The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-11-01
LETTER FROM MONTPELIER.
Oct. 81, 1865.

sufficient business to keep them at work
The first spirited discussion Of the session
took place on Wednesday, in the House,
when ordering the third reading Of the
bill granting state pay TO substitute col
diers. A like bill was defeated in both
brsnches Of the Legislature last year
Mr.. Webster of Charleston supported the
bill, MIR. Rounds OF Chester, favored it
with an amendment. Mr.. Nicholson Of
Wnllingfold, opposed the bill, with or
without the amendment. The third read
ing was refused by large majority. The
general feeling seems to be that If the
State has any money to give away they
should commence mt the right end to give,
and remember those volunteers who first
went into the service without town boun-
ties.
The question of admitting Mr.. IIamil-
ton us the Representative from the town
OF Montgomery, without producing his
credentials drew out. Colby of Hartland
against, and Robinson of Highgate, in
favor of his admission The facts were
thcsc. Mr.. Green received a majority of
all The votes cast was declared duly cleo
ted Representative for the town of Mont
gomery, for the year ensuing, but in con-
sideration of his holding the office of
Postmaster, ami not wishing 10 resign
that office, declined the election of Rep
resentative. Whereupon another ballot
was called for and Mr. Hamilton was
duly elected; but the constable refused to
sign his credentials, because he had pre-
viously declared Mr.. Green elected. Mr..
Hamilton was admitted by vote of the
House. .
The Committee on Military Affairs
were directed by resolution to ascertain
the full amount of all expenditures incurr-
ed by the Military organization in the
State, for the year past. From their re-
port we learn that the whole expense
was S2l7,971, divided as follows: Ex-
penses of permanent character, not re-
curing annually, SlSl,713; expenses
recurring annually $4,000. The last
sum, being the annual expense of the
militia, is thought by many to be n larger
expense than time of peace will war
rant the state in yearly expending for
that purpose. In addition to the annual
expense. the Quartermaster General re-
ports that he has received from the Gen
eral Government of arms, accoutrements
and camp equipage TO the amount of
100000, for which he has given his re-
ceipt. As much of this is perishable
property, if it should be used five years
under the present militia law of the State,
moe or less of itwould be damaged, de.
stroyed Or lost, and consequently, the
State would have it to pay for Another
reason given by the opponents of the
present system and in favor of it.
repeal is: Uniforms which cost the
state S93, 600, could now be sold AT
near'y or quite their cost, thereby r.tnn-
ding part OF the expense of the
past year. On the other hand, the friends
of the present system say, that AS ours is
border State, and from the unsettled
condition Of our country at present, it
would be unwise and unsafe for the State
to adopt the same policy that it did before
the war. And if we are to have any
military organization, a change from the
present to any other, even if less efficient,
would cost the State more than to retain
the present militia system.
The Trustees of the Agricultural Col
lege report that they have failed to oh.
tain, by subscriptions, the amount required,
by the act of last year, to be raised be-
fore they could locate the college. The
Trustees have thereupon prepared and
sent to the Senate bill for uniting the
Agricultural College with the University
of Vermont, by which, as they claim, the
Joint fupds, Of both institutions are to be
devoted to carrying out the plan of in
struction which shall conform to the pro-
visions of the Charter of last year. If
the Trustees had said which will con.
form to the system now pursued in the
University of Vermont they would have
stated what will be the faR if the ar
rangement TO unite the two institutions
is perfected by the passage of the bill, MS
recommended by the Trustees. If the
bill is passed in its present form it will
result in the State of Vermont giving to
the University of Vermont Sl50,00O;
nothing more nor nothing less. / am
afraid the bill will pass by default ...,.
The Trustees of the FINLAND az Rurlinp-