The voice of freedom. [volume], October 26, 1839, Image 1

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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THE YOICE
OF
FEE EE
E. A. ALLEN, Publisher. Published under the sanction of the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society. C. L. KNAPP Editor
VOLUME i. ?ioti'i:lii:::, vumrvr, octobse:: ss, isao. ; AtE1I:j 4.Jt
IflHia vIF iia E2
From tho Emancipator.
The Court of Mixed Commission.
The publication of Buxton's elaborate work,
the capture of the Amistad.and the developments
of the facility afforded by the American flag for
tlie sate and profitable continuance of the slave
tiade, have turned the public attention to the
wnoie sunicci 01 tne slave trade, and the measures
taken for its abolition. We have therefore begun
to examine the six folio volumes of Parliameuta-
'ry documents on the slave trade, communicated
end published the present year, chiefly filled with
the communications of the Mixed Commission
Courts at Havana, Rio Jnneiro and Sierra Leone,
and letters of the naval officers employed in the
slave-trade suppression service. An article ap
peared some time since in the Commercial Adver
tiser, drawn from this source, but it was quite too
superficial to aflord any adequate idea ol the ex
tent and importance of the information here pre
sented. The "Court of Mixed Commissions," is
constituted under the treaties of Great Britain
with Portugal and Spain for the suppression ol
the slave trade, and consists of two commission
ers appointed and supported by each government,
for the trial of all vessels that may be seized and
sent in by the cruisers of either power on suspi
cion of having been destined for or engaged in
the slave trade. There are, we believe, four such
tribunals; a British and Spanish court at Havana,
and another at Sierra Leone, a British and Por
tuguese court at Rio, and another at Sierra Leone.
The British Commissioners make full returns ol
nil their proceedings to the Admiralty, and their
communications are rich in important information
As a specimen of the caution and order of their
proceedings, although rather long, we have tran
scribed, and now present the fo'Iowing article.
NUMBER TWENTY.
Sierra Leone, Nov. 11, 1S33.
My Lord,
We have the honor to transmit to your Lord
ship, herewith, our report of the case of the schoo
ner " Constituciano," Joaquim da Souza Pinto,
master ; which was captured by Her Majesty's
brig "Brisk," and condemned in the British and
Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, on the 10th in
stant. Although the "Constituciano" was sailing un
der the Portuguese flag at the moment of her
capture, she was proved to belong to the house
of Rorosa Marino and Company, of Havana; and
her detention took place just in time to prevent
the embarkation of a full cargo of slaves, for the
reception of whom every preparation had been
made.
An agreement was signed in Havana by the
crew, promising to acknowledge, in the character
of captain and representative of the owners, no'
the Portuguese who figures as captain in the pa
pers, but a Spaniard of the name of Batalla, who
embarked as passenger, with a passport from the
Spanish authorities.
From other papers it appears that the nominal
Portuguese master was only of the rank of car
penter on board a small Portuguese brig of war;
and that the pay he received for his general ser
vices on board the "Constituciano," and for thus
lending his name to lower her true character, con
siderably less than that of the man who is said to
have been his boatswain.
The evidence respecting the equipment of the
vessel for slave trade was very complete; and
Spanish ownership and course of trade having
decided her national character, the court felt no
hesitation in declaring the "Constituciano" to be
forfeited for a violation of the Spanish slave trade
treaty.
We have, &c,
(Signed) II. W. Macaulay.
R. DoHERTY.
The Right Hon. Viscount Palmerston, G. C.
B. &c. &c.
Report of the case of the schooner '-Constituciano."
Joaquim da Souza Pinto, Master.
