The voice of freedom. [volume], November 09, 1839, Image 1

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

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VOICE
.F ffi-EEDO 51,
E. A. ALLEN, Publisher. Published under the sanction of the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society. c. L. KNAPP, Editor.
VOIiUMK I. MONTPELIER, VERMONT, .IVOVEIIIBESI 9, 1839. ft EJflHBjER 45.
Letter from Gerrit Smith to Hon. Seth M. Gates.
Pterboro, October 22, 1S39.
Hon. Seth M. Gates, Member of Congress,
Le Roy, Genessce, Co. N. Y.
My- Dear Sin : Your Christian principles and
rare intelligence give you a deservedly great ;infl
cuce over your fellow abolitionists. How lamen
table, that this influence should bo employed to
turn them from the path of duty ! To the exer
tion of this influence was it owing, in no small
degree, that more than nineteen twentieths of the
abolitionists of the county of Genesee, voted at the
last election, for party, instead of the slave. It
is not to flatter you, but to remind you of your
responsibilities, that I thus allude to the large
share you had in producing the memorable de
fection of the year 183S, in the ranks of N. York
abolitionists a defection so extensive and cruel,
that the cause of the enslaved still lies bleeding
at every pore, on account of it.
It ;s true, that at the last election, you were un
der an especial and strong temptation ; a tempta
tion oi sufficient power to buna the wise ana the
pood to sacrifice duty to interest. But, inas
much as that temptation ced.ed with the election
and inasmuch as you have had a year to observe
the unhappy effects ot the wide betrayal oi our
cause at the polls, and to reflect on the folly and
sin of yielding up principle to calls, however spe
cious, and for earns, however alluring it was
confidently hoped that . you would, at the ap
proaching election, evince a penitent sense of your
pernicious error, and number yourself, for the lu
ture, with those uncompromising abolitionists
who, in whatever circumstances, or under whatever
temptations they may bo, are true to their heaven
and earth witnessed pledges, never to vote for
pro-slavery legislative candidate. How greatly
and grievously you have disappointed this cxpec
tation of your repentance and amendment, all
will see, who read the proceedings of the late
meeting of the Genesee anti-slavery society, held
at Le Koy. Abolitionists, who cling to the slave
though at the expense of damaging and displeas
ing party, will be pained to learn lrom these pro
ccedings, that their holy and beloved cause must,
tor at least one election, encounter, instead of en
joyng, the extensive influence of Seth M. Gates.
It appears that you took the ground in the
meeting referred to, that the voter s at liberty to
cast his ballot for a legislative candidate, who is
rot an abolitionist. Thanks to the power and
the love of truth, that so large a minority, of the
meeting resisted this anti-republican and uncuriS'
tian doctrine.
What is American Slavery? It is a system,
which, . by law and in practice, forbids marriage,
and the reading ol the Bible, and classes immor
tal and blood-redeemed men with brutes, it is
unsurpassed in wickedness and cruelty, by any of
the systems, that ever outraged humanity or in
sulted God. I put it to you then, my dear sir,
and would have you answer me as in the light of
eternity, rather than under the worldly influences
which surround and press upon you, " Can a
Christian consistently vote for a legislative can
didate, who is opposed to the repeal of any of the
laws that uphold such a system ?" " Can a
Christian consistently vote for a legislative'candid
ate, who is opposed to the reneal of any laws
which mav sanction and uphold the crimes of
counterfeiting and burglary?' He can so vote
with much less inconsistency, than lie can vote for
a pro-slavery legislative candidate. For of how
light a hue are the crimes of counterfeiting and
burglary, in the eyes of him, who is called on to
choose between the evil of having counterfeit
money put upon him, or his house robbed every
month" of his life, and the unspeakable greater
evil of wearing the yoke of slavery, for even a
single month ! - In the eye of the slave, the Chris
tian, who sanctions slavery by his vote, is a thou
sand fold more inconsistent, than he who thus
sanctions counterfeiting and burglary ; and so
would he be in our eye, if our soul were in the
slave's soul's stead ; and if we obey the apostolic
injuction to " remembeT them that are in bonds as
bound with them." But you will, perhaps, say-
that the pro-slavery candidate is not sensible of
the sin ot slavery, and that the other candidate is
sensible of the sin of counterfeiting and burglary.
