Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-10-25
A BIT OF VERMONT HISTORY.


this session selected permanent abiding
place for setting up the legislative ma
chnery of the Green Mountain common
wealth. This session lasted from Octo-
Der 10 to November s, 30 days.
For y years the legislature had had
no permanent home. FOrty-seven SEES
sions were held in II different towns and
in two States for the 18th session, 17Sl,
was held in Charleston, which was later
declared to be a part of New Hampshire
and not of the Grants of New Hamp-
shire.
The first session of the first legisla-
ture met in Windsor, March, II, us.
and continued in session l3 days; it met
in Bennington, June /, and sat l3 DAYS;
then it returned to Windsor and held the
final session of II days.
Windsor has been the temporary capt.
tai of the state II times; and it was in
this town that the constitution of the
State was adopted in June, l777. and here
il was revised in December of that year.
This was the year of Burgovne's invasion
and the convention for framing this re-
markabe document could work better
doubtless knowing that not only was
detachment of BurgOyne's army defeated
at Bennington august lG) but that Bur-
goyne and his entire army had come to
grief in October. at the second battle of
Saltwater.
Thirteen other towns have been hon
ored with sessions of the legislature as
will appear in the following list: Ben
nington s, Manchester 3, Westminster /,
Rutland I, Burlington. Danville, Yer.
gennes, CastletOn. Woodstock and Nor
witch l each and Middlebury ard New
bury each.
Our legislature now meets bienniallv
on the first Wednesday in October: and
although prior to lS0S 1t assembled in
October oftener than in any other month.
vet it is curious to notice that it varied
in time of meeting almost as much as in
place
Our State legislature has met three
times in January, seven times i'm Febru-
airy. four times in March. twice in April
and five times in June. The June ses-
sions were usually short so the farmers
could 90 home to attend to their crops.
The shortest June session was of three
days at Windsor in 1913, and the longest
of l. days. at Norwich. in l7S5.
The first State house was a three
story wooden structure built at an eX-
pense of about $1,000 by the citizens of
Montpelier and the vicinity Gen.
Whitelaw of Ryegate was one member
of tine committee of three appointed to
attend to the erection of the building.
This was first occupied in the autumn
session of 1905 The second State
House, built Of Vermont granite, was
first occupied in 1896. Montpelier cti-
zenss gave $l5,000 towards this editice
and it lasted until 1867, when it was de-
stroyed by fire.
The present editice was completed in
1859 and was occupied by the legisla
ture that year.
From l77S to 1896 the legislature OF
Vermont consisted of but one branch
but the constitution was amended in the
last named year, and the legislature tina
first occupied the new granite STATE
House consisted of two branches, Senat,
and House of Representatives.
This division OF the legislature int
two branches was suggested by tn,
second council of ccnsors OF 1872, bu
the idea was not adopted until January
1896, when convention duly appointed
amended the constitution in this regard.
This shows the conservative characte
of Vermont people. When the constitu
/ ton was framed "A distinct plan for pro
posing amendments was adopted: am
yet proposition to make the legislator
consist of two branches was II years i
= finding resting place as part of on
State constitution, period four year
longer than that required by The childre
l of Israel in going from Egypt to tn
promised land.
The history of Vermont presents som
very interesting points not only for tn
t general reader, but for the student of pc
5 litica science.
. Vermont has never been "A colony {
Great Britain. 1t was as "A sovereign an
. independent country that she asked fo
and received, admission as a member {
: the union of States.
+ She was the first State to be suspecte
= of the doctrine of secession, and the fir,
g to incorporate in her constitution the al
}, solute equality of man AS set forth in I'll
!. Declaration of Independence.
II The founders of Vermont called
Ii spade spade. There was no play upo
% words with reference to liberty an
IS freedom. As expressed on the Sta
o seal, it was freedom and unity, bl
% unity followed freedom.
IS The coquetting with Gen. Ilaldimar
y and the British on the part of Thorn;