This case resembles, in all its main features,
ithose which we have lately been called upon to
report; in which the protection of the Portuguese
flag hats been invoked by Spanish slave traders
against the consequences of a violation of the
slave trade treaty of Spain, and in which it has
been the duty of . the court to remove the disguise
which has been assumed, ana to aisciose tne real
character of the transaction submitted to its
tice.
no-
The ship's papers, Nos. 1 and 2, show the mu
tual Asq'is!;ince which is rendered bv the Portu-
wiipsb and Soanish authorities, stationed at Ha
ivana, to gitf security and support to elicit slave
-trade adventurers. 1 ney consist oi a clearance
from the Havana custom house, and a certificate
thereof from the Portuguese Consul, Don Jose
Fmnnder. declaring that the Portuguese schoo-
' npr "Constituciano." Joaquim da Souza Pinto,
naster, cleared out from Havana for St. Thomas,
cn the 24th of March, 1833, with 39 leaguers
,and water casks ; 'some to be filled with water,
rfind some in shakes, to be filled with palm oil on
the return voyagej JUvo cauldron?, slave boilers
40 clarify the said oil ; and 2000 feet of plank,
and 500 feet of scantling, slave deck and beams
to support it, for the purpose of erecting a facto
ry oo shore.
No. 3, the Portuguese Register under which
the vessel sails, purports to have been obiained
ifrora Leandro Joze da Costa, Military Governor
of St. Thomas, on the ,11th of April, 1837, al
though she is declared, in the same document, to
ihnvbeen built in America, and therefore not en
billed, according the present state of ihe law, to
Portuguese Register. The owner is said to be
Julio Ferreira de Almeida, and the master, Fran
Cisco Joze Dias, both Portuguese subjects. This
register was visaed by Fernandez, the Portuguese
Consul at Havana, in March Inst, on her depar
iure for this coast; and he adds n certificate as to
the appointment or the present master.
Nos. 4 and 5. On the same day, (March 24,
1S3S) the Portuguese Consul granted a clean IJill
If Health t? Ihe "Constituciano:' ami certified
f. p-'MSQf lur muster roll, In the letter,
jthe corre- i , aflH Franc seo Coll
Pinto it named s th masted, VLtZ..
and Ifl-nacio Sanchez as the first and second offi
cers under hirn.
No. 6 is a private passport, countersigned by
the same Consul, in favor of Don Juan Batalla, a
native oi Malaga, authorizing him to proceed to
the Island of St. Thomas on his own private af-
lairs. Our experience has shown us, that those
who pass through this formality of obtaining pass
ports, as passengers, bound to tne same nominal
destination as the vessel, are generally either the
owners or captains of the vessels in which they
embark, or the managers of the expedition. So
it proved in the present case; and the various dor
iiments, discovered on board, exhibit Batalla in his
true character, as Captain and supercargo of the
" Const duciano.
No. 7. It is also proved that the Portuguese
seaman who figured as master is a person of very
humble pretensions; for a paper was found in his
possession, setting forth "that Joaquim cla Souza
Pinto had conducted himself like a good seaman
and carpenter on board the Portuguese brigol
war, "Don Espcranca, fighting against Don Mig
uel." No. 8 would, at any rate show, in the absence
of any other paper, that the pretended passenger,
Batnlla, really occupied the place which was os
tensibly filled by Pinto. It is headed, "Agree
ment between the crew ol the "Constituciano
and the master, Don Juan Batalla." Pinlo is
herein assigned a smaller rate of wages even,
than the boatswain of the vessel; and it is agreed
by the crew that although Pinto is to be the osten
sible master, and although Batalla is to be culled a
passenger, tho latter is to be deemed in fact the
Captain and representative of the owners. The
fourth and fifth clauses o1- the agreement stipulate
that wages shall not be due in the event of capture
by a vessel of equal force; nor even in the event
of capture by a vessel of superior force, unless
after an obstinate defence ; and in thai case the
wages of those who will not fight shall be forfeit'
ed and "divided amongst the brave defenders."
No. 9 is a letter from Batalla, the Spanish cap
tain and supercargo to Messiours Rorosa Marino
and company, Havana, who, from the style in
which they are addressed are evidently the ow
ners of the vessel. The letter is dated at Little
Bassa, on the Malaguetta coast, on the 28ih ol
September, 1838, two days before the capture of
the "Constituciano, and was sent by that vessel
which was making a trip to JNew Sestos, unde
cover, to Don Barto'ome Ferrer, who was at that
place waiting a passage to Havana. The follow
ins is an extract from the letter in question:
"Three months and eighteen days have passed
since 1 opened trade, and I have already two nun
dred slaves, wanting twenty-two of the thirty-six
slaves who escaped durinc the insurection of the
20th of last month ; but I expect people daily with
'hose that they have got, and when they are paid
Lhey will start immediately for others.