This is true, and because it is, thousands of
good men vote for pro-slavery candidates. But
the great question with the elector, on going to the
polls, should not be, whether the candidate is ig-
the expense of warring upon the genius and the
ory, and trampling upon the fundamental laws o
his government. It I am the subiect of a re
publican government, I am guilty of treachery to
uu us us-mmiuui principles n i vote to maice a law
maker of any other than a republican : and how
ever wise and virtuous may be the candidate, if In
subscribe not to the doctrine of the equality of
men in uieir natural rights, he is, manifestly, not
11' XT T I I..
repuoncan. Mere again 1 must remark, that ?
norance of the real nature of slavery on the part
ot the candidate, who espouses pro-slavery views
constitutes no excuse for voting for him. The
elector is to see to it, that his vote corresponds,
not with the ignorance of the candidate, but with
his own views, and with iust views of the charac
ter of the political institution of his country, and
with the political character of slavery
The wheel of reform would move but slowly i
the reformer shape his course and adapt his de
mands to the views and wishes ol those whom lie
seeks to reform. " Then shall we know if we
follow on to know the Lord." JJe can be no re
former of his fellow men and no follower of God,
who, instead of keeping nace with the divine rev
elations to his soul, contributes to elevate to "places
ot power, persons, who will carry out the opposites
of his own great moral principles, and respond to
his increasing light, but in deeds ol darkness.
Christian reformers can never lower the standard
of truth in accommodation to the voluntary or in
voluntary, the guilty or the guiltless ignorance of
any man a candidate lor the legislature or the
pul pit not excepted. ;
You will, perhaps, say, that, in ascribing to you
the doctrine that we are at liberty to vole for a
legislative candidate who is an anti-abolitionist, I
misrepresent you. But, does not your language
justify, thy ascripti6n ? You would have us vote
tor a man who is " five-sixths an abolitionist.
But, what is a " five sixth-abolitionist?" What is
a five-sixth honest man ? What is a five-sixths
man of truth ? A liar, and " there is no truth in
him." What is a five-sixths sober man? A drunk
ard, and but a drunkard. And so also a "five
sixths abolitionist," is simply an anti-abolitionst,
and has yet to learn the abolition alphabet. I
recollect hat vou think it right to vote for a man
" who will vigorously support nine measures we
advocate, but falters at "the tenth." Sodol think
it right, in case "the tenth" be not a test of princi
ple. But, if it be, I promptly reject him as un
worthy ot the votes ot a republican and a Chris
tian. Was Herod a Christian, because he favor
ed nine-tenths of John's measures? Perhaps he
favored ninety-one hundreths of them, for it is
said that " he did many things and heard him
gladly." These " many things" doubtless met
the Baptist's approbation. But there was one
thing which he would not do, and in refusing to
do that, he evinced his entire destitution of the
spirit of Christian obedience. So, in our day, a
man may do " manv things" that a Christian does,
and yet not have the heart of a Christian and
yet totally reject Christianity. He may, for in
stance, be honest in his dealings in property. He
may drink no intoxicating liquors, lie may read
his bible daily. He may daily call to God in
prayer ; and yet tt he reluses to torgive nis ene
emies, he has" not a particle of Christian religion
in his heart. Analagous to his case is that ot the
member of Congress, who is in favor of the right
of petition of the abolition of the inter state slave
trade of a dozen other anti-slavery measures
and yet be opposed to the abolition of slavery in
the District ol Columbia, buch a one has yet to
earn his first lesson in abolition. His heart is an
entire stranger to the principles of abolition. The
anti-slavery measures, which ho supports, are not
espoused by him in answer to the principle ol ab
olition to the principle of impartial and univer-
berty for, if that principle were within him,
norant or aware of the giant iniquity of a system
which" that candidate, if elected, will" exert his of
ficial powers to uphold. This is, indeed a proper
and indispcnsible question for determining wheth
er the candidate te more or less guilty ; but the
UriO'wlodge'or ignorance of the candidate on the
point under consideration, in no wise alTects the
guilt of the elector who votes for him. If, in the
good providence of God, I have come to learn,
ithat slavery is enormous wickedness, it is then, at
the peril of my soul, that I vote for a pro-slavery
legislative candidate. I admit, that I am to exer
cise Christian charity toward the candidate, and to
Jiope, if I can, that his sin in the premises, is but
he sin of ignorance, nevertheless, it is my knowl
