Burlington Free Press

[Communication.]
MONTPELIER. Oct. 25. 1842.
Mr. Editor.—I suppose a minute account of the doings of the "congregated Wisdom" would not be very acceptable to you or your readers, and so I shall not spin a very long yarn. Well, to begin with, you know that direst things were to be done at this session which do not fall to the share of every Legislature. There was, first and foremost a Senator to make for six years, and a choice to make between three good Whigs, all well worthy of the place. That matter is happily disposed of, in the election of Mr. Upham at the first ballot. By the way, he gave a "jam" last night, whereat were to be seen pretty much all creation, with a "short springing" of very pretty women, of which Montpelier and its vicinity can boast not a few. There were grey veterans, and dapper youngsters, simpering misses, staid dames, and clouds of white satin, white muslin, and black velvet, hair and eyes—and all crowded to the verge of suffocation, yet most perseveringly striving to be very agreeable. The new Senator and his colleague together with His Excellency and the rest of the State dignitaries, "without distinction of party," seemed to be running the race of enjoyment with unaffected good will. It was altogether as pleasant as a real bona fide "jam" ever can be. Prof. Grimes was there and I was delighted to meet the noble and gallant Major Tochman, whose lectures on his native land, excited so deep an interest in your place last summer. He is to lecture here in a few days.
It is further necessary for this Legislature to district the State, elect a Senator for this winter and make the usual elections, all which taken together, go to form quite a budget; and the consequence is, the "third house" has been better attended than usual.
The Locos played a characteristic game in the election of Judges. The Whigs thought Mr. Williams had turned politician, and besides, having been judge fifteen years, had no overwhelming claims to the privilege of riding the Chief Justiceship, until he managed to defeat the party who had always elected him. And so they nominated Judge Royce for Chief Justice; but the Locos, knowing a few Whigs were personally friendly to Williams, while same doubted the policy of removing him, nominated him against Royce, and after a most saintly speech from your man Smalley, deprecating the introduction of political considerations into the election of Judges, and abusing Royce "like a pick-pocket" for various sins, Mr. Williams was duly elected Chief Justice by Locofocoism aided by a few Whigs. This they thought would make a split in our ranks, but it did not.
The Locos had nominated Kellogg in Judge Collamer's place, and the Whigs were somewhat inclined to support him, until they found the way in which Locofocoism was going to work to keep politics off the bench, (namely, by cramming a desperate politician down their throat) and then it occurred to them that modesty would seem to dictate that a party which has been eternally in the minority, ought not to claim a majority of the court, and so they elected the Hon. William Hebard of Randolph; a man who will do abundant justice to the place, and who received the cordial support of all the Whigs. This was a sore grief to the Locos, especially those who preferred Kellogg to a dozen "betweenities" like Williams, and who only went into the cramming process under the whip and spur. But there is no other way for them than to learn wisdom in future, and remember the homely adage, "what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."
The general opinion seems to be that Gov. Crafts will be returned to the Senate for the unexpired term, although our ancient friend Bell of Walden and Judge White of Windham county, have entered the lists against him. J. McM. Shafter of Townshend (Representative) is the new Secretary of State, and a fine fellow he is, let me tell you. The districting matter has not assumed a definite shape as yet. The Education Committee appointed by the Governor have sent in an able report, as also the Military Committee; which will both be in print shortly. I must stop here, promising to let you hear from me again in case the importance of events shall seem to warrant it.