"The schooner is here now. and I am sendinp
her with articles of baiter to Triton, where I have
a factory. Don Francisco Coll (the first mate
who afterwards died at Sierra Leone) is very ill;
the Captain of the flag, Joaquim da Souza Pinto
(this is the General designation of the person
who figure on board of these vessels as the Portu
guese master) is worse ; and the second mate is
dead.
"The night before last at 10 o'clock, I received
a letter from New Sestos, written by Don Bartol
ome Ferrer, informing me that the schooner 'Eli
a had been taken, through the bad explanation
of the Captain of the Rag, who at once said in
plain terms that he was trading for slaves." (The
Captain of the "Eliza" here referred to, was re
ported in our despatch marked Spain, of the 20th
ultimo.) "The crew was left by the English brig
of war Brisk on board another vessel at anchor
in the same place, and she took away only the
Captain of the flag, and the first mate, Don Juai
Fremul.
"To-morrow the schooner sails for New Sestos
to take on board a cargo of slaves ivhich I hare
ready there. I have been obliged to have ONE
HUNDRED SETS OF SHACKLES MADE
AT CAPE MESURADO, (the American set
tlement supported by the Colonization society.)
I hope you are in good health.
Signed "Batalla."
With these papers on board, the "Constitucia
no'' was taken possession of by Her Majesty's
brig "Brisk," Lieutenant Arthur Kellet, comman
ding-, on the 30ih of September, and on the 8th
ultimo, the arrival of the prize in this harbor, was
reported bv the Marshal.
The prosecution of the detained vessel was im
mediately entered upon, but much delay occurred
in bringing it to a close, owing to the protracted
and dangerous illness of the Master and the
Male, the two witnesses, in preparatory named by
the Captain's Proctor. Before the examination
of these two persons could be taken, the Moniti
on, issued on the Sth ultimo, had been served and
returned bv the Marshal ; and in the tame period
the Cautain's declaration was received and filed.
together with the papers of the detained vessel
verified by affidavit; and a commission lor tne
inspection of the fittings of the prize was issued,
and returned with the surveyors report on the
matters submitted to them. By the last docu
ment, illegal equipment for the slave trade was
established in the fullest manner.
To prevent further delay in the case, the Reg-
istrar was, after some time, directed to examine
the Master and Mate at their lodgings, as the Sur-
o-eon of tha Courts reported that it would be
considerable time before either of them would be
in a fit condition to attend to the Registry ; and
it unfortunately happened that the mate died be
fore his examination could be taken.
The Master deposed that "he was horn at Opor
to in Portugal, and has li veil during the Inst twen-
ty-five years at Lisbon ; is a subject ot rortugai.
and has never served any other State ; that he is
not married ; that he wns appointed to the com
mand at Havana, by a former captain who died
there, and who appointed him when on his death
bed" in March last; that he does not know the
name nf thi fcfli d formpr Master, who, witness
thinks, was a Portuguese ; that he received pos
session of the vessel from the Portuguese Consul
nt Havana, whose name he believes to be Joze
Fernandpz, and who was formerly, as he has
heard, a merchant, and came from Florida ; that
he first saw the vessel at Havana, where he ob
tamed the command, and does not know where
she was built ; that he was present at the capture,
and the vessel was seized without any good rea
son, but the reason assigned was an order from
Donna Maria to seize all vessels with Portuguese
colors ; but the vessel sailed under those colors.
and she had no others on board ; thai the vessel
iias no other name than 'Constituciano' to his
knowledge ; she is one hundred and forty tons bur
then, and had a crew of thirty officers and ma
rines, exclusive of witness; seven or eight of
thern being Spaniards and the rest of them Por
tuguese, all hired and shipped nt Havana in March
last by the former captain, deceased ; that neither
he nor any of the officers or marines had any in
terest in the vessel or cargo; that he was Master
on board ; that there was one passenger named
Juan Batalla, a seaman by profession, but witness
does not know of what nation, who embarked at
Havana to go to St. Thomas ; witness does not
know on what business; that Batalla left the ves
sel before her capture at Little Bassa on the coast,
where he took passage in another ship; that he;
had no concern or authority in or over the vessel
or cargo ; that the asl c caring nort was Havana.
