Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-19
JOHNSBURY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY


and the said Julian Scott 10 furnish the paint.
ing. Well, what was the first move1 1t
was to send TO France for bit Of canvas at
an expense Of $500, and hire an Office
in the city of New York, at one thousand
dollars per aunum. Then after visiting diff.
ferent battle grounds in Southern states, it
was supposed the artist was ready to COM
mence operations. And he did commence
and finished the painting representing the
Battle Of Cedar Greek, and delivered the
same to the proper authorities who took
charge Of it and deposited it iu the state
house at Montpelier. There it hangs in the
governors room. If you wish to take peep
at it open the door and look behind it, aud
you will sec it in all its glory.
Then, as matter Of course, he tthe artist,
asks the legislature Of 1872 to make an APP
preparation, and, as a matter of course, they
did respond to the amount of four thousand
dollars, which they supposed, and We sup
posed was sufficient. But no; he comes be-
fore the legislature of 1874 aud requests
them to appropriate enough to pay his ex.
penses. He is very liberal, asks next to
nothing for bis services, but hc has paid out
about eight thousand Ave hundred dollars.
No items, no bill Of particulars, but it is
state affair, small amount for each tax.pay-
er and they, the Taxpayers, know but little
about this affair, and to save time we, that
is the legislature, will vote him five tAous.
and, making nine thousand dollars for the
picture. Whether this amount is 10 full this
depouent saith not. The citizens OF the
state Of Vermont are willing to award to the
soldier all that is his due, all that is neces-
sary, all that is right We would not tar.
nish his glory or his fame. His record is
made and the picture will not add TO nor di.
minish his deeds His reputation is what it
is and, paint him on the battle field or in his
peaceful home, he is what he Is. Anything
to be popular is the motto Of many Of our
legislators. Many Of them are in favor of
or against some particular measure, but
when they come to vote on the question,
we'll, they do not vote at all. And why 2
Perhaps it will not be popular; may be it
will not work we'll, therefore it will be the
most prudent course to take back seat and
look on. So it is with the picture. 1t will
not be popular to vote against it, so let us
vote for it. We are 10 favor Of every per-
son showing their colors, and are of the opin-
ion that a man should vote conscientiously
regardless of popularity. Trust in God and
do right, look forward and onward and up.
ward to Heaven, aud vote the republican
ticket, if those seeking Office are true men
if not, vote for democrat, if you can find
one that is honest. A few words more about
the picture. There are very few Taxpayers
who ever saw it, or ever will see it, and very
few who even know there is such thing in
existence. There was no record made of the
sayings and doings of the legislature in rela-
tion 10 the painting, aud those paying taxes
have right to know what for. We suppose
some of the leading men Of the state knew
the whole operation of the affair. but the
generality of the Taxpayers know but little
and care less. Anything to be popular. So
if a bill comes up in the legislature that has
the word school in it it will pass. We do
not propose to find very much fault with the
school laws, but if an opinion was expressed
We should venture to guess that the thing
was rather overdone by legislation.
Hancock, VI. ii. N. B.