Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-28
THE RUTLAND HERALD
Editorial Correspondence.
MoSTpELrER, Oct. ga, 1869.

MONTPELIER, Oct. 22d, 1869.
As several of the letters written from
the Capital during the food and since
have failed TO reach their destination, we
shall not attempt to reproduce them, al
the main portion Of their contents would
now be uninteresting.
The Legislature, on Thursday, voted
10 adjourn from Friday afternoon until
Monday afternoon next at four o'clock,
which is practically from Thursday until
Tuesday, az quorum was not present in
either branch this morning, although
some routine business was transacted, for
the purpose Of facilitating the proceed.
ings on their return to their duties
While some Of the people may be disposed
to criticize the members Of tho General
Assembly for so early a vacation, con.
sidering the delay in the organization
yet more work has been accomplished in
the one week Of its session thus far than
we have before known in our experience
of several years, which is creditable, and
indicates a disposition to have a shor,
session. The business of legislation is in
more progressive state to-day than often
times it has been in the third week Of the
session. There are several reasons why this
state of things exists, and one is that the
State officers have been promptly chosen
which has not been often done until
the second or third week of the session
the time which should have been devoted
to legislation has been spent in canvassing
for the various candidates. Another sign
of progress is that bills pertaining to gen.
eral legislation have been presented and
are now before the committees for action,
which has rarely been the case before the
third week. Heretofore private bills and
acts of incorporation Of every kind and
nature have consumed the first of the
session. But few bills of this nature
have been presented, and the members do
not appear to have their pockets filled
with bills, and those they have are gem
orally those which seek to amend or mod
ify existing laws and enact some new
provisions which are intended to meet
the public wants. Therefore the people
may take courage that their servants
mean business and intend to make an
early adjournment, and accomplish it in
satisfactory manner. This is certainly
indicated by the present status of bust
ness, and it is rumored that Governor
Washburn will probably appoint Thanks
giving on the 18th of November, which
will have the tendency to hasten the bus
mess of the session to a close, as an adj
journment has always been reached before
Thanksgiving, and we have no apprehen-
sion that this very sensible custom will be
violated, or a new precedent be estab-
lhhed after SO many years practice.
The communication of the sentence Of
Horace r. Plumley may meet with some
opposition in the House as the considerA-
ton of the bill has been postponed until
Wednesday next. 1t was hoped this sub
ject would meet with prompt action on
the part of the Legislature, as it is one
under all the circumstances so eminently
just that it can hardly be refused or OPP
posed only by those who are governed by
deep feeling, or are rigid advocates of the
death penalty in every case. There are
certainly mitigating facts in this case that
demand serious consideration,-the con-
dition of Plumley, who has alread, suf-
fered a thousand deaths and been SUBJ
jected to torture of mind that seems
cruel, having been obliged to witness the
erection of the scaffold and almost the
execution of Miller. When the facts in
this case have been presented to the good
sense of the humane men of the House
and Senate, we have no reasonable doubt
that his punishment will be committed
to imprisonment for life. The question
cannot fail to have facts fairly presented as
both prosecuting officer Mr. Wood and Col.
Joyce, his counsel, and three other law
yers who were present at the trial. are
members of the House. The bill was re-
ferred to the members of the House from
Rutland County, who, having considered
the subject, voted, with one exception, TO
recommend the passage of the bill, and SO
reported to the House through Judge
Frisbie, their chairman. There is also a
growing sentiment among the people
against capital punishment, and bill
has been presented to the Senate for re-
peal OF the death penalty, accompanied
by numerous petitions praying for its
passage. The subject will receive, at
least, seriousAnd candid consideration at
the present session.
We shall endeavor to keep the readers
of the HERALD informed upon the pro-
gress of this bill as well as that in the
case of Plumley, in which its readers feel
an interest. He.