when the present voyage began, and was to end
i i 01
at St. Th omas; that he touched, during the voy
age, at kittle bassa, and nt several places along the
coast, from thence to Cape ralinas, in order to pro
cure rice and palm oil ; that he first saw the cap-
urmg vessel ofl JNew bestos on the 7th of the
present month, and the capture took place there
md then ; that he was steering towards Cape
ralinas at the time, with the intention of touch
tng along the coast lor provisions, and in order to
fall in with, if possible, some other vessel, from
which he might procure a mate to assist him in
his navigation, his second mate having died, and
himself and his first mate being sick at the time ;
that the course for St. Thomas had been altered
for these reasons only ; that the owner of the bark-
was named Almedin, Harbor Master, as he has
heard at St. Thomas, and, as he supposes, a Por
tuguese by birth ; that he knows nothing fur
ther of him, ond was told that he was owner bv
the late captain ; that he knows nothing about any
Bill of Sale; that the late captain put the cargo
on board at Havana ; that he knows nothing ol
the vessel's lading on the last voyage; that the
present cargo consists of rum, tobacco, gunpowder,
muskets, iron bars, and dry goods; that after cap
ture the vessel was brought to Sierra Leone."
Publication of the above evidence was granted
on the ISth of October, 1S39; and the Captain's
Proctor then reopened the case on the 22nd ultimo,
by putting some special interrogatories, with a
view to obtain further information respecting the
voyage. On these additional proceedings being
published, the 10th instant was named for a day ol
trial.
The Court was fully convinced that Messieurs.
Rorosa Marino and Company of Havana were the
owners of the " Conslilitcict.no ;" that Don Juan
Batalla was the actual Master; and that the ob
ject of the voyage to the coast was to obtain a car
go of slaves, whose immediate embarkation was
only prevented by the capture of the vessel destined
and prepared for their reception.
On these grounds a sentence was pronounced
by the Court, condemning the schooner " Const i
tuciano" as a good and lawful prize to the crowns
of Great Britain and Spun.
We have, Sec,
Signed H. W. Macaulay.
R. Doiierty.
We make no remark, only that the places nam
ed, "Little Bass" and "Grand Sestos," are with
in the limits from which the Colonization Society
has been, for five years, boasting that it had driv
en the slave trade. The "one hundred sets of
shackles," made by the skillful mechanics of Mon
rovia, for ironing the hapless victims of the slave
trade, may serve to illustrate the remark made
last October by Mr. Robert S. Finley, secretary
of the Mississippi Colonization Society, that if the
hurches and philanthropists of the United otate
should abondon the support of the colonies, the
slave traders would take them up and support
them, simply for the accomodation the settlements
afford them in the way of business.
O'Connell and Texas.
Mr. O'Connell has addressed a letter to Josepl
Sturge, full of zeal for the actual and definitive
abolition of Slavery and the slavj trade. He de
pxts the daily increasing horrors ol the traffic, and
shows what is needlul to enect its abolition, and
what it is that stands in the way. 'Of course he
noints to "slavery in the United States" as one
leading obstacle, and he proposes to strike a death
blow ut this, by his project for establishing a free
asylum and colony at the southwest.
"Look," says Mr O'Connell, " look at Texas
The gang of land pirates who have settled on the
Mexican terntorv'i actually make negro slavery
the basis of their association, and propose to take
away Irom tneir intended legislature uie power
of abolishing domestic slavery, ihis is itself suf
ficiently horrible; but it is intimately more atro
cious in its necessary consequences ; lor it we per
mit the lexians to succeed in their odious cheme,
there is room for forming and in the United
States there is abundant disposition to form three
or four more slave States in the unoccupied lands
between the peopled part of Mexico and the line
of territory which the United States claim for them
selves. My plan" he says " is this to follow the
example set by the Australian and JNew enland
Societies. Get together a number ot the mends
of humanity, who will come forward and subscribe
a sufficient capital to form, upon tho New Zeal
and plan, a society sufficiently extensive to consti
tute a new colony or state, either subject direct
ly to the British Crown, or, at all events, under
the protection of the British flag, so as to obtain a
rallvintr point for all free persons of color who
may choose to give their labor for such wages as
may enable them to become purchasers oi me
soil.