edge, rather than his ignorance, that is to be the
rrompler and guide, ond measure of my conduct,
am to walk in my own light, and not in his
darkness. I believe there may be a slaveholder,
who is a Christian: but if I vote, for such a one
for a lawmaker for one, who, if elected, will con
tribute his official powers to sustain slavery
God will hold me, rather than the benighted slave
holder, for whom I vote, guilty of the sin of slave
ry. Can a republican consistency rote for a legis
lative candidate who is in favor or pro-slavery
laws? The question is readily answered in the
negative by a reference to the foundation doctrine
of a republic the doctrine that " all men are crem
ated equal." The subject of a government
which sanctions the counter doctrine of inequali
ty between the natural rights of one man ana an:
other the doctrine that a select portion of the hu
man family are made of porcelain, and the bulk of
them of common claynayi! witl); comparatively
little political inconsistency, vote in favor of slave
ry; but, surely.no republican can do' so, save at
would manifest itself, ns well in behalf of the
slave in the District ol Columbia, as elsewhere'
as well against oppression and pro-slavery laws
in one place as in another, lo vote then for "a
hve-sixths abolitionist ' or even for one "who
will vigorously support nine" anti-slavery meaS'
ures out of ten, and thus make himself a nine-tenths
abolitionists by your scale, is to be guilty of voting
tor an anti-abolitionist; for one who is not in prin
ciple opposed to the crime of slavery. And one
thing more j since it is from considerations of ex
pediency, and not from principle that the candid
ate favors five of the six, or nine of the ten, anti
slavery measures; he who votes for him can feel
no reasonable assurance that the shiftings of ex
pediency will not bring his candidate into speedy
opnosition to the very measures he now advocates.
What is but expedient to day, may be inexpedient
tomorrow: whilst that which is now eternal im
mutable principle, will be so always.
What I have said shows that I approve of the
resolution of the National Anti-Slavery Conven
tion which requires the candidate to be an im
mediate abolitionist or, what is the same thing,
an abolitionist in principle ; the gradual abolition-
st having never welcomed the principle, or imbib-
d the spirit of genuine abolition. It shows, too,
that, able as are the arguments of the editor of the
Cincinnatti Philanthropist, against the resolution
n question, and much as 1 admire his rare talent
and uncompromising integrity, me proposition
which he combats, is, in my judgment impregna
ble. However satisfactorily the candidate may-
answer the anti-slavery questions addressed to
m, if there still be room to believe he is not an
abolitionist, we are not at liberty to vote for him.
he main obiect in addressing the questions Bhould
be to obtain answers that may guide us in deter
mine whether the candidate be or be not an abo-
itionist.
There is one view of the error of voting for a
eo-islative candidate, who is willing to perform
but a part of the duties enjoined on him by the
principle of abolition, to which I would call your
especial attention. A candidate for Congress
says, that if he be elected, he will respect the
right of petition, but will have no objection to
leave the slaves in the District of Columbia in
their confessedly unconstitutional chains, or, he:
will be in favor of termina'in the woes and hor
rors of the inter state traffic in human flesh, but
will consent to prolong slavery in the Territory of
Florida. Under the misapplication to moral sub
jects of the maxims, "half a loaf is belter than'
none," and " between two evils choose the least,"
you would vote for this candidate, in case his ri
val were opposed to all the anti-slavery measures;
in other words.you would fall in with, and sustain
this scheme of partial justice. But in vain
would it be for you to search in Bible ethics for a
justification of the policy of according their rights
lo one portion of men, and ot consenting that Hie
rights of another portion be withheld. Who is
the ruler that consents to a denial of my clear,
natural, essential and inalienable rights! You
will not pretend that he is the "just" and "righte
ous man, that God requires, that you, therelore
should require the ruler to be. But is his un
righteousness toward me at all diminished by his
admission of the rights of another? Neither will
you pretend this. What is the ruler, in God's
sight, who will deliberately consent to leave inno
cent men in a bondage that robs its subjects ol
every right, and even denies them the ownership
of their limbs! A monster of wickedness ! It
is, of course, implied, that the candidate or mem
ber of Congress referred to, is aware of the in
justice and wickedness of slavery; for if it be
not, in the view of this muMice and wickedness.
