Geary also angered Free-staters when he turned away $20,000 from the Vermont legislature that was intended to help the suffering from the harsh winter of 1856–57.
Geary ophidsede også slavemodstandere (Freestaters) da han afslog at modtage $20,000 fra den lovgivende forsamling i Vermont, som var tiltænkt de som led under den strenge vinter 1856-57.