Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-26
SECRETARY pRocroR's VIEWS.
what He Says in Notation to Yermont's
Direct Tax end tho various Claims.

Of Vcrmont's direct tax and tho govern
ment's counter claims much attention, and
it is no secret thnt no was largely instru-
mental IN procuring prompt decision in
relation to the former. Secretary Proctor
has furnished his views to the Rutland Her
aid ut length in relation TO the matter.
lie said that 'our Legislature not having
boon i'll session since the passage Of the act,
Gov. pnge had not been able yet to make
any formal request for the money, and it
could not be paid until the Legislature had
voted to accept it. When the treasury
department was preparing to refund the tax
it found that the State was charged with
something over $780, 600 for arms furnished
in 1864
OF this phase Of the matter the secretary
said. II have never at any time had any
doubt but what the state of Vermont had
proper, equitable, if not strictly legal claim
against the general government which would
MORE than offset the sum it received for the
sSe of arms in 1870 The State, of course,
las never denied its accountability to the
general government for that money. In
deed, it has taken the initiative in an effort
TO secure some adjustment of it.
"Of course, - continued Gov. Proctor al
knew nothing at The time of the nature Of
the understanding which existed between
Gov. Smith and Secretary Stanton relative
to the arning oaI equiping OF the extra
ordinary militia force which vas raised.
Gov. Smith made at least two trips to Wash
ns, where he was repeatedly in conference
with secretary stanton concerning the de-
tensivo measures to be taken.
GOV. Smith. in his message to the Legis-
.nture in the fall of 1864, urged the passage
OF a law for the organization Of the militia,
which was enacted later in the session. BY
,,t.rar,rp IN fha Ifnusa iourna1 f,r bot
year it will be seen that the governor sub
mitted his preliminary correspondence with
secretary Stanton wherein the latter
promised that in the event of the Vermont
Legislature passing a law for the orgau2a-
tion II the militia of that State the depart
mont would Furnish Immediately u, GOO
stand of arms and necessary ordnance
stores. 1t is perfectly clear that GOv. Smith
understood that these stores were to DO fur
ni.hsd Tree OF charge, for i'll the same mes
sage, with respect 30 the expense of organic
Ing the militia aud after referring to the
correspondence in question, he says that the
state will thus be relieved of tine great
ami principal item OF expense; and he also
says that be was assured that the State
would likewise be furnished with clothing.
camp cquipnge, ctc.
When the governor applied for the sup
pics, iucludu.g the clothing, camp equpu2e,
etc, the records in the war department
show that Secretary stanton ref erred the
request Tor report both to the chief of
ordnance ana 10 the quartermaster general
and upon the strength OF their reports then
replied to the governor that the ordnance
stores would he furnished at once, but that
II would be impossible 10 furnish the cloth
ing camp elnpape etc, III the then state
OF the quWtcrmaster supplies cen
Iltb!u thoreupon purchased the latter 10y
Gov. smith order at an expense TO the
state d over SIuV, OJO.
'Jhe r.olm OF \ Cmont, therefore, said
the secretary, is that the state actually
paid Tor tie purchase OF supplies which the
national government had agreed u furnish,
d -uM ln yAcess OF that which 1t afterwards
received By tho salo Of arms. But IL adH-
con thereto the state was put to u large
eNp-u'e IL the raising equlppinE anIp paying
the militia, aud it has reasonable ground
1Or lt- position that il the incidents which
led % tDe raising of tins extraordinary force
were oil he!Igercnt character, and ii they
Justified the war department IN supplying
4r-ns, og4uHnc, stores, etc, Co the extent OF
over roGl,uOl, tncn the Whole raising Of
that ui-ta force WAS war measure, and
any expense connected with it tho general
government ought as much to meet Us tho
part which it did. ~
The secretary soid that he hoped there
Ou.d bc no further trouble about the puy
HeLi Of iAo cliect tax money to ,ne state
'uecep1 il, although, of course, the general
transaction rela'!Ne - the arms would stll