" Reflect, my esteemed friend, do reflect, in the
presence of the God of humanity upon the hor
rors; the crimes, tho atrocities which must be per
petrated by the creation of these new slaveholding
States. Reflect on the quantity of sin and guilt
of every kind that must be perpetrated upon the
one hand by the slave breeders of Virginia, and
the other slave breeding States of the North A
merican Union ; and, upon the other hand, only
think of the indescribable scenes of crucliv thai
must be perpetrated in Africa, and in the earn
ing home of new slaves for the purposes of the
fexans, and the other white monsters of these in
tended new slave States !
"It is so entirely the interest of the Mexicans
to form n colony of free persons of color between
tl. ...... ... ,1 Nf ... I- .1 . 111 II
" "u me iMinn Americans, umi l snouui pre
sume tney will very readily enter into our plan
This colony should be, as much as possible, inter
posed between uie Texans and the sea. It would
be a place of refuge for the free men of color of
the United States, who are naturally enough dis
gusted with the paltry injustice of being called
' free' whilrt they are deprived of all the practice
rights of freemen."
He therefore proposes, on the opening cf parlia
ment, to renew his motion in favor of an arrange
ment with Mexico, for the establishment of a free
colony; and also a resolution
" J hat it is the opinion of this house, that her
Majesty s ministers ought not to advise her Majes
tyro recognize the independence, us a State, ol
the persons located on part of the territories of the
Republic of Mexico, with which Republic we are
in alliance, and who have called themselves the
Slate of Texas, unless with the assent of the 'said
Republic of Mexico ; aid also, unless such alleg
ed State of Texas shall make the abolition of ne
gro slavery a fundamental law, and consent that
the slave trade shall be deemed and treated as
piracy."
This movement is evidently creating more inter
est in this country than is generally admitted.
One of our magnanimous republican editors in
this city, has offered the following profound, orig
inal ami most satisfactory explanation.
"He is apparranfy quite sore on subjects con
nected with America. Some say, thai personal
differences have not been withont influence. It
is said that, entirely by his own want of consider
ation, he recently subjected himself, at the door of
the House of Commons, to a marked offence from
a citizen of one of the southern States."
m:2I5I-ature of Vermont.
From Walton's Daily Journal.
Friday, 2 o'clock, P. M.
SENATE.
The President presented a communication from
the Treasurer in reply to a resolution of the Sen
ate of the 12th inst, requiring information in rela
tion to the bonds of bank directors. The treasur-
erstates, that it has not been the uniform practice
tor directors annually elected to renew their bonds.
but that on occasions when nrst elected the direc
tors have executed bonds. The day of the recep
turn of the bonds is not minuted and cannot be
communicated.
Mr. Townslev, from the committee to whom
was referred a bill entitled "an act relating to the
Windham County-Fire Insurance Company" re
ported the same without amendment; ordered
that the bill be engrossed and read the third time
Mr. Adams introduced a bill relating to elec
tions, being the first chapter of the revised statutes:
rea'd the first and second time and ordered to be
laid on the table.
i ue oenaie concurred in tne rules in relation
'o the passing of the revised statutes, being the
same adopted by the House yesterday. The Sen
ate took up the revised statutes : chap. 2 " of the
organization of the House of Representatives,"
was read the first and second time, and referred
tothe committee on elections ; chap. 3 " of applica
lion to the General Assembly," read the first and
second time and referred to the committee on land
taxes; chap. 4 "of the construction of statutes
read the Itrst and second time and laid on the ta
ble : chap. 5 " of the promulgation of statutes and
legislative journals, read the first and second tune
and referred to the committee on elections.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
1 he Chair appointed the following committee
on bills: Messrs. Cook of Craftsbury, rind Weeks.