hat he adopts some of the anti-slavery measures
if he be entirely insensible to the moral charac
ter of slavery you surely would not think him
entitled to the suffrage of his constituents. And
is the ruler in question any the less guilty because!
e is willing to release some other portion ol
lis follow men from their unrighteous thraldom
Surely his guilt in wronging the one is in no wise
lleviated by Ins right doing towards another,
It he trust to his own righteousness and comm
niquity, nil his righteousness shall not not be re'
niembercc.
You are a political partisan and this accounts
lor the fact that a man of your excellence of head
nd heart, should continue so blind to truth an
uty on the anti-slavery question. Like other po
tical parlizans, vou overrate the moral worth ol
your parly, and entertain expectations which no
political party will ever fulfil.
You doubtless believe that the Whig party
hould it come to be in the ascendant, would abol
ish American slavery. But how vain to hope
that either that, or the rival party, will ever be
lound capable of such fearless, self-denying jus
tice! Do vou suppose that our political parties
ave more honesty, more fidelity to principle, than
characterizes the American church? But, you
know, that this church is too time-serving and
corrupt to espouse the anti-slavery enterprise
You know that American Christianity instead of
perlorming the offices of Bible Christianity, and
sympatizing with the'oppressed, is actually the
wicked ally and base tool of the oppressor, and
constitutes the grand pillar of Americnn'slavery
- Would you, my dear sir, have a clear abolition
vision ? You can have it. But you must first be
crucified to political party, and cease to hope that
it will ever exhibit one particle of honesty in" any
of the great contests between the principles of
heaven and the corruptions of earth. " Then sha
thy light rise in obscurity,and thy darkness be as
the noon day.
You know that I have not written this letter lo
wound your feelings. You know that to rebuke
a brother lor the sin that is upon rum, is amongst
the highest evidences of true friendship. My
chief motive however for writing you is to be found
in my love of the slave. The influence you are
exerting on his dear cause is most disastrous; and
just so far as abolitionists are brought under this
influence, should all rational hope expire, that A
merican slavery will die a bloodless, pc-aceful.spee-
dy death. It will be only when abolitionists shall
come fo regard it as absurd and as wicked to vote
for American slavery, as to talk, write, print, or
pray for it, that this giant wickedness shall cease
to live. It will be only when wp shall invite the
blessing of Heaven on such consistency and sell-
denial, that God will crown the anti-slavery en
tcrpriza with triumph.
I remain
Four friend and brother,
GERRIT SMITH.
greater sum than 10 per cent of his stock actually I session, relating to the sale of ardent spirits, twico
pniu in; anu in no ense sunn such uiscuum uuu uruerca to be engrossed ; to pay Cephas
exceed $ 1000 at anyone time, nor the aggregate .bay ley, the sum mentioned, for the transportation
oi ins niucoicuncss losucn uunic in any nine ua- unuo, ouuaie rejected the bill : to nav Kiah
1 .nnriA .1,1 -.1 T 1 f.. - . I. J . ' -
cecu mvv ; nor tnau any other person, eniierns uayivy uu mu repair oi cannon and carriage, the
i i - ii, i . . . i i i. r , .-.(;.,.i . .. i . .. ...
liiiiciptu or surety uc uiueoiea to sucn uanh. iur sum im.-miuin.-u , nxuinmiueu lo the com. on mill-
discount to a greater sum than five thousand do!- tary affairs.
lars." UaniS.MT. Kittndgo, reported chap. 80, of
Mr. Partridge moved to amend the amendment, the revised statutes, relating to Banks, with vari-
by striking oui"1000" and inserting $500. ous proposals of amendment, when on motion of
Mr. 1' supported the am-odment, followed by Mr. rierpoint, the chop, was laid upon the
Messrs Brown and Snrague, against the original table.
resolution and all the amendments. Resolution. By Mr. Tracy, dooming the town
Mr. Jackson moved to dismiss the whole sub- of Glastenbury in the sum of nine hundred dol
led. Mr Partridge opposed this motion, and took lors, read, and relerred to committee on imance.
