Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-12

war as to measures and means of national de-
fence against anticipated raids and invasions.
A conference was had, ana president Linct In
and secretary Stanton were very So
ictous that the State of Vermont
should organize force of militia sufficient
to meet the emergency, so that the national
for, rs at the front might not be weakened by
calling ir IN that tOurcc. II Will he 'cmem-
bcIed that this was period of great import
have the authority of Gov. Smit for saying
that both President Lincoln and Secretary
stanton pctsoL ally bcsought him to make
every proper effort to have such II force of
militia organized, at the same time Civ
ing the most unqualified assurance
that the general government would furnish
the necessary artus and ammunition to put
sucn force on war footing The Legislature
OF Vermont WINS then in session, and the cx-
igencies of national affairs and the sturdy
PATRIOTISM OF the people, lea to the passage
OF act No. of the session laws OF 1864, entitled
AN act for organizing militia approved
November ~, 1861 This act among other
things provided Tor organizing, drmlnR and
cquipping ~ regiment OF infantry,
lhrce or more batteries of. light ar
back the arms and give the state credit there
for, and. If am correctly advised, there Las
not since been any such law. Under these
circumstances, in october ana November,
1870, sales Of arms and ammunition, issued to
the StftC 10y the United states, rs above stated,
were by the State made, and The avnils of such
sales amounted to the sum OF Sli3,l69tG, which
wa PAID lutO the IRE asurN of the stat"
At IL later y, riOd Il portion OF tn" remaining
arms was cNch. upcd for equipments Tor
the militia at Il valuation % SilcM, making
rs the COmmandCr-in.ChiC should deem adj
visible, aud directed the QuartcrmaStCr gem
I cral subject to the approval Of the governor
| to "deSipnatc such Kinds OF arms ne re-
c1iVCd fl m the United state. as snail be
deemed necessary for the military service of
| thi state
| I'm. iorcc Of militia was soon organized,
| and before April, lStj, was fully armed and
equip and in all respect put in condition
really tor tine Held, including very large
/ amount OF ammunition.
| ~" arms and ammunition were furnished
/ 10y the Uultrd states; ana transmitted to the
| quartcrntstcy-gc general of this state without
/ charge. II, however, appears that tue nltcd
/ States at the time OF the delivery Of said arms
and ammunition, charged the same against
} the Qu'l Ia OF the state OF Vermont. under
said act OF Congress of \ rll 3, sON. The
amount of arms and ammunition thus issued.
delivered and charged to the state, was about
100000 III value, according to my present IN
| formation ON the subject.
The close of the war made it unnecessary
that this large force OF militia should be long
! er maintained, aud soon al er 1t was reduced
| to three regiments and later to one,
and the arms and ammunition were
| expense until October 1870, when an OppOr-
tunlty was presented to sell them. At this
and of little value. But at the time OF sad
| opportunity to sell an extraordinary cOndi-
tion OF things in that respect existed, and the
! tn,u executive, Hon john W. stewart, 800.
the matter under cons Iteration and ad-
VlSC m"ut and directed sale. At
| this time there was no law under
| which the United States could receive
! the n ire avais of sales and exchange SliI,-
! SITS d6. Tn issue OF arms to the state 10y the
! United states. if properly made under the act
/ of April p, lNOS, created no Indebtedness on
! the part of the State to the general govern
| mvnt, ana am advised that the sale of these
| arms. and pay mCnt of the avail thereof into
! the Stute treasury, does not change the legal
| status in that regard. and it Is ar from clear
! that any lmDlltty. moral or equitable, at
| tachcS 10 the II after beyond an Application Of
| the amount of the aVuI- of the sale upon or
| against the quOta If the State.
l}ut n view of the nature and tone of the
acc mpLuXing leltCrOt Auditor Williams, it Is
| quite 20, sb,c thaJ the general government
! has taken or may take view of the matter
| no entertained toy me. | may ALSO bC claimed
| that the good faith of the State may be in
| VOWED in the res Grafton Of the avails of the
| sale OF the arms, and 1t has been suggested
| that it may be claimed that there was no au-
| thOrlty ON the part of Pre- sidcnt Lincoln and
| Secretary stanton to direct the issue of the
| arms in question. and charge them under the
| act OF April ., lsOS.-a position that assume
| the nitcd states will be slow to take.
The cNpenscof lutting this force of m litia
| IN readiness for active service. exclusive OF
| arms and ammunition, amounted to over
| suited in almost an entire 10 to the State.
The governor further recommended that
| appropriate legislation for an adjustment of
! all such matters be made by the Legislature.
| lie warns the Legislature that Vermont
| should not crawl behind any technicalitics OF
strict construction OF the law because of the
credit of the State.