Resolutions. By Mr. W heeler, for distribution
of 10th Vol. Vt. Reports: by Mr. Richardson ol
Waitsfield, inquiring as to expense of the revised
statutes, and whether the consideration of thai
subject cannot he deterred to a luiure session ;-
by Mr. Fisk of Eden, as to the expediency of re
pealing the bounty act for the destruction of foxes ;
for thanksgiving 5th Dec. ; severally passed. By
Mr. Miner, for a joint assembly Tuesday morning
next, to elect bank inspector and commissioner,
reporter ofdecisions of supreme court, and agent
to settle concerns of Vt. State Bank ; laid on the
table. The resolution this morning introduced,
relative to taxing lands according to their valua
tion was amended so as to refer the mallei 'o the
General Committee, and passed.
Bills. By Mr. Waterman, addition to act of
1792 relation to disposition of money raised for
roads, ice. relerred to Lreneral Committee. JJy
Mr. Dillingham, repealing act incorporating vil
lage Woodstock, referred to select com. on that
subject.
Petitions, Sf-c. Ofmalesand females ofStarks
boro,' and of W. R. Shafter, nnd others, to com.
on Slavery Petitions ; of S. Taylor Jr. and oth
ers, to General Committee ; of Elisha Hyde and
others of Essex, to committee on Temperance
Memorials. Of G. Conger and of Craftsbury Ri
fle Co. to com. on Military Affairs ; of Jos. Chase
and others laid upon the table; ofE. S. Bellamy
and others, to committee of Ways and Means ; the
account of Wm. Kidder was referred to the com.
of Claims.
The House rerumed consideration of the sub
treasury resolutions ; Mr. Brown concluded his
remarks in favor of their passage. Messrs. Hig
ley and Warner of Newhaveri followed againsi
the resolutions, and Mr. Partridge on the other
ids.
Satprpat, Oct. 19, 1S30.
SENATE.
Prayer by the chaplain,
The" Governor transmitted sundry papers which
were read ond referred and will be noticed in
their order, as reported by tho committees ; reia-j
mg to the acknowledgment of deeds in foreign
countries; to fugitives from justice ; severally re
ferred to the com. on judiciary.
Bills. By Mr. Simonds, incorporating tha
bank of Brandon, referred 10 the committee on
Banks, relating to bonds of Bank Directors, read
a third time and passed..
Resolution from the House, fixing upon a day
of Thanksgiving, laid upon the table.
Revised Statutes. Mr. Pierpoint, called up tha
bill reported by the com. to revise the stiitutes,
relating to elections, which was considered, the
Senate acting as in com. of the whole, reported
by the com. with a proposal to amend the bill by
making it the duty of presiding officers to make
punlic declaration ol the election of town repre
sentatives, immcdiaily -on counting the ballots.
This amendment Was adopted by the Senate, and
the bill, as amended, was read a third time and
was passed ; relating to the organization of the
House of Representatives, rend third time and
passed; relating to the State Library, read tho
first and second times ond referred to coin, on ed
ucation ; relating to certain state officers, read tho
first and second times and referred to a committee
on banks; relating to the formation of county
agricultural societies, read the first and second
times, and referred to com. on agriculture; rein-
ting to county buildings nnd property, rend tie
first and second times and referred to the judicial ;
relating to county officers, read the first and so
ond times and referred to the committee mi
aims.
Senate adjourned to Monday morning next.
HOUSE.
Prayer by Rev. S. Kellogg.
Petitions S-c. Of citizens of Vergennes, Bar-
net and Bristol, to com. on Temperance Memori
es; petition nnd remonstrance from St. George.
relative to annexation of part of Shelburn to St.
George, referred to General Committee; account
md petition of Kiah Baily, referred to com. of
CI aims; of Horace Stewart and others to coin, on
Military Affairs ; of Caledonia and Essex coun
ties, lor a Mutual rire insurance Co., referred to
members of those counties ; ol 245 voters of Bar-
net, 3S4 of St. Johiisl)iiry,31ofSiit:on,f2ofKirk
by, 216 of Lyndon, 156 "of Eurk, 19 of Newark,
for removal ol Caledonia Co. buildings, re-fern d
to members of Caledonia county; of inhabitants
of Holland, Charlotte, and Bridgewater, to com.
on Temperance Memorials; of Danie Rawson
ind others, to com. on Military Affairs; of inhab
itants of Ferrisberg, against capital punishment, to
he judiciary committee, from the same town, la
the committee on slavery.
