Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-12-31
Vermont and the PhilsdeIphIa Exposition.

charge the matter of the representation OF
Vermont, in the Centennial Exposition,
have issued the following address to the
members of the Legislature =.
To the Members of the General assembly Of
The State Of Vermont
At a meeting called by DR.. NJ. Goldsmith,
the State Commissioner, held at Rutland,
December %, 1875, of the intending exhibit
ors in the National Centennial Exposition TO
be held at Philadelphia, a committee OF whom
His Excellency Asahel Peck, Governor oi
the State, was chairman, were appointed to
select five persons to act as an executive
committee to devise ways and means Tor
the proper representation OF cur State in
the great international exhibition.
AT meeting of the undersigned as this
executive committee, held at Rutland. on
Monday, Dec. - for consultation, and after
a careful consideration Of the subject, they
concluded to submit to the members of the
General Assembly the following suggestions:
Believing that the credit and fair fame Of our
State is in jeopardy and not desiring to take
the responsibility of representing it in 50
important a matter without authority or
funds, they deem it proper that the Legisla-
ture shonld act in the premises, and. there
fore, appeal to the members thereof Tor an
expression of opinion in reference TO the con
yening of the Genersl Assembly in special
session
If it shall be the general wish of the mem
bers of the Legislature that the State he
creditably represented at the coming Con
tennial this committee will at once wait
upon His EXcellency Governor Peck and
request him to call the Legislature together
for the purpose of taking such action and
making such appropriation as they shall
deem sufficient TO enable Vermont to main
tain her true position among the other
States represented at this world renowned
exhibition.
The importance of such representation
of our Green Mountain State must impress
itself upon the minds Of all her thoughtful
citizens. A failure to have our ayricultu-
raj, mechanical, manufacturing, and all
other industrial interests properly repre-
scented, would be disgrace in the eyes
of our sister States and the civilized world.
| Can Vermont, at the end Of a hundred
| years OF national existence, consent to stand
before the word as unable, OF unwilling, to
represent herself at this great gathering Of
the nations? Our history, our honor, our
| self-respect and our patriotism should forbid
| it.
/ This committee, therefore, suggest the
following plan That each officer and mem
Der Of the Senate and House should attend
the special session without expense to the
| State
The committee take pleasure in 81 wing
! that they have had an interview with Gov
ernor Smith, the President Of the Central
Vermont Railroad Company, who, with
characteristic liberality, has agreed, lat in
the event of a special session, called to con
/ slider matters connected with the CeHten-
NAL, to transport over the various lines Of
his road, TO and fIom Montpelier, any and
all members of the Legislature without
charge, provided said members shall attend
such session without charge to the State.
and we also have assurances from the man
ayers Of other roads within the State that
the same courtesy will be extended upon the
same terms And as no other business Will
! be done, one days time will be all that it
will be necessary TO detain any member
They have decided upon the plan suggested
10 ascertain your views, u well as to place
the responsibility OF maintaining the repu-
tation Of the State upon the representatives
Of the people, who, by tier position, are
expected to sustain il in al emergency
like the present.
They therefore respectfully re4ae-t that
/ each member. on receiving this circular, will
signify assent or dissent 10 the condition Of
serving the State at this important juncture
without compensation, hy returning Ia, re
ply a. soon as may be, and before the jtA
day Of January next, To John y. Baxter
! chairmsn Of this committee, at Rutland
Dated at Rutland, Vt, thi- 2sth laY +
December, 1875.
JouN y. BAXTER,
JAcoB EsrEY, r-.,.-.
WILLIAM K. SANFORD. ),
DUDLEY P. HALL, '-''''' '''
LAWRENCE BRAISARD.
We cannot doubt that the suggestions Vi
the committee will commend themselves %
the members Of the General Assembly. and
that they will one and all cheerfully con-
sent to give each 1aY Or two to the state,
for the worthy purpoSe Indicated. As the
session will be in fact simply 10 supply
palpable omission Of daty on The part Of the
Legislature at the regular SESSION. there i
the more reason why the members should
now do this without charge - the state
treasury The railroads have made gen
erous offer and let the senators aud rrpre,eu-
tatnes RESPOND in ike patriotic spirit, and
the apprehension OF a failure Of Vermont to
take her proper part in the nations great
Centennial exhibition, which hA- touched
the pride and troubled the feeling. Oh not
lew Patriotic citizens, will ,oou be set