The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-14

Constitution for more than century. Its
Capital has been in many places, now at
last settled, l am glad for one to say, for
evermore in this good town of Montpelier
1t has had legislatures composed of men
tried in the furnace of revolutionary times
of men tried in the hard experiences of
bitter and difficult times of finance and bust
ness troubles; OF men tried in the most
serious Of all experiences in the welfare and
life of our republic--the times of the re-
bellion. And so, when all these gentlemen
meet together once again-all who are left,
or nearly all who are left-it is a subject of
serious and grave reflection How many
memories come up to us as we run back,
even for the short time of the life of our
state that we can remember How many
men who were the brilliant lights of legis-
laton, of wit, of society-the makers of laws,
and the promoters of republican welfare
verywhere--whom we should be glad to
see here are now gone! How many men
who have labored in all sorts of good ways
in the struggle with the difficult problems
that everywhere embarrass us in society and
in legislation are there whom we should be
glad were they now living to meet us once
more in this fraternal and festive way!
And how truly can we say, as we are speak
ing seriously, as we look back over the forty
years and more-ndeed, some of us who are
here can look back fifty years, for my
friend, Mr.. Hall of Groton was here fifty
years ago in the Legislature-can look over
that period of half century of the life
time of this state of ours and mark the
progress it has made. How much it has
gained-not only in population, for that is a
small thing really-but how much it has
gained in respect to the real welfare and
the real progress of its people; gaining it at
every Preside, going through every school
district and every town and every county.
How much my friend here (NIr. HalD can
see of that solid, substantial, Christian and
moral progress that a republican govern
nent of the people, and by the people, and
for the people is capable of producing.
Applause. 1t does seem to me that the
great success of this unique attempt is one
that we all ought to be grateful for to those
who originated it, and | am proud to be
able to be here, and be of it, and | am much
obliged to my friend, Mr.. Hinckley, for the
kindness and courtesy which has led him to
invite me to say these few words. Loud
applause.
Mr.. HINCKLEY, advancing to the other
senator. brought him to the front, and said
" Gentlemen, you need no introduction to
our Senator Morrill," Applause.
SENATOR MORRILL," But you will be
very much surprised to obtain a speech from
me to-day, at least l should be very much
surprised if you did. | am very happy to
be present although I have not had the
honor of the schooling and the training and
the polishing of a member of the General
! Assembly of Vermont Yet | am under a
| load of gratitude to the people of the state,
and especially to the General Assemblies.
| owe them debt greater than | can ever
repay. But let me say to you, gentlemen,
| that am not here to-day seeking after re-
election. 1t may be somewhat gratifying to
you to know that before this assembly my
name will not, as usual, be presented.
" Let me say that, in looking over the
heads of the eX-memhers and members-elect
of the House of Representatives and Senate,
assembled here to-day in the Capital, that
felt proud of Vermont-proud of seeing the
physique that represented brains. Vermont
is noted for its clean, for its pure and wise
legislation, throughout the length and
breadth of the country. And | believe we
may say, whatever may have befallen either
to the credit or the charge of our sisters OF
the Union, that Vermont is free from rings
and bosses. And let me now conclude by
saying one single word more: Whatever fate
may befall us, individually, God bless Yer
mont forever"
MIR. HINCKLEY-"I am not aware that
there is any more business at present but
before we adjourn let me remind you OF
what our Poet SAKE says. He says: Yer
mont is noted for the production of foui
great staples-men, women, maple sugar
and horses. The first are strong, the last
are fleet; the second and third exceedingly
sweet, and all uncommonly hard to beat
This house is now adjourned" The gave
fell with resounding thwack, and rush
was made for the door.
Wednesday evening at seven o'clock, the
hall of the Golden Fleece was again filed to
| overtiOwing to witness whatever entertain
ment might be forthcoming. Pursuant tC
the plan laid down in the order of exercises
it was determined to employ part of the
evening in listening to the
"REMINISCENCES AND EXPERIENCES
OF OLD MEMBERS
of past legislatures In order to get in as
much variety as possible, speaking was lin
tied to five minutes duration.
CHARLES III. HEATH, Esq, of Montpelier
was the first victim called upon under this
arrangement. Mr.. Heath advanced to tn,
front, with his usual bland smile, and sale
it was entirely out of order, as he had no
of his old friend Hon. e. p. Walton, h'
supposed the audience would listen tt
something from that gentleman. Mr.
Heath then related an anecdote of Mr.
Horatio Bull, representative from the tow
of Hancock in 1SG9-7O, whose pet hobb,
was bill on woodchucks. A great deal o
sport was made over this bill, which neve
became law. Subsequently the State o
New Hampshire enacted a bounty bill TO
the destruction of woodchucks and i
worked splendidly-thirty thousand wood
chucks were brought over from Vermont t,
take the New Hampshire bounty. Mr.
Heath then commended the system of repre-
sentation in vogue in this state. The max
ing OF the laws OF a state should be in TIN
hands of the people who own the land, an,
not in the floating population of large town
and cities. Some years ago member o
the Vermont Legislature had introduced
bill to exempt from attachment piano, o
other musical instrument, used in the fam
lily. 1t happened that there was membe
from Vershire whose chief characteristic
was good, plain, hard sense. He got u
and said they had better exempt the mill
of that other COW to one of them air tinker
ing things. The result was that no NOR
! was heard about the bill to exempt pianos.
The Sherman band then played 9Th
Forge in the Forest" When the echo @
the last stroke of the imitation of the black
. smiths hammer had died away and the az
plause of the audience ceased, Judge ThomI
son introduced the Hon. T.. =. Walton, say
! ing that Mr.. Walton had personal know
t edge of every legislature since 1928.
MIR. WALTON then made brief address t
, the audience. He said he was not going t
, be fool enough to endeavor to condense hi
, recollections of legislatures since 1923 int
a five-minutes' speech, but would contn
himself to anecdotes. The first was in IT
gard to Lew Highly, member from ST. George
The anecdote was brought to his mind b
! the idea expressed by the last speaker. Tn
: question was about the representation {
large towns and small towns. Mr.. High
said that the gentleman from Burlington @
Rutland Windsor or Brattleboro, Nigh
talk about their large towns, but he woul
t have them know that the small town of S
! George was just as much, up and down, a
! any of them. Mr.. Walton then read the 70