The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-09
Notes for The CdledOniQn.
MONTPELIER, NOy. 6. 1866.

anu 4HttIsudy vi ldSI week the Work vi
legislation was diligently pressed
On Wednesday evening the members
from the third district held caucus at
the State House, with an understanding
that whoever should receive majority of
the votes present, should be the nominee !
of the republican party so far as they
were concerned. 1t resulted in the nomina-
ton of Worthington C.. Smith by large
majority, and.the nomination was after
wards made unanimous by those present. /
This was all the more gratifying in as
much as the old republican district COM
mittee had been together for two or three
days endeavoring to agree upon some
course to recommend to the voters of the
district, and upon some man who would
unite and carry the strength of the party,
but had failed 50 to do. There were also
fears that. through the division of the re-
publican strength upon different can
didates, and the consequent refusal of
many to vote at all, and the greatly in
creased and united efforts of the democrats,
my policy copperhead might be re-
turned to congress from that district. to
the everlasting disgrace of the state
Ii was evident that Waldo Brigham the
democratic nominee was endeayorng TO
shape his course SO as To gain favor with
some, and increase his vote. He had in
troduccd resolution relative TO the
punishment OF the Fenians, Lynch and
NcMahon. by the Canadian government,
and had opposed other measures in the
House which he evidently hoped would
give him strength with the foreign voters
OF the district He had on Wednesday
advocated the resolution, admitting the
southern representatives, if loval, when
their states shall have adopted the pro-
posed constitutional amendment Ii is
true, this was rather ungracefully done by
him, after having voted against the
adoption OF that amendment on the day
previous. However he succeeded i'll get
ting the first whereas" of his resolution
through the House. more nearly Il success
than think he will meet with to-day in
the third district
The republican members having united
Oh Mr.. Smith tclt as though they must
20 home and see that the people endorsed
their action To-day at the polls, and as ii
Is manlit>tiy against the doctrine OF the
j ''powerS that be that two-thir,lS of the
legislature should L.gi>Iatc tor tie uhoLe
state. Il Joint resolution was passed Thurs
day aIjoursing from Friday till Tuesday
afternoon. The consequence wa> that
the members nearly all went hon,c Friday
morning.
During Wednesday and Thursday 4
large number of corporation acts were
passed There seems to be a mania pie
Valln@ on corporations IN this state.
Nearly halt the time OF the legislature Is
consumed i'll passing acts OF this kind. and
think | may safely say that threr-tourlhS
OF the acts are never used. We lave 4
, general statute which would allow the
parties TO organize i'll most OF the cases,
: but they evidently think it cheaper for
them to have the state pass acts than to
pay the expense of advertising under the
general act. The report OF the state treas
t urer would tell Il different story 50 far II,
the state l. concerned.
f The House has passed an act di>quali-
flying from voting those who wilfully de-
: serted from the army during the war, and
: did not return 10 the service in accordance
: with the proclamation of the president.
and those who voluntarily entered the ser
5 vice oi the rebels. y bill compelling at
: tendance upon the common schools be-
tween certain aces, and on certain condi-
f though see there Is motion for recon-
: sideration Of that vote pending 1t is
t quite manifest, think, that the state will
best promote lis educational interests bv
making the schools the best possible, so
that 1t will be great Y FOR the interest of
every parent TO send his children. \
: scholar forced to school against his and
the parents wish, will be likely to make
but poor improvement of the privileges
offered him.
There is bill before both houses. al
lowing persons accused of crime to testify
IN their own behalf, tut not compelling
: them to do 50, as they are protected by
: the constitution in that respect Since
the law allowing parties to testify has met
with so general approval, and has so
greatly facilitated the trial of cases, it is
Thought that persons accused of crimes
+ should be allowed to give evidence in their
own behalf They are not, in the eve of