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.
From Walton's Daily Journal.
Friday, Nov. 1, 1S39.
SENATE.
Bills-Ftom che House, lopay Augustine Clarke
the sum mentioned ; for the relief ot bamuel fei
monds, twice read and severally referred - to the
com. on claims : to pay Cephas Bayiey the sum
mentioned ; lo pay Kiah Bayiey the sum men
tioned, twice read and severally ref. to the com.
on military affairs.
Mr Simonds, asked leave of absence from and
after the present week. Leave granted. Adj.
HOUSE.
Prayer by Rev. E. Smith.
Fetitiom. Of Amos Eddy and others, referred
to'com. on Slavery; ofJohn'N. Hunt and others,
to com. on Temperance Memorials. Of G. W.
Ames and others to com. on Military Aflairs: of
sundry inhabitants ot W llliamstown, to coin, on
Temperance Memorials.
Engrossed Bills. To pay Cephus Bayiey, Kiah
Bayiey and Augustine Clarke, for the relief of Sam
uel Simonds severally passed.
Reports of Committees. By Select Committee,
bill taxing Lonioille county, ordered to a Jd read
ing. By Select Com. against bill removing Or
leans county buildings, and it was dismissed.
Resolution. By Mr. Bard, reviving the rule re
lative to the revised statutes adopted.
Bills Introduced. By Mr. Brown, to exempt
inhabitants of Averill from military duty, ref. to
com. on Military Affairs. By Mr Shattuck, in
creasing the salary of Governor to $1000, and re
ducing salary of Superintendant of state prison to
$500, referred to General Committee. By Mr.
Higley, for the support of the -gospel, relerred to
Judiciary Committee.
The House resumed consideration of the last
resolution reported by the minority of the com.
on banks, viz :
" That no director or stockholder shall, either
directly or indirectly, be suffered to receive any
discount at the bank or banks, of which they are
severally directors or stockholders."
Mr. Closson moved to add the words " for a
occasion to hint that the pnrly with whom he had
usually acted seemed to have entirely forgotten
their pledges to the people on ' bank reform.' Mr.
Fairbanks sustained the principle of restricting
loans to directors and stockholders, but assented lo
the rejection of the resolution on the ground that
this measure of " reform" was already incorpora
ted into the general banking law, passed at the
uist session
The chair here decided that the question, on the
amendment to the amendment, was first in order;
the amendment to the amendment was then re
ected : ond Mr. Jackson moved to dismiss the
original resolution, Mr Miner opposed the motion,
and took the general ground that the security on
bond and mortgage, which was the one now adop
led by the House, was insufficient ; it had failed
n Michigan, and would probably here, of accom-
Adj.
house.
The following message from the Governor was
read :
To the House of Representatives:
Jy the provisions of the bill herewith returned,
entitled " an act to incorporate the Meniphrama-
gog Literary and Theological Seminary," the cor
poration is made perpetual. io power is reserv
ed to alter or amend the act by future legislation,.
as the public good and the circumstances and con
dition of society may hereafter require. The con
dition of society is continually changing; that,
which may be expedient and for the best good of
community at this time, may reasoning from the
past in a course of years requrie alteration to
adapt it to the wants and wishes pf our posterity.
And in my view, nothing but the mo6t absolute
. 1 " 1 .1 - . 1 1 T.I
piismng me intenueu purpose, mat provision :,. -,:n ... i :.i,? r v
did not reach the danger which ought to be re- L 0Urhnever to be resorted to, except when the
mo roa, v,z tne monopolizing o. the loans ot the objec7s ln vicw are of Buch magnitude and difficul
uuiiMoy a lewu leciors or siociviiomer me very , " f nttsinmf.n, nS to nfTnrd no othPr nrohablft
thing which has been the cause of every bank-
failure in New England for the last ten years.
