Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-19

n After careful examination and deliberatior
a and an unsuccessful application to the Su
r preme Court for an opinion as to the legalit
/ Of the grand list on the case as presented b.
the compliments, Gov. Stewart has decline
, to call a special session. We should be ga,
to see the members Of the Legislature, an,
renew the pleasant acquaintance made at tn
last session, and we will venture so far t.
, represent the good people Of Montpelier as t,
say that they would be glad too. And fur
ther we know Of no better reason to Nstif,
+ the inconvenience and expense of an extr,
session than the redress Of grievances Of an,
considerable number Of the people of tn,
State, wherever they may be aud whoever
they may be. The chief end Of government
is to secure justice and if the government
itself has been unjust, it ought to lose no time
in repairing the wrong. The first question
then, i.-llas anybody been wronged On
a very careful examination, unbiased by a
/ particle Of prejudice we became convinced
weeks ago, that no wrong had been done But
may have judged enormously and if it
even SO, another question is whether enough
TO be gained by the compliments to war.
ant special session As we understand
the facts, they have with few exceptions paid
w &C. taxes olrcady--some Of them under pro.
st and thus, if it be finally determined
It they have paid too much, and are entitled
have the excess refunded the question Of
time is all there is in the case or, in another
form, the question is whether it would not be
cheaper to pay interest if anything is to be
paid. than to hold an extra session. The gov.
ernment will do justice, if injustice shall be
shown and if the good people Of Chitten-
den, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties will
so far honor the biennial scheme of legisa.
tion as TO wait patiently until 1872, we GER.
tainly will not object to the payment of in.
terest by the State on every penny Of excess
Of taxes up to the day on which the excess
shall be refunded
This case tends strongly to show the ap.
grieyod parties that grave mistake was com.
mltted in May last on the question of Ben
NAL Sessions and they are only taking their
turn first Every portion of the State, and
every important interest in it, will suffer in
its turn if the governors shall refuse to call
extra sessions whereas if they shall call
them, the fact will be demonstrated that the
people have gained nothing by sacrificing their
right to annual elections. Gov. Stewart must
have felt, though he does not say, that the
case must be very strong and clear indeed to
warrant two sessions of the Legislature in
one year, when the people through their dele.
gates have so recently decided that there shall
be only one session in two years. In fact
this matter was somewhat considered at the
last session, with a view to an adjourned ses-
sion in October next and If we are not mis-.
taken, Gov. Stewart then declared to members
of both Houses that, as tie immediate repre-.
sentatves of both the people and the towns,
they ought to take the responsibility of decd-
ing the question. They did not take it and
we are very sure therefore that then cannot
blame the governor for declining to take it
now, even on slighter grounds than he alleges.
But aside from these considerations, the
Governor has met the case as it was put to
him, and treated it fairly and wisely. The
Burlington Free Press frankly acknowledges
the force Of his objections, and we do not see
how any body can reasonably do otherwise.
OF course we known that those who are sure
they are wronged will find it hard to wait
for another legislature. But is it not best.
even for such ? Their complaints were made
to the existing legislature--to the very body
they have asked the Governor to summon TO.
gether again and that body decided against
them. viii it not be quite as well to wait
for tribunal that has not prejudged this
case We hope that the dissatisfaction and
discussion, which have grown out of the list
Of 1871, will not be without valuable use in
eading to a better scheme Of valuation for
while we do not see that the complaining
counties in this case are bearing excessive
burdens compared with the average, We dc
see that the existing system of valuation and
equalization, both as between towns and coun.
ties, is very imperfect The saddest fact about
1t is, that the poorest towns are the greatest
sufferers from the imperfection of the sys,
tenn.