Number of Representatives in Congress; Improved Laws. After the census of 1850, Vermont's number of representatives in Congress was reduced to three, a greater number than 30,000 now being required to entitle a State to a representative.

In 1826 an act was passed by the State Legislature prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets. In 1838 imprisonment for debt was also abolished.

Vermont Flag; Coat of Arms.--There is no record that Vermont had any State flag previous to the year 1837, other than the United States flag with the word "VERMONT" above the stars and stripes. In 1837 an act was passed by the Legislature of Vermont making the flag of the State consist of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, the Union being a field of blue, in the center of which appeared a large star of white with the pine-tree landscape within.

Usage had at this time established the State seal de

signed by Ira Allen and a State coat of arms. The latter consisted of a shield bearing the same landscape as the seal,

election of 1840. Never since the organization of the Government had the country witnessed such tremendous efforts to change the administration. For several years banks had been failing, money was scarce, business depressing, and there was a general state of hard times all over the country. Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, was then President of the United States, and he had been renominated by this

party. William Henry Harrison was the choice of the Whig party. Great excitement prevailed throughout the country

and each party was doing its utmost to effect the election of its respective candidate, by holding mass-meetings in various places, which were attended by thousands and tens of thousands. Inflammatory speeches, political songs, flags, torches, and war-cries were everywhere in evidence to arouse the indifferent, convince the wavering and marshal the forces for the coming conflict.

The Democrats ridiculed Harrison because they said he lived in a log cabin and drank nothing but hard cider. The Whigs took it up, and their cry of "Log Cabins and Hard Cider!" was both frequent and hearty.

One of these meetings was of great interest to Vermonters. It was held on Stratton Mountain on the line between Windham and Bennington counties. This was to give the people on both sides of the mountain an equal chance to attend. For fifty miles around, the towns built their log cabins, hitched to them oxen or horses, and dragged them up the steep mountain-sides to the place of meeting, while nearly all of the men and boys of the respective towns followed, making the old mountain-sides resound with their war-cries of "Log Cabins and Hard Cider!" "Van, Van, is a used-up Man!" and "Tippecanoe and Tyler too!" Some of the companies had to camp out over night; but that only added zest to the occasion.

There were thousands in attendance; and when all was ready that great orator, Daniel Webster, mounted a stump and delivered a stirring speech beginning with "Fellow Citizens, I have come to meet you among the clouds." This was a day long to be remembered by those in attendance. The result of this great political conflict was the election of Harrison to the presidency by an overwhelming majority.

The Second and Third State Houses.-In the year 1832 the Legislature made provision for erecting a new State House at Montpelier on condition that the inhabitants of Montpelier should contribute $15,000 toward its erection. To this they agreed, and not only gave that but also land for the purpose at an expense of $3,000. The committee appointed to decide upon a site for the new building, and to prepare plans for the same, appointed the Hon. Lebbeus Egerton to superintend the building. In preparation for the work imposed upon them, the committee, super

intendent, and Ammi B. Young, the architect, visited the State houses at Concord, N. H.; Boston, Mass. ; and Hartford, Conn.

After carefully examining these buildings, they adopted a plan drawn up by their architect, decided to locate the building 250 feet northwest of the first building, so as to allow spacious grounds in front, and also decided that the outside of the building should be of granite and that the roof and dome should be covered with copper. This building was completed in the autumn of 1838, at a cost of

over $152,000, and was a most imposing structure. The granite for the exterior walls was hauled by teams nine miles over rough and hilly roads from the quarries of Barre.

In 1857 this building was partially destroyed by fire; and a third house was built on the same site, which was of much the same style and of the same material, but some

what enlarged. This is the present structure, though additions and improvements have been made from time to time.

The beautiful portico at the front entrance is of Doric style. In this portico, on the right, is a fine statue of Ethan Allen by Larkin G. Mead of Brattleboro. The central portion of the building is surmounted by a dome, upon