The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29
mont, New Hampshire and Massachu.

mont, New Hampshire and Massachu-
sets, and soon after by Congress.
The appropriation Of 81 800 blythe State
of Massachusetts had lapsed by general
law before the last session of the Legis-
lature OF that State, and, the fact being
their last session by Governor Robinson,
with appropriate suggestion, the appro.
priatiOn was promptly renewed, and in
creased to $4,000.
The general plan Of monument has
been settled upon by the Association
since your last session, but the erection
of the same has not yet been contracted,
and so the conditions of the law, pro-
viding that no moneys appropriated by
the State shall be used in the erection Of
the monument until the Governor Is sat
istied that sufficient funds have been
raised from various sources to complete
it, have not been compiled with with
sufficient detiniteness to warrant the
turning over of the funds at hand for
this purpose to the Association; nor to
cover into the Treasury or to release to
the use of the Association the moneys
appropriated by the general government
anu ny Vic cIdUcS VI A>o" AA"PS"AS
and Massachusetts,.
The amount of available funds for this
object is now something over u.s., OOO.W.
have attended two meetings OF the
Association at Bennington. have had
much correspondence upon the subject
of the plan of the monument, ana l ma
that the impression has grown with
many that haste is being made TOO SLOW
ly in this patriotic enterprise.
| think, after SO many years OF dis
cussion with no ground broken, the Gen.
eral Assembly well might interpose, and
by appropriate Legislation encourage
progress.
The funds are ready and will not large
" increase. Let the structure rise,
grand and imposing as it will be at such
a cost, al few feet more or few feet
less than 300 feet, and let us do the best
we can with what funds we have. Three
generations have come and gone since
the battle. The fourth ought to assure
the rearing of the monument.
STATE MILITARY HISTORY.
Pursuant to the act of 1882 for that
purpose, the Commissioners therein
named contracted for the printing and
publication of the history of the part
taken by the soldiers and sailors OF the
State in the late war by the State Militia
ry Historian.
The first volume has already been is
sued and distributed as directed.
1t is expected that the other volume
will be passing through the press during
this session, and soon be ready for like
distribution.
PARDoNs, ETC.
In the matter of pardons, conditional
discharges. and rcmittances of fines,
which is left by our Constitution In the
discretion of the Executive, with the
right by statute to the counsel and ad-
vice of part of the Supreme Court
Judges, responsibility of extreme deli
cacy is imposed.
The Affections of parents, wives, chill
dren and friends bring appeals to the
sympathies Of all men.
The organic law of the State clearly
contemplates that the convict, upon pre-
senting petition having merits, has 2
right to be heard, under such well defin-
ed and fixed principles as shall commend
the Executive action in each case TO all
right-minded men alike.
In the execution of this law the action
of our Courts, so just and humane in
their administration of criminal justice,
is assumed to season Justice with mercy
to the limit of the general good.
The General Assembly Of 1880 enact
ed law for the granting of conditional
discharges, and providing for the manner
of the same.
The purposes of this act were to en-
large the reformatory influences OF the
criminal and penal laws. Under it, with
the use of careful discrimination in des-
ignating its beneficiar1es, the purposes
Of the law cannot fail of most salutary
results.
The report of pardons and conditional
discharges from the State Prison, House
of Correction and Reform School in the
last two years will be found in the APP
pendix, with the general reasons for ex-
ecutive action in each case.
The petitions denied are more numer-
Gus.
STATE LIBRARY.
Under the act of the last session ap-
propriating $36, 900 for the purpose of
erecting upon the lands of the State ga
building for the use of the State Library,
the Supreme Court, and the collections
and library of the Vermont Historical
Society, and other State public uses,"-
the commissioners appointed thereby
with the exception of the Honorable
Frederick Billings, who, being unable to
serve, the Hon. Justin S. Morrill, was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy duly entered
upon the duties assigned them, selected
the site, determined upon the plan, and
have erected said building in accordance
with said act.
The growing need of such public
building has been kept before the Legis-
lature for many sessiOns,-being urged
through Executive messages and reports
of Committees-until all were disposed
to cOncede it's necessity.