The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-16
Es sex I Ouuty.
Col. ". O. Benton's II, marks Before Special
Committee On Rem oval of the Shire.

Col. E. O. Bentons II, marks Before Special
Committee on Rem oval of the Shire
hope, Mr.. Charm IN, and gentlemen of
the committee, you will pardon me if take
few moments of your time in opposition TO
this bill. And must apologize, as a resident
of another State, for coming up here and
taking any hand in your affairs Yet l could
not reconcile myself and stay away from this
hearing when the pride have for my native
State and county was aroused
Although / have resided in another com
monwealth for years, | never have forgotten
my boyhood days, spent, many of them, in
this old State House so dear to me. for it was
here first learned the lessons of clean. fair
and honest legislation. I can remember, as
a country boy, from old Essex county, when
first came here in 1878 as a page in the
Senate, serving in the following session rs
clerk to Secretary of State, Hon. George Mich
ols L thought the Legislature of Vermont
was the best body of men ever gathered to-
gether for Legislative purposes. The impress
sion there engrafted on my mind, | have never
changed, although having the opportunity
while still not very old man to Judge of
other similar bodies.
| will not speak of the grand history of
Vermont-you all know it so we'll 1t is one
continuous record, leading the new world in
bravery, intelligence and honesty. When /
first walked up the long steps | saw at the
entrance to this State House that grand statue
of Ethan Allen. There is now another statue
to go on the other side that of George Dewey,
and when future generations pass through the
porch that on the left, Ethan Allen, denoting
strength, the one on the right George Dewey.
together they will always be reminder
of Gods promise that in strength would he
establish his kingdom.
We Vermonters are always proud of tlis
State. You who are here all the time do not
fully appreciate what good old State you
live in. 1t is the grandest section of the globe
the sun shines on.
Now, gentlemen, l come here from Massa-
chusetts, not to tell you your business or the
way to legislate, but to express to you in few
words my feelings and DIES res relative to the
changing of the shire of Essex county from
Guildhall to Island Pond in the town of
Brighton 1t is wholly matter of sentiment
with me. From my earliest recollection /
look back on the transactions of that little
county. When | say little l mean Just what
say, in every sense of the word. The county is
too small, really, even to quarrel over little
bit. The court sits, think, about four days
in each year, and still Island Pom people
think they are doing grand and great thing
for themselves by getting these county build
ings.
No, think what this Legislature wants to
do IS the right thing, that which will help all
the parties most and dc the least harm Now.
to my mind, the al of the county build
ings to Island Pond wi not particularly help
that place, but, ON the other hand, it will do
great injury to Guildhall. This county was
established ninety-eigh years ago and if you
Let it alone we can celebrate in 1900 the one
hundredth anniversary # its existence. Guild
hall was soon after made the shire and a large
lot of land given for lie purpose, so long as
the county build ngs emain there. Around
this tract of land, including large common,
the little village of Guildhall has grown, and
it has remained peacefully there. The county
courts have come and gone. The hotels, also,
have come and gone, and yet with the excep-
ton of few having personal and greedy mo-
tives, no complaint has been made. When
the hotel was burned the people opened their
houses, the old-fashioned Vermont hospitality
at once showed itself, and | hope the day will
be far distant when that hospitality ceases.
The courts have been held just the same, and
now they have hotel and that argument is
removed. Take away the buildings and the
common goes back. They propose to take
away the court house and leave the Jail They
would better do Just the reverse-take the Jail
and leave the court house-and then the
county would be saved the transportation ex-
pense of most of its criminals.
Therefore, all parties will admit that the
only possible advantage this change will bring
about is possibly better hotel accommodations
at Island Pond But what, gentlemen will be
the disadvantages? First iuldhall is geo.
graphically the centre 1t is the centre of
the river towns. of which eight of the thirteen
towns 1t has been the custom for years
for most people to drive to court, and many
return home at night How many, think You,
would drive to Island Pond Second, the
railroad accommodations. Guidhal has two
lines and Island Pond only one There is
only one town to be benefited outside of
Brighton and that is Norton. While all the
others are at a decided disadvantage the judges,
court officers, lawyers, etc., from other parts
of the State have all either to go through or
by Gnildhall ON their way to Island Pond, or
go to court through Canada. Some go to
Canada to prevent going to court. But why
remove the county buildings to place where
many will be compelled to go through Canada
to get there? Essex county is made up mostly
of towns along the Connecticut river. The
inhabitants are peaceable and aw-abding
people They have gotten along well together
for nearly two hundred years, Their history
is as grand and glorious as that of any section
of the State. This was the frontier in the early
wars and they have contributed well to each
and every demand made by State or Nation,
and all they want is to be let alone If the
time has come, when, in the Judgment of the
General Assembly, the county is too small or
expensive to be further maintained Il am not
well enough posted to discuss that question
| i do know however that the evnansa ,rouI1