Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-10
The Legislature of Vermont.

to mind any particularly paramount and exciting
problems, agitating cur commonwealth, which
demand an immediate solution but the assem-
bled wisdom of the State will doubtless find
work upon their hands and drafts upon thor
craftsmanship sufficient TO actively and proGtably
occupy the time annually allotted them in which
to right the wrongs OF previous legislation. and
provide for the interests and prosperity Of the
State and its people ior the coming twelve
month.
The Senate, although composed Of quito
number Of new members, will compare most ia
vorably in point OF legislative ability and prac-
tical wisdom, with any preceding one. Several
Of the most talented members Of last years
House have been elected to this years Senate
and will make good tho places Of the very able
Senators who now retire from the Senate Cham
ber Tie Senatorial delegation from Rutland
County-althougb entirely composed Of men
who have never before held seats in that body
is one Of the ablest and most talented ever sent
from single county The gentlemen compos-
ing t-hessrs Dorr, Hyde and Howe-are truly
representative men-not alone Of Rutland County,
but Of Vermont and their ability and expert.
ence will exert marked influence upon the leg
lslatlon Of the coming session. There are several
other members who held seats in the Senate last
year, whose names it might seem inyidous to
mention, equally well known for their compre-
hensiyo statesmanship and ability as legislators.
IAon, again, the Senate will be peculiarly fortu-
nalo this year IN it, presiding officer Always
courteous and aHable, possessed of rare admin
istratvo ability, and thoroughly conyersant with
all the details Of legislation as well as the rules
Of parliamentary practice, Lieut.. Governor
Gardner will bring to the chair Of the Senate
a knowledge and an experience that cannot fail
to prove him the right man in the right place
There will 10 no delay in the organization of
the Senate. We understand that the capable
and efficient Secretary and Assistant Secretary
of laet year-Messrs. Henry Clark and J. ?.
again this session and we presume the Senators
who know them and know how fautless record
they made last fall, both Tor themselves and for
the Senate will bc quite as anxious they should
fill tho.e offices as they are to fill them. We
may therefore, reasonably expect to see the
Senate permanently organized and in working
order at a no later hour than Thursday noon.
We noticed that some Of our cosemporarios,
in speaking Of the members elect to the House
Of Representatives, were inclined to intimate
that the coming House would not stand 50 high
in the scale of intellectual and legislative ability
as that Of last Jear. In this opinion we 90 NOT
coincide. In fact we are quite willing 10 risk
our reputation for wisdom by prophesying that
the coming session will prove the House, a, at
present constituted, fully the pesr of any which
has preceded It. An assembly that shows upon
its roll of members such men rs Stewart of Middle
bury, Parks Of Bennington, Miner OF Manchester
bard Of Chelsea, Clark of Poultney, Pollard Of
Windsor, Nicholson Of Wallinglord, Jones Of
Dover, W alto Of Brattleboro, Colby of Hartand,
Pfout Of Rutland, Barnes Of Burlington Ross
Of ST. Johnsbury, Pease Of Norwich, Cushing
of Barton, Dunnof Fairfax, Pratt Of Woodstock,
Ross Of Brandon, Keith oil Northfeld Wells Of
Waterbury, Barstow of Shelburne, White Of
Washington, Barlow Of Sc. Adams, besides a
host OF hardly " lesser lights - in the lcgisla-
tive aud political horzon--such an assembly, we
repeat, may we'll challenge comparison with any
legislature that has gone before it. The honor
Of the State and the interests Of the people may
safely be con6ded to such body OF men as will
compose the next General Assembly Of Vermont )
and We shall confidently anticipate that the com
ing session will bo characterized ior its oompre-
hensiye and enlightened lsgislation-a legiala
ton that shall alike DO creditable TO the repre-
sentstiyes and beneficial TO the pooplo-.hat
shall be entirely above all tho petty arts and
sub.erluges Of the professional politician and
the trickster. Thus much Senators, and Repre-
sentatiyes, state and Legislative officers owe to
the people who have elected them and confdoa
in them and wa trust they will meet this re-
sponsbihty in such manner that, when their
duties shall have been all discharged, their work
all accomplished, they can return to the bosom
OF their constituency, and be greeted with the
welcoming plaudit Of "well done, good and
|
faithful servants"
But we have no intention Of giving grstuit
Gus address to the members of the Legislature.
Our purpose is to speak Of them rather than 10
them. From present Indications slight "hitch"
may possibly occur in the organization OF the
House. The candidates for the Speakership
are numerous aud this is not particularly
owing to the personal desire Of the men named
in that connection, but rather from the par
TALLY and wishes of each Of the several local.
ties for it's iayorite man. |, is conceded that
either Of She candidates proposed would worihiiy
and satisfactorily discharge the duties Of the
office but none Of them specially standing, as
did Saul among the prophets, head and shout
ders above his eompecrs, it is yet uncertain who
will bear OF tie honors Of the Speakers Chair
Our own belief in that regard has been hereto
fore expressed, and without changing it at this
time, we are quite free to say it will be much
safer prophesying who will be Speaker after The
rOtes are counted than il is at the present writing
\ Speaker once elected, tho House will be
almost immediately ready for the legitimate
business OF the session for no one will think
OF making the least opposition to the re-slec-
ton of JonN H. FLAeo, ESQ, the oblipiny