Litchfield enquirer., 1867-06-06
The Legisla ture.


 From report of correspondents of the different journals we glean the following relative to business before the Legislature:
 The majority of Republicans are in favor of retaining the poll tax but reducing it. Some desire it's entire abolition
 At the Suggestion of Judge Carpenter the employment of stenographic reporters in our Superior Courts for taking down testimony is under consideration. The time expended in trials would thus be re- duced half and much greater certainty at tained.
 The correspondent of the Palladium states that thn committee on sale of liquors is about equally divided between the friends of lisence and of a prohibitory law. c. c. Burr lectured on Wednesday and Miss Clara Barton on Thursday evening of last week. The object of Miss Barton's lecture was to bring the case of Dorrance Atwater before the Legislature. This young man is native of Plymouth enlisted when six teen into the army, was nearly two years in rebel prisons. At Andersonville he copied and brought away the roll of the dead with plan of the trenches where they were bur- jed so that over 5000 have been identified and the graves marked with head boards. Having presented the government the use of this 'record' they refused to deliver it up, whereupon he recovered possession by stealth. For this offence he was disgrace fully dismissed the army without pay and imprisoned in the Auburn penitentiary A committee of both houses has been appoint ed on the matter
 The amount of wages of labor which are to be exempt from Foreign Attachment will be raised to $25 and perhaps to $50
 The eminent English orator and reform CT, Henry Vincent, was introduced to the House on Wednesday last and made few remarks expressing his respect for Ameri- can institutions and for the American people.
 Decidedly the most ridiculous speech of the session was made by MT Bennett, dem, on the bill making Washington's birthday a legal holiday. The following is the Conranfs report of it,
 ' MT. Bennett of Huntington, rose serious ously to oppose the motion to make Feb ruary 22d a legal holiday. Why should this be done? If satisfied that the effect would be to cause the name of that great and good man to be more revered, and the principles which he held to De learned and applied to our institutions and laws would cheerfully go for the resolution. But as the country is at present situated such proposi ton is mockery. Naughter.) The Nation which Washington established is more! Shouts of laughter.) Instead of republican government in the United States we have "a Military Despotism which would curse and dishonor any nation in the world We have body of men going outside of the constitution and establishing this despotsm- body of men with no more title to be called & congress than We who are sitting here! Continued merrment.) Whole States in the Union have been declared out of existence and the constitution set aside. Where is Virginny (bursts of laughter) the mother or Washington? Is she state in the Un- lon! Answer, No she composes Military District Nun Numoer l, under your Military Despotism (Laugh- mas been oyerthrown; her judiciary destroyed: and there IS no law there now except the caprice of military despot and dictator! Not in Virginny on
 a. 1u Ill ten states or the Union, this terrible des- Potlsm relgns,---and what is now proposed-in disregard of the consttution?-to establish the same despotism throughout the United States. It IS to overthrow the Sovereignty of every State and nave an unconstitutional Congress dictate our awsI Ah!- [laughterl to celebrate the 22d of February now Is not to honor the memory of Washington. f can think of nothing nov but the moaning of the Children of Israel [laughterl when they were in captivity by the rivers of Babylon Laughter they were asked to sing but they couldn't Laughter for they were ln strange land, so they hung their harps the rivers [laughterl on the willoys-sand wept when they remembered Zion [Great Laugh ter How can we honor Washington when everv- thing he established is trampled under foot? Every principle he established has been abolished for six years (Smiles of incredulty) And it does seem to me that keeping hIs birthday would be more /! like insulting than honoring his name'