756 



VERMONT. 



Resolved, That the reconstruction acts adopted by 

 the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses afford a 

 satisfactory solution of the problem of reconstruction, 

 and that we tender our hearty thanks to the repre- 

 sentatives of the people whose wisdom, firmness, and 

 patriotism, under Divine guidance, secured the adop- 

 tion of those measures. 



Resolved, That while we regard the measures of re- 

 construction now being put in operation in the lately 

 rebellious communities at the South as calculated to 

 give loyal men the control of the States where gov- 

 ernments are to be organized, Congress and the Ee- 

 publicans of the Union should insist, without com- 

 promise or surrender, upon the just and full execu- 

 tion of these .measures in the spirit in which they 

 were inaugurated. 



Jtesolved, That we shall welcome the day when, on 

 the acceptance in good faith by the people of the 

 Southern States of the terms thus offered, they shall 

 be again admitted as States to their share of represen- 

 tation and political power, and that our legislators, 

 North and South, be free to labor harmoniously for 

 the repairing of the ravages of war and for the devel- 

 opment of the resources of our entire country. 



Resolved, That republican government is a govern- 

 ment of the people, and for the people, and by the 

 people ; that the right to an equal participation in 

 such government cannot be denied to any class of the 

 people without an approach to caste, aristocracy, or 

 despotism, and that manhood suffrage the right of 

 every man at the ballot-box to defend himself against 

 every encroachment and usurpation of power, as well 

 as to demand for himself the peaceful enjoyment of 

 life, liberty, and prosperity is the right of every citi- 

 zen of the republic. 



Resolved, That Vermont having from her birth as a 

 State always granted_ impartial suffrage and equal 

 civil rights to every citizen, white or black, earnestly 

 recommends to such of her sister States of the North 

 as shall retain restriction of class or color on their 

 statute-books the speedy adoption of the same rule 

 that we require of the Southern States, and which is 

 demanded alike by consistency and the principles of 

 democracy and republican government. 



Resolved, That we are prouder to-day than ever be- 

 fore of the Eepublican party of the nation. It has 

 saved the country from armed treason and rebellion, 

 and it has won a great victory in saving itself and the 

 nation from an administration which, has proved 

 recreant to the principles upon which it was put in 

 power, and made war upon the party which gave it 

 official existence. 



Resolved, That we heartily commend the State ticket 

 this day nominated to the confidence and support of 

 the freemen of Vermont. 



The Democratic Convention was held June 

 21st. J. L. Edwards was nominated for Gov- 

 ernor and Waldo Brigham for Lieutenant-Gov- 

 ernor. The Committee on Resolutions reported 

 a series of ten, which were adopted without 

 debate. The first promises to maintain the 

 Government as the founders made it. The 

 second pledges the party to earnest endeavors 

 to preserve their country from the fate of Mex- 

 ico and other governments where the will of 

 a faction lias overborne legal enactments. 

 The third condemns the expenditures of the 

 national Government for the support of a vast 

 army of officials in civil and military positions, 

 as imposing grievous burdens upon the people. 

 Others declare for equal taxation, and pro- 

 nounce it unjust to the poor toiling millions to 

 base taxation on consumption. The series 

 closes with a condemnation of the present 

 liquor law, and calls for a good license law. 



The finances of the State on the whole are 

 in an easy condition. The receipts into the 

 Treasury during the year were $872,679, and 

 the expenditures $827,866, leaving a balance 

 on hand of $44,813 on the 5th of September, 

 the end of the fiscal year. The funded debt 

 amounts to $1,375,000. Within the past two 

 years this debt has been reduced $275,000, and 

 $150,000 are to be applied annually as a sink- 

 ing fund to retire the debt as it matures. To 

 meet the estimated expenses for the current 

 fiscal year, it will be necessary to raise by tax 

 $401,442, which is nearly $170,000 less than 

 the levy of the previous year. To elevate the 

 standard of common-school education, a normal 

 school has been established in each congression- 

 al district, thus providing a better educated class 

 of teachers. The State makes an annual appro- 

 priation of $500 to each 'of the three schools, 

 to aid indigent pupils who may desire to qualify 

 themselves for teachers. The schools are meet- 

 ing the expectations of their founders, and in- 

 creasing the interest in the common-school 

 cause. The Reform School for juvenile offend- 

 ers is becoming the instrument of great good in 

 elevating wayward youth and preparing them 

 for useful lives. Until within a few years, the 

 State prison has been self-sustaining, but ow- 

 ing to the high price of clothing and provi- 

 sions, with no corresponding increase of in- 

 come, it has become necessary to draw upon 

 the Treasury to meet the deficiency. The 

 amount required the present year has been 

 $10,427. It is believed, however, that a sys- 

 tem can be adopted that will render the insti- 

 tution wholly self-sustaining. The Legislature 

 met at Montpelier on the 10th of October. An 

 act was passed reorganizing the militia of the 

 State, and providing that every able-bodied citi- 

 zen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five 

 should be liable to perform military duty, and 

 shall be enrolled in the militia. The State is 

 divided into three military districts, and in each 

 of these districts one regiment is to be organized, 

 consisting of ten companies. The three regi- 

 ments are to constitute one brigade. Each 

 member of the organized militia shall receive 

 two dollars for each day's actual drill, not to 

 exceed five days in any one year. Another act 

 provided that every child of good health, be- 

 tween the ages of eight and fourteen, shall at- 

 tend a public school at least three months in the 

 year, unless such child has been otherwise fur- 

 nished with the means of education for alike pe* 

 riod ; and any parent or guardian who permits his 

 child or ward to violate these provisions is 

 liable to a fine of not less than ten, or more 

 than twenty, dollars. The same act prohibits 

 any child between the above ages to be em- 

 ployed in any factory, unless such child has 

 already attended a public school three months 

 within the year next preceding. Another act 

 prohibits the employment of any child under 

 the age of ten years in any manufacturing or 

 mechanical establishment within the State, and 

 also provides that no child under the age of fit- 



