Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-04

closed its session, and the hour at which our
paper went to press, came too near together
to admit Of any extended remarks upon the
event, in last weeks issue Aud perhaps
after fhy.scven days proceedings, pretty
fully reported, our readers may feel satisfied
to hear no more about the late Legislature
But we cannot be so uncivl as so part with
such goodly compauy,-it may be for two
years, and more probable in most instances
forever,-wthout word at parting. The
calendar Of this session will mark the longest
period of time, by one day Of any one since
the organization Of the State--tbe one next
to it being the session Of 1862, which lasted
6f(y.six days For the amount of work per.
formed as compared with any former session,
the one just closed will not suffer by com.
parison. There has been about the usual
amount Of grumbling and faut.fnding over
adjournments delays, doing nothing" etc,
but that has become chronic, and is now the
expected accompaniment Of all Vermont leg.
islatutes,-the two hundred and seventy men
selected for Senators and Representatives not
exhausting the stock of those most noted
for wisdom and virtue to such degree as
not to leave a large amount of that peculiar
qualification behind to crticise and find fault,
aud keep up healthful watchfulness over
those who are permitted to enjoy the honors
and the debenturcs.
Both the Senate and House Of Representa-.
tves were well presided over and generally
well Offered Lieutenant Governor TAFT
proved considerably above the average as a
presiding officer, and Mr.. Speaker FAIR.
BANKS friends, who pressed him so zealousl
for the position, had no occasion to regret
their confidence or their votes. II he wa
not the equal of some of his predecessors il
the Speakers chair, he was selected from tn,
best material in the House, and the bushes
record that has been made up under his ad
ministration is the best evidence that be ha
not labored without results
The clerical force was about as good a
usual, Secretary CARPENTER in the Senat
and Chief Clerk CAMP in the House film
their respective places with marked ability.
The average ability in both the upper an
the lower branch was not below that of mos
former state assemblagcs Of this character
Whilst perhaps there was less brillancy i
leadership, there were more in number tina
usual that could command something beyon
respectful hearing whenever they had any
thing to say. The Senate in particular wa
remarkably well balanced body Willis
but little debate is usually INDUCED in Sena
tOrily, nearly every Senator had speaking
talent sufficient to fairly put his views befor
that deliberate body whilst on occasion, Sen
ators Ballard, Powers Veazey, Bailey, Car
penter, Adams, Hinckley, Reynolds, Morril
Wilson, Sprague and few others could ad
little of the eloquence of earnesiness t.
their arguments by way of enforcement. Sen
ator Bigelow had few superiors in the Senat,
as a clear-headed and careful legislator anC
as is apt to be the case with such men, he
not unfrequently found himself voting with
the minority, choosing to record his vote
where his reasoning, always logical, rather
than any impulse based upon false premises,
placed it. Senator Butterfeld of Windhan
county probably voted against more thing
than any member of the Senate but ther,
was geniality in his conservatism that took
away all the mustiness of old fogysm, anC
rendered him n safe man to make laws with
Without the Procrustean front Of Senator
Morrill,, he would arrive at about the sam,
results, Senators Cotton, Bartlett and Shed,
displayed excellent business tact when occa
sion required and it would be difficult to nam
the Senator that was not good committee
ly throughout, and the reports of the com
mittees as rule were received as conclusive
The House being more cumbrous ma
chine, would not be expected to discharge al
its legislative functions with the same degre
Of harmony that would characterize the Sen
ate, but it being an unusually dgnifed bod
this year, with much well tempered good sens,
its greater sins were those of omission instea
Of commission. 1t adhered with u strang
tenacity to some old landmarks that ext.
only in name, like the usury law, for instanc,
and whilst radical enough to pass the muc
talked Of State police or constabulary " bi
by a large majority, it was ultra.conseryati,
enough to adhere to six per cent and NJ
allow the death penalty to be tampere
with-the latter being an adherence to la
which will make all good men feel more 81
cure in their persons if ali bad men 10 no
The freeness with which both branches in
parted corporate rights and privileges to a
askers, indicates that the progressive elemer
predominated after all but this is bus
ness" and the average Vermonter is niue
better at that than at any metaphysical col
undrum. Laws regulating the morals, tn
peace aud good order of society, the mol
reckless and thoughtless as lawmakers wi
90 for, but when a hitch is discovered
and the statute is found to contain law tina
al a rule VIII not 60 after Its vlolators, the
the conservative element will resist the tear
ing down and building new process" bu
will permit the radical to build on addition
and /" lean to-" till the original structure
entirely lost sight of, and We have sor
of architectural statutory monstrosity, sue
queer shapes does legislation sometimes tax,
The legislature Of 1872 did something at th
kind Of work, and left their contribution /
be doye-taied upon the shapeless pile G
sumptuary laws which only want administer
log to be panacea for the great evil it seek
TO cure, and bury it so deeply, too, that Their
would be no resurrection for it,
But the coming question" as it wa
often DESIGNATED nv one Senator WAS not al,