Mr. Butler replied that the principle of this
amendment was olread ymcorporatcd into the gen
eral banking law.
Mr Miner explained this provision was indeed
in the act in addition to the safety fund act, but it
was now proposed to'release banks, hereafter char
tered, from that act. '
The question was then put: ayes 13,0, noes G5,
so the resolution was dismissed.
Mr Hayward of Addison requested the liberty
here to state to the House that he understood that
the minority report, just disposed of, ivas assented
to but by one ol the minority.
Mr bmith of f. said there mustle amisundcr
standing in Hie matter, he understood that both
of the minority assented to the general principles
of the report.
The Governor, by message, informed the House
of sundry vacancies to be filled, occasioned by the
means of accomplishment.
y brought to this conclusion by the entire confi
dence I feel in 'the intelligence and liberality of
those who may succeed us.-
by leaving acts ot incorporation open to lulure
legislation, I cannot for a moment permit myself
to believe tha-t the rights or property of individu
uals or community will be endangered by the im
position of unnecessary or unreasonable restric
tions or altgrations, or thai future legislators will
not understand and fully appreciate the wants and
wishes of society as it may hereafter exist."'
iMitertainwg these views, I feel it my duty to
return the bill in question to the House of Repre
sentatives, in which it originated, for their recon
sideration. S. II. JENISON.
Executive Chamber, Nov. 2, 1S39.
Mv. Gowdc-y inquired whether the bill was open
to amendment? The chair replied that it was
not, the constitution itself provided that the ques
tion, upon a bill returned by the Governor for re-
resignation ol John W alken ,u jail commissioner consideration, must be upon the passage of the
iui ijumuim: luuiii , uuu ui 111,1 ui wuudu iau- k Mocora intrhnm nnrf SnrnfriiP pvnressffl
cis u. neips, and ling. Uenerals Jacob Wash- their FfitiKfac,ion at thefcourse of the Governor:
bum Ond 1 . I K.imunl!. nfini- rn.no rnnvai-Mlinn no tVio nnwnr nflVtA
rr. . ... , , . , . , . . (uiui unci oiiiiv v-"ii i vicuuvjii n o its mv w " 1 v
C .- , . . , . . 11UMSC lUriMUKUII II lit IT U1U, WIU UliCCHUII YVU3
mirs WHS mntlP to nrdornf Jho H .if fnr Mmlm? - . - . -
: . w" nut shall the bill pass f Avcs 2, noes 141 : 0
AT- tt j rc.r. i . i tt tt iuc um ivua ii-iccuru.
uiastenoury omainea leave oi absence after to- scmb, Wednesd ay afternoon next, to supply
morrow morninjr. Adi. ,1 :j i. ,i, , ch.t
xi.i, u x . erns piieipc, Washburn and Kimball, adopted
SEiNAfE. By Mr. Bard, appointing Stephen S. Brown, Geo,
Bill. From the House, for the relief of Samuel K. Holmes, and Alden Partridge, com. to examine
fsnnonds, reported by Mr Cobb, read a third lime " indsor and sSex banks, adopied. Adj,
and passed.
Bill. Extending an net lavinc a tax on lands
n Granville, read a third time and passed. Adj.
OATUKDAY, 2, lNil).
SENATE.
Prayer by the chaplain.
Bills. From the House, to pay Augustine
Clark for services, and for counterfeit money, re
ceived when he. was Treasurer, read a third time
and passed.
Mr Foster called up the bill, authorizing Bank-
ng associations, and moved that 500 copies be or
dered to be printed. Motion carried, yeas lo,
naysS. t Adj.
HOUSE.
Prayer by Rev. S. Kellogg.
Mr Canfield of Arlington, obtained leave of ab
sence after Monday next.
Resolutions. By Mr Harris, dooming Glasten
bury in the sum of $-300 ruled out of order by
the chair. By Mr Lynde, for -meeting of the
House after Tuesday next at half past S A. M.
rejected.
Ihe senate returned the bill annexing part ol
Orwell to Whiting with an amendment, which
was concurred in."