Resolutions. From the Senate, for an adjourn
ment to the 1st January next, and the appoint
ment of a joint committee of 15 to report at tha;
time on the revised laws ; laid cm the table. By
Mr. Henry, for a com. of three to examine into tho
condition of the school fui.d, passed; (Messrs.
Henry, Young & Atwood, committee;) by Mr. Fair
banks for a joint assembly ou Tues day afternoon
next to elect i reporter of decisions of sti reine
court, laid on the table. By Mr. Dillinghhm, de
voting each afternoon session hereafter, until otk
erwise ordered, to the consideration of the revis
ed statutes ; laid on the table.
Bills. By Mr. Higley, to incorporate a bank at
Castleton, referred to com. on Banks. By Mr.
Wheeler, repealing part of the act of 1707, relat
ing to corporal punUlunent ; referred to General
Committee. From the Senate, chapters 1 and 2
of the revised statutes; referred to a select com.
of five, consisting of Messrs. Dillingham, Fullam,
Miner, Closson and Chandler. By Mr. Leonard,
in addition to an act taxing lands in Chittenden, or
dered to a 3d reading ; by Mr. Griswold, relat
ing to Lamoille county cavalry company, referred
to com. on Military Affairs.
Reports. Of com. on expenditures of state
house; $132,612.83 cents, whole cost; S15.CC0
paid by Montpelier, leaving the amount paid by
the state, $1 17.612,53 cents. Read ; of land tax
com. bills laying a tax of 6 cents on lands in
Greensboro'; ordered to a third reading; laying
a lax of 5 cents on lands in Hydepark, ordered to
a third reading. By Judiciary Committee, bill
commuting the punishment of Henry Damon
from death to imprisonment for life in the stato
prison ; nftT some discussion by Messrs. Sprngue,
Chandler Fullam Needham, Dillingham, Butler,
Brown, Warner of Newhaven, Bard and Hnzen,
the bill was recommitted with instriitions to the
committee 10 report the evidence in the case. Mr.
Chandle r asked to be excused from the committee
on the consideration of the above bill ; request
granted, andMr. Bard was appointed in his place.
By com. on Roads and Canals, the bill requirirg
surreyors of roads to make return on or be'rrj
the loth of March instead of in the month of Apr-!,
laid on the table ; bill repealing act to facilitate it.s
rendering of turnpike roads free roads, ordered to
a 3d reading. , ,
The Treasurer, in compliance with a resolution
of the House, presented an abstract showing iho
condition of the stale treasury; which was read.
Adjourned to Monday morning.
Monuay, Oct. 21 1539.
SENATE.
Prayer by the chaplain.
Revised laws. The general rcmnn'ttee; to
whom had been referred certain bills of the revis
ed statutes, made report, without amendment, and
the following bills were severally read the third
time and passed; relating to county property; ret
lating to the promulgation of statutes and legisla
tive journals ; relating to the organization of coun
ties; relating to the formation of Probate districts,
read and laid upon the table; of towns, town
meeting's and town officers, rend twice and rerer
rpd to the Senators composing the committee on
Education ; of "Villages," Toad twice nnd refer
red to the Senators composing the committee on
roads and ennnis; oi tne construction oi statutes,
oi i ut rv r . . . i - . i i . i
called up ny lur. riorpoim, n'.iu a iniru time ana
passed ; of "the settlement of paupers," read twice-
and referred to the Senators composing th'j com
mittee on tha judiciary ; of "the support and rei
moval ot paupers," the same rending and refer-
j i . l f t .
ence ; "or poor nouses, read twice aim reierren to
the Senators composing the committeo on agricul
ture. The resolution . from the House, for a day of
Thanksgiving oa the 5th of December, next, wcj
V