St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-10-22
.Hortt,rTitt. correspondence
MONTPELIER. Oct. Is, 1869.


The ''Wislom and Nirtuc''of Vermont
have again assembled in the State llonse
in this place, FOR the consideration OF the
many questions ut grave or ulllIng I'M
portance that are annually presented t"i
their cofrs lcration. Probably never be-
fore in the history Of the state have the
members elect of the general assembly
been compelled to encounter SO many on
.tarIe. in coming together for the annual
session as the present year. The unpar
alcled interruption in all modes of conf
munication, both public and private, by
reason of the recent frcshcts, prevented Il
largc number of members from reaching
Montpelier in season TO be present on the
first day. The senate was compelled to
adjourn the first day, both forenoon and
afternoon. Tor want Of quorum, and
was able to proceed to business on the
second day with barely a sufficient num-
Der to render their action constitutional.
4 bare quorum Of the house were pres
cnt, but to enable those who were not
able TO reach here on the first dav, to he
present at the organization of the house,
it was deemed best to adjourn from
Thursday morning until Friday morning,
which was done without any attempt TO
hold a session on Thursday afternoon.
The evening and me- ht trains on Thurs
day So far increased the numbers Of both
the senate and house. that, together with
those who were compelled to find their
way hilher by private conveyance, over
hills and by by-wayS, both houses were
enabled to proceed to business-thc SEN
ate having twenty members present out
Of the thirty which constitute that body
and the house having but one hundred and
ninety of the two hundred and thirty->iX
members clectct;-and went promptly to
work with the business OF organization.
In the senate, Henry Clark, Esq, OF
Rutland, received unanimous rc-elec-
ton. this being the ninth term which he
will have served as secretary of the SEN
atc-a result winch was probably antici
pated by all who are acquainted with the
prompt and faithful manner in which he
has mitormcrly discharged the duties OF
that Office. and with his genial and cour-
teou- bcaring both in the senate chamber |
and out vi it. Maj. James =. Peck, the |
able assistant secretary Of the past two
wears, declined reelection. on account OF
other business, and the senate made
choice of Mason Il. Carpenter of Barre.
who will, without doubt prove Il faithful
and efficient officer, beins every way well
qualified tor the position, and having had
some previous experience in the wodu,
opa1ud, of legislative proceedings. The
newly elected chaplain, Rev. =. b. Fisk,
Is Young man of fine abilities, the pres
cnt pastor OF the Congregational church |
in Pcacham, ard will no doubt discharge |
the duties of his office with credit to him
self and acceptance to the senate. The |
election Is all the more creditable to Mr.. |
Fisk from the fact that he was asked by
his personal friends to accept it, and only
consented to serve at their earnest solici-
tations, receiving the unanimous vote OF
the senate. There is something re-
pugnant to the high calling of 4 minister
of the gospel to see him mixing in the
muddy matters of political strife, 50 far
aS "a be looking for paltry office, and
even begging to receive the same,-and
all for the sake OF the three dollars per
day compensation. The strife for the
offices Of chaplain of the two houses of
the legislature, which is becoming more
and more intense every year, Is not cal
culatcd to raise the participants in those
strite- in the estimation Of truly christian
men. Heretofore the strife has been
mostly confined to the resident clcrgvmen
of ontpclicr-sometimcs conducted
mostly by their friends, they in the mean
time keeping in the back ground, by no
means disintcrcsted spectators. This
year however, the applicants for these
offices were non-rcsidents of this town.
and in the house, at least, it became a
matter of personal solicitation, which, to
your correspondent. had too much the
appearance of the English hastings, or
more nearly, perhaps, resembling the
huck~trrs upon the streets on election
day-prce three dollars u PRAYER
In the house, aS every one had antici-
patel, Hon. George w. Grandey of Vcr-
genne~, was nearly unanimously elected
speaker, the only votes AGAINST him being
the few democrats who tool, occasion to
manifest their weakness by castin" their
votes for Col. Asa VI. Dickdv. of Brad
ford. The vote stood for Mr.. Grandev
l72, for Mr.. Dickcy 10, and , scatter
ing. Mr.. Grandcy is one of the very
few who are especially adapted for the
difficult and trying position to which he
has again been reelected; thoroughly
verSed IN parliamentary rules, courteous
and impartial in the discharge of the du-
ties Of the chair, his reelection was a
foregone conclusion.