Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-11-17
Correspondence of the Free Press.
FROM MONTPELIER.
NJ oSTPELIER, Nov. Is.


Dear Free Press:
The Militia question after
being long and ably discussed in the House
came into the Senate on the Saturday proceed
ing the adjournment in the form Of bill doing
away with all parade, drills and musters, ex-
cept the annual June training of companies.
Owing to the absence of one of the com. on MI
itary affairs the bill was retained for some time
in the committees possession but the absent
member not returning the com. reported on
Thursday, recommending that the bill be a.
mended so that the regimental drills of Septem-
Der should be retained. The Committee beliey-
ed the bill an imposition upon the United States
Government as it retained a useless drill of SIM
ply one day in order that the State might keep
the arms already obtained, and that it was an
imposition upon the officers and privates who
had enlisted under certain conditions which the
State on its part was about to violate.
Mr. Crane for the Committee urged these ar
guments upon the Senate, and argued that If
/ Il
should be repealed altogether. He believed it
necessary to retain at least the regimental drill
But it seemed to be the opinion Of the majority
of the Senate that some change should be made
in the law, and all who wished the law repealed
or in any manner amended opposed the amend
ment of the Committee and favored the bill, be-
lieving that the House could not be induced to
adopt any other bill. and the bill was passed in
concurrence. Ia the afternoon the Committee,
| true to the opini ms expressed in the morning,
reported in favor of bill destroying the whole
militia system, and urged in its support, that
the system was now worse than none at all
But the Senators who in the morning had wish
least like expense refused to vote for the repeal
while all the former friends of the system now
favored the bill, so that the Senate refused tc
pass ii.
The bill taxing the stock Of National bank,
was discussed at length IN the House and aitel
long consideration passed and was sent to tn,
Senate on Thursday The bill was reported IA.
vorably by the com. on Finance Thursday even
ng, but it was not allowed to pass without grea
opposition. Senator Smith took the lead in op
posing the bill and the discussion WAS long an,
interesting. Senator Chapman endeavored t
amend the bill by adding proviso that the bill
should be declared Constitutional b. the Su
preme Court, before taking effect. bu; this a
mendment was strenuously opposed and the bil
finally passed without amendment.
The bill to tax Savings banks after long dis
cussion passed the House. and the Senate ais
passed it with proposal of amendment whicl
the House refused to accept. The Senate re
quested the appointment OF a com. Of conference
but the House refused to aoceic to the rcques
and so the bill failed to become a law
To the credit of the Legislature both branche
passed the bills increasing the pay Of town an
c Crks, sheriffs aud jurymen, though i
Is still matter ofwonder how they happene
TO pass the House Of Representative.
The act in relation to poor debtors after som
debate passed the House over the Governor
veto by large majority, but in the Senate onl
one vote was registered in favor of the passag
Of the bill under such considerations
The closing hours Of the session were yer
pleasant snd every one seemed gratifed at III
expeditions manner in which the business Of th
session had been concluded.
There we're many bills still IN the hands d
committees but all the important measures ha
been acted upon and no one felt that much wa
left unaccomplished.
The session on a whole was a very plesssn
one though, there does not seem to have bee
so much important legislation as usual and N
number Of debators, especially in the House
has been unusually small.
There were very many new members this yea
in both houses, from whom we shall probabl
hear more next year should they return. an
this large number Of new members may hay
| been the cause Of the very short session.
Yours. &c. y