Mr Stark called up the bill for securing bill hold-
rs on the closing of banks, and it was made the
pecial order for Tuesday morning.
1 he General Committee requestted to be dis-
harged from further consideration of the hill re-
ating to salaries of certain officers granted, and
the bill dismissed.
Mr. Butler called up ihe bill abolishing capital
unishment, and supported it in on argument at
iength, denying both the right and expediency of
unishment by death.
Mr. Warner of JNewhnven,. followed in n spint-
d speech in support of the bill, mainly upon -the
grounds of expediency ; urging that the experience
fall time had proved that capital punishment nan
ot operated to deter from the commission of out-
rageou s crimes, while on me otner nana mo se-
rity of the pdnishment, and the abhorrence with
which it is viewed by the public, bad frequently
prevented jurors from convicting criminals unqes
lionablv trniltv : the result being that the guilty
escaped, and the security to ihe community, which
was one object of punishment, utterly failed.
Messrs. Dillingham, Brown and Fairbanks also
participated in the debate, the former for and the
two latter against the bill.
Mr. Chandler moved an adionrnment, which
was negatived, when Mr. C. took the floor against
the bill, and in defence of the report of the com.
adverse to this measure. Adj.
2 o'clock, P. M.
SENATE.
Mr. Edson, in conseqence of sickness in his
family, asked and obtained leave of absence from
and after Monday next.
lull. by Mr. lracy, repealing the act of last
Monday, Nov. 4, 1S39.
SENATE.
Prayer by '.he chaplain.
Resolution. From the House, appointing a
com. of three, to investigate the Windsor and Es
sex Banks, concurred In by the Senate.
Bill. Repealing the act of last session relating
to the traffic in nrdent spirits, read a third time .
and passed. Adj.
HOUSE.
Prayer by Rev. E Smith.
Mr. Tnppan obtained leave of absence after to
morrow. The engrossed bill taxing Lamoille county, was
passed. '" .
Reports of comtnittees.-By com. of Claims, bill
to pay G. H. Smith $50 (expenses of execution of
Bates,) opposed by Messrs. Chandler, Brown
arid Partridge, on the ground that the execution
came within the ordinary duties of the sheriff, find
that therefore he was not entitled to extraordinary .
pay; supported by Messrs..; Miner, Butler, Need
ham and Rice, for the reason that the legislature
had always paid for services of this kind; this
sum was much less than had been usually paid.
The sum of $50 was rejected, 78 to C9, and the
bill laid on the table and madthe order for Wed
nesday morning. By com. on Education, on the
subject of a geological survey of the stale favor
able to such a survey, accompanied by a bill for
the appointment of a commissioner to make a sur
vey, and appropriating $2000 for the commence
irent of the work. Mr. Gowdcy moved to make
the bill the order for Thursday morning, slating.,
that the committee would not urge the bill, unless
it was found to meet the general consent of the
House. .. Mr. Sprague approved the report and
moved the printing of 5C0 copies : supported bv
Messrs. Needham, Sprague and Brown, opposed
by Messrs. Sanborn and Partridge, when Mr. Ful
lam moved 1000 copies negatived 74 to 62: the
motion for 500 copies was negatived, G7 to 59: Mr.
Rice moved 300 copies carried. The same com.,
made report upon the project for furnishing libra
ries to school districts favorable to the object,
but stating that there were no funds which could .
be properly directed to this object, tind therefore
commending the matter to the voluntary action of
school districts. By com. on Roads and Can?,
bill to remove obstructions in Full's stream in Es
sex county laid on the table.
The Governor, by message, informed the ITou;-e
of the resignation of Brig. General Green Black
mer. -
Resolutions. By Mr. Fairbanks, discharging
the members of Caledonia county from the docu
ments relating to the county buildings, fupported
by Messrs. Fairbanks, Brown, Rice and Bascomb,
opposed by Messrs. Chandler, Butler and Need
ham, and adopted, 86 to Gl. Mr. Fairbanks then
moved to dismiss the bill on this s,ubieYtngroed
to. By Mr. Brown, raising an enquiry as to the
expediency of placing steamboat, stock in the lists
for taxation passed." By Mr. Hubbard, instruct