St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-10-11


law, there is now time shortly before
the execution, in which a person under
sentence of death, whatever the devel-
opments, has not the right to bring a
petition for a new trial. The condition
of the law has probably been occasion
ed inadvertently by the change from
the annual to the biennial system.
think this is defect in the law. When
life is the penalty, the state cannot af-
ford to make mistake. l therefore
thought it my duty to stay the execu-
ton until such time as the legislature
would have an opportunity to take ac-
ton and determine whether the law
should be so amended as to furnish
Phair, and others under sentence OF
death, the right to bring petition fol
a new trial at any time before the exc
cution of the sentence.
woRKHoUsE.
appointed Hon. William W. Grout,
Albans, and Hon. Ner P. Simons of Rut-
land, commissioners, required by the
act of 1876, for the establishment and
construction of a wOrkhOuse. They
duly qualified and entered upon the
prosecution of the work committed to
them by the act. The county of Rutland
seasonably complied with the conditions
of the act, and thereby secured the To-
cation of the wOrkhouse within, and in
part for the use of that county.
The commissioners purchased land in
the town of Rutland, necessary for the
site, erected thereon the buildings re-
quired, at an expense within the apprO-
priation-a fact in the construction ol
public buildings, in these times, which
is as creditable to them, and their man.
agement, as it is rare-and had the
same in readiness for occupation by the
time named in the act.
Having thus promptly and satisfac-
tOrily completed their work as commits
sioners, l appointed them directors
Their report will be duly transmitted.
The necessity for such an institution
has long been felt. Its establishment
and proper management am sure will
be found great relief, not to say i'm
prOvement, in the administration OF
criminal justice. 1t is probable that a
similar institution located on the east
side of the state will ultimately be a
necessity.
INSANE AND INSANE ASYLUM.
Under the joint resolution of 1876
"In relation to the insane of the state
and the statutes in relation to their con-
finement and treatment" l appointed
DR.. Middleton Goldsmith of Rutland
DR.. o. F. Fasset of st. Albans, and
William II. Walker, Esq. of Ludlow
commissioners, to make the inquiries
and investigations required by the resO-
luton. These gentlemen accepted the
appointment, and have entered upon
the discharge of their duties. Their re-
port will be duly transmitted.
STATE LIBRARY, CABINET AND HIsToRI-
CAL SOCIETY.
"To advise plan for the better ac-
commOdation and utility of the State
Library, the State Cabinet, and the col
lectiOns of the Vermont Historical So
ciety, and to prepare designs, and make
estimates for the same," required by the
joint resolution of 1876, | appointed
Hon. T. P. Redfield of Montpelier, Hon
6. e. Benedict of Burlington, and Hon
Roswell Farnham of Bradford, commits
missiOners, who have entered upon the
charge of the duties imposed. Their re-
port will be duly presented.
JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
The resignation of Hon. Hoyt H
Wheeler, OccasiOned by his appoint.
ment as United States District Judge fol-
the District of Vermont, left vacancy
upon the Supreme Bench. By my ap-
pointment the judges ranking below hin
were each promoted, leaving vacancy
in the sixth assistant judgeship, which
was filled by the appointment Of Hon
Walter Z. DuntOn of Rutland.
STATE MILITIA.
In pursuance of an act of the legisla
ture of 1876, providing that whenever
the militia force of this state shall bt
reduced to ten companies of infantry
the cOmmander-in-chief is authorized
and directed to organize battery O.
light artillery, which shall be deemed
part of the organized militia of tn,
| state.
This contingency having arisen by
the diSbandment of two of the compa
MES of infantry, under my direction th,
"Fuller Battery" of BrattleborO wal
mustered into service and became
part of the organized militia of the
state.
This change renders our militia force
though small compared with other New
England states, much more complet,
and efficient than it had hitherto been.
am happy to report that the Yer
mont regiment, ia point of disciplin,
and equipment, is not surpassed by tn,
troops of the neighboring states. TIL,
comparison to which it was subjected
| of sol laL
nington in 1877, with the picked troops
of New Hampshire and Massachusetts
was not unfavOrable to it. 1t refiecte,
great credit not only upon those il
command, but upon the men them
selves, who behaved with marked de
cOrum, and evinced the soldierly quail
ties expected of Vermont troops.
The departments of the Adjutant an,
lnspector-General and Quartermaster
General have been conducted with eff
cheney and fidelity.
STATE CENTENNIAL AND BENNINGTON
BATTLE MONUMENT.
The Centennial celebration of tb,
adoption of the state constitution. a
Windsor, July 9th, 1877, and of the bat
tie OF Bennington, at Bennington Au
gust 10, IL, and 18, 1977-who wer
present representing other states an,
the nation-what was done-what wa
said in Grafton and poem of the heroe
and heroic deeds of one hundred year
ago-have passed into and become
part of the history of the state and tn
nation.
| 1t was we'll to incite our minds t,
patriotism and devotion to the mainte
nance of equal rights for all, at what
ever peril and cost, by recalling th
sacrifices and heroic deeds of valor q
those who laid the foundation of tn
state,