Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-16
LEGISLATIVE REUNION.
THE THIRD DAY AT MONTPELIER
Unabated Observation-Disclosures speech
by James l.. Martin-Mock Legislative
Session in the AfternooD-Grand
Banquet in the Evening-Notes.


ercises the first reunion of Vermont legisla-
tors passes into history and everybody
prOnounces the once somewhat uncertain
project, royal success. 1t stands to the
credit of Vermonters to have conceived
and successfully brought forth the first,
and SO far the only, reunion of all living
State legislators. Would it not be meet
to grant the ingenious Vermonter, Judge
VIM. H. Fullerton of Manchester, who
was the parent of the idea, patent on his
unique invention
The atmosphere to-day was chilly, but
pleasant and bracing and so long as it did
not rain, probably not many were kept
at home by so slight cause as sulking
thermometer. Between 1000 and 100 eX-
members have been in attendance up to to-
tiers with them, lending IA gentleness and
dignity to the occasion, which might not
have characterized the otherwise entirely
masculine assemblage,
Morning Exercises.
At 10 o'clock this morning there was
music in the Capitol grounds by the
bands, listened to by large and we'll
pleased crowd 1890 was the hour set for
Martin of Brattleboroin the Golden Fleece
rink The main floor and the galleries were
filed to overlooking as on Wednesday.
After musical selection by the Sherman
band Hon. l.. II. Thompson, president in
troduced the speaker, who, he said, had
heroically striven to be present at the
post of duty, Notwithstanding severe
cold rendered it much more proper that
he should have staid at home. Mr. Martin
1t I a bat hafn
ceeding far, his voice became so husky as
to render further attempt useless. and he
called upon Secretary w. W. Stickney to
finish the reading. Mr. Martins address
wasla capital compendium oflState history
and might well be preserved as such by
the State, as it undoubtedly Will be. 10
make an abstract of it, however, or even
to quote from it, is an almost useless at
tempt, since in such an historical docu-
ment, every sentence so hinges upon those
preceding that to Gull portions from 1t
makes the abstract decidedly fragmentary.
Suffice it to say that the .s speaker aef
the history of State legislation
which had its origin in town charters.
The gradual growth of the settlements
and the consequent need of more and
more advanced legislation were touched
upon, till the first session of the Leglsla-
ture held in Montpelier in 1908, after
islatures were adduced. The same course
was followed with the Senates that have
convened since the first one in 1896. Inc
attention of the audience was held as
closely as could be expected of an address
containing nothing more sensational than
naked historical statistics. At the close
of Mr.. Martins address, the meeting was
adjourned and the hungry Solons wended
their way to their dinners with brisk
ness of pace that announced at least one
good effect of the reuniOn-a hearty appe-
tite.
The Afternoons DOings.
At two o'clock the tide of humanity
turned towards Blanchard Opera house,
where was to convene, the second meeting
of the Legislature. On the stage were
seated the following gentlemen Judge
Barrett of Rutland, Judge Aiken
of Hardwick, Judge r. p. Redii9ld
of Montpelier, Hon. Crosby Miller of
Pomfret, Hon. Ashley Stone of Whining
ton, Speaker Batchelder Hon. Moses f.
Cheney of Barnard, Gen. Davis of Read
ing, Hon. Daniel Needham of Boston,
Mass, Hon. g. q. Benedict of Burlington,
Gen. &. w. GranGey of NergenneS and
Hon. L. &. Hinckley. The president an
nounced that speeches OF the character OF
"reminiscences, of five minutes in length,
were in order and called upon Judge Bar
rett who said that his recollection OF leg
islative proceedings extended over the
time intervening between 1884, when 1t
was his fortune to come to Montpelier Tor
legislation, and the present day He
was elected to the Senate in lSi4, IN
which year, a Senator from the west side,
so-called, was to be elected. Judge Phelps
was in nomination as his own successor,
and he was opposed by his neighbor in
Middlehury, Judge Slade. The campaign
of that year was one of the most personal
and bitter in the States history. Judge
Barrett was followed by Gen. Thomas
l.. G.. Hinckley who entertained the audi
ence with more of the stories he IS so apt
at telling, and Gen. Grandey. The lat
ter turning to Mr.. Hinckley who had
beguiled him upon the stage with
the promise that he should not be
called on to speak, said Hinckley had not
done by him as he did by Hinckley, when
in the caucus in which things were seem
ingly going against him for nomination
as acknowledgements he wrote note
saying, "Grandey, for Gods sake seconc
my nomination." | didn't betray hin
then as he has me. Gen. Grandey related
the interesting incidents of the Phelps
Slade campaign, how Judge Phelps as
last resort came forth personally and me-
the trumped-up charges against nm ant
as result was elected Overwhelmingly
tensely interesting were the tales of loren
sic battles told by these veteran legisla
tive war horses in the five minutes allow
ed to each, which seemed all too short
From the Opera house an adjournment
was had to the sitting of the Legislature
in their respective chamber at the Capitol
The forms of regular procedure
was sustained with mock solemnity
A joint assembly, Lieut.. Gov. Ormsbe'
presiding, was formed. Bills and resou
tons were read and passed, and debate
We're conducted upon most ludicrous sub
jects creating any amount of merriment
In the evening grand banquet Il
which there were over 700 was held at tn
rink
The following gentlemen among other
responded to the tOastS at tO-nightS ban
quet ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ormsbee, {
the toast on Vermont eX-Gov. Farnhan
to the eX governors Senator Edmund
made IA very able speech on the Vernon
Senators in the Senate of the Unite
States. Judge Rowell responded to til
judiciary of Vermont, Hon. Henry Ballar
to u. 5. Grant, DR., HOlton of Brattlebor
to the University of Vermont The aflai
was a great success.
Notes.