
"views" were not adopted, the "back
bone" of the old commonwealth would in
stantly settle more than it has before for
a million ortt,TIov oi years. Besides these
there were others who, while they had
views" of their own, which they ex-
pressed in calm and dignifed maj. ner,
were nevertheless contenteo. to abide by
tie decision Of the Houss.
Mr.. Marcy OF Royalton said he thought
that in former times men trained as well
without blue coats, that as many boys
followed after, as many ladies smiled
bewitchingly from the windows, as they
do now to the uniformed companies
He was unable to see what inherent vir~
tue there was in the color of blue to
make man fight better than he could
in any other color.
| NJ 10 ftn,o hoI
spent most of his active life in southern
cities where uniform companies had
been in a course of drill for the last
twenty or thirty years, and we now see
what rebellion had followed. He was
opposed to fostering a military spirit
He had seen great many uniform mill
tary companies and fire companies in
the principal cities Of the nation, and
he was bold to say that he never knew
a member of any of these companies
who would not get crunk at least occa-
sionally. He had some boys to bring
up, and he had come to quiet town in
Vermont where they had churches and
schools and temperance laws, and he had
no desire that his boys should see or be
members of any sort Of uniform compa-
MES
Mr.. Clifford, or Colonel Clifford" as
he is called by his neighbors of New
Haven, said he had had some experience
both in old times and more recently in
drilling men. He had rather have six
regiments well uniformed than twelve
or twenty with stove pipes, straw hats,
soft hats, and all sorts Of costumes.
Mr.. Deane Of Cavendish said it was
necessary to pay respect to the general
sentiment of mankind with regard to
the fitness of things. What if your
minister should go into the pulpit in
striped frock, unwashed, uncombed and
unshaeed, there the clerical members in
voluntarily felt of their big mustaches)
how many hearers do you suppose he
would have2
Mr.. Stewart of Middlebury said all
history even from the earliest times,
went to show that it was regarded as an
important matter to have soldiers uni
formed. In order that a military force
should be efficient it was necessary that
it should be uniformed and under the
control Of one man.
Mr.. Pease of Norwich said, let us put
the creature upon its legs as it is and
see if it can stand. If we find that it is
lame or paralytic we can then proceed to
doctor it.
Between nine and ten o'clock Satur-
day evening the committee of the whole
rose; the chairman, Mr.. Dorr, reported
the bill to the House as it came from
the military committee with proposal
to amend so as to provide for uniform
ing the organized militia) and under a
call Of the previous question the bill was
finally passed-yeas 1877, nays II.
Quite number Of those who opposed
the bill were seated on the lobby, outside
the bar Of the House, and of course did
not respond to their names when the
yeas and nays were taken.
Mr.. Hyde of Castleton who bad voted
yea then moved a reconsideration which
was lost. and thus the nail was effect
ually clinched.
The bill fixing the salaries of the
judges at 81, 100 has finally passed.