Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-04-24

of the general government and at their
request, under authority, gwen by the
Legislature, organized the Vermont mili-
tia ut heavy expense, for the defence OF
the northern frontier. Three brigadcs OF
four regiments each and several batteries
were organized. The arms for these rcgi-
ments, together with a lot of ammuni-
ton, were supplied by the government.
Rificd muskets cost money in those days,
and the cost value of these arms, amount
ing to some over 500. 900, was charged
TO the State of Vermont on the books of
the government. The war ended and in
time our militia regiments were dis
banded. and the arms were deposited in
the State arsenal. In 1872, when Hon.
Iohn ". Stewart was governor, Turkey
was at war and the sultans agents
were buying arms in this country.
! favorable opportunity was offered TO
dispose of the muskets, which had become
much reduced in value and were becoming
obsolete. Our State authorities, being in
possession of no evidence that the arms
were considered to be government prop
ertv, sold them and put the proceeds,
amounting to $147 sos into the State
| treasury.
In the fall of $50 the third auditor of
the United States treasury, Mr.. Williams,
in a widely published letter and also IN
his annual report, made public the fact,
not before publicly known, that the
State of Vermont stood heavily indebted
to the government upon the treasury
| books-the balance against the State
being, as he then stated it, S543, $50.
He said that Vermont had sold arms
belonging to the government to the
amount of $4,000 and had never &C
counted for the money, and that certain
sums which since the close OF the war
had been allowed and paid to Vermont
on account of war expenditures ought
instead to have been applied to the re-
duction of this Indebtedness Of the State;
as opposed to this claim, our State au-
thorities, or some of them, took the
ground that the arms were not loaned to
the State, but vert issued to the Yer
mont militia, as war operation; that
no claim on account OF them or bill for
them had ever been presented to the
State by the government; that there was
no United States law under which they
could have been returned to the govern.
mcnt; and that at worst, the delivering
of the arms to Vermont, could only bt
considered as an advance issue of arms
to which the State might from time to
time become entitled, under the laws for
the distribution of arms to the militia
of the State. 1t was furthermore set
forth that if the sale of the arms con
stituted a valid claim against the State
the State had large counter claim
against the government, for expenses in
Cured in organizing the militia and de
Tending frontier amounting, we believe
to some $175,000.
The subject was brought to the atten
ton of the Legislature in November
1856, by Gov. Ormsbce, in n special mes
sage. In this he took the ground that
the State of Vermont ought not to shell
ter itself behind any technicalities, in 9
matter of this sort, and that if after the
allowance Of Vermont S Just claim against
the government, balance should b,
found to remain against the State, il
ought to bepaid The Legislature there
upon passed an act constituting the
governor and State auditor commission
crs to ascertain and adjust the claims il
question. In his retiring message, il
= 1SSS; Governor OrmSbee said no Officer
$ had been appointed by the government
to act on the part of the United States
in the adjustment of the claims, and that
l no progress had been made toward {
{ settlement of the matter.
! There the matter has stood up to thi'
time Now the United States treasury
finds itself in possession of SITS 600
Il belonging to Vermont, being the amour
5 which was paid by the State-as such
s into the national treasury, on accoun
of the direct tax, assessed early in tn
;, war, which the last Congress directed t
II be refunded to the States. And il Wash
l. ington dispatches are correct, the treas
i ury officials intend not to pay over TIL;
y sum but to offset or apply it against tn
:, Indebtedness of the State to the govern
ment.
d If the State of Vermont is actually anC
/ honestly in debt to the government, i
:. would be difficult to find fault with sucl
course on the part of the treasury de-
y partment. There is, it cannot be denieC
d lame spot in the case of Vermont i
lc this matter. If the arms had been kept
- they might be turned back to the govern
mcnt but having been Sold it is no
- surprising that the government shout
/ claim the proceeds and pay itself out {
+ any State funds i'll its hands, whcnit get
6 n chance to do so.
There is now more need than ever fC
an equitable adjustment of this business
h The claims and counter claims shout,
lie be weighed before some just tribunal.
the final balance is against the State, tt
State should pay it, without Sinking o
delay. If against the government, tt
government should respond. Great bodi,
move slowly and such adjustment wi
st be work of time; but we do not despa
i of seeing it effected in the not distar
. future. Until it is accomplished, appa
o emily, we shall not know whether an
IN thing is coming to Vermont, or not. fro
rs the refunded tax, and until we kno
G. that something is to he realized frol
:. that source it will not be worth while t
10 waste much thought on methods of di