Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-04

that position by the unanimous vote of the
only Republican Convention that has been
held in the District, and as such he is en-
titled to the support AMI the vote of every
true Republican. 1t is for the Republicans
of the District to make known their wishes,
and they should do so without delay.
From Montpelier.
OPENING OF TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE TWO HOUSES.
MONTPELIER, Oct. ., 1873.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
The session opens with blue skies and the
finest of pleasant October weather. The an
cient outside glories and e1citements of cleo
tion day have become things Of the past, and
the interest Of the opening now centres
wholly at and about the State House. The
crowds at the Pavilion and in the Legisla-
tive halls are almost composed of new faces.
The Senate contains but two members. Sen
ators, Beljen and Thompson of Caledonia
county, who were members of the Senate of
1876. Eighteen of the thirty have been mem
bers of the House ten came here for the first
time as legislators. OF the 2Sl members of
the House, but twenty were members Of the
last General Assembly, and but forty-eight
have ever been members before. The rest
have their legislative duties to learn.
The formal opening took place in the
usual form. Lieut.-Gov. Proctor, pending
the formal declaration of his election as Gov
ernor, took the chair of the Senate, and the
Senate organized promptly, chasing Hon.
Loveland Manson, of Bennington, for Prcsi-
dent pro tempore, and re-electing Secretary
Baldwin and Assistant Secretary Brownell,
the competent and experienced officers of the
last Senate.
Secretary of State Nichols called the
House to order, and presided. until the cleo
ton of Speaker, with his customary dig
nifty, promptness and familiarity with the
duties of the chair. There were an unusual
number of members whose credentials were
imperfect, or in some respect out Of the pre-
'cribed form, or missing altogether but no
question being raised as to the election of
my member, they were admitted without
presenting their credentials, or on such ns
they had.
1t took two ballots to elect speaker. Mr..
Camps prospects were injured by report
hat he had made an alliance with Judge |
Poland, on the Senator question; and
although this was suthoritatyely denied by |
he member who presented Mr.. Camps
lame, it, beyond doubt, Influenced number
# votes. Mr.. Martin led strongly on the
irst ballot, and was handsomely elected on
be second Mr.. Martin is one of the
Using young lawyers of Windham county.
is 80 years Old. and represented his town
f Londonderry in the last two Legislatures.
n which he took prominent rank as
right and active member. lie has full
ound voice and self-possessed manner, his
rief speech of acceptance was well received;
nd there is no reason to doubt that he will
iake a capable and popular speaker.
For Clerk, Henry N. Newell had very
andsome endorsement on the part of the va
ious members who presented and seconded
is nomination, and was elected by vote of
bout five to one for his principal Republi-
an competitor. The House, it is not neces-
ary to say, will have a thoroughly compe-
emit and faithful Clerk.
So the Legislature is organized, and when
ne committees are appointed and one or two
isturbing matters disposed of, the work of
,gislation will probably go forward in
lrnest.
The principal feature of the afternoon was
ic delivery Of the interesting valedictory
lessage Of the retiring Governor.
Yours.