Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1837-08-29
POLITICAL.
THE IERCuANrS AND THEIR pO-
LlrICAI. DUTIES.


Friday which IS feiyt'cd &C., ha, bee" m-'sd
IT. our paper " Fu'7y. W spoke ,f he wrongs
NIic i., merchants haze Grred. not Gully at The
hands Of e. clrner- bot 81 iLeir u0n rujees. Ia
rec rcci Of tbc la'tr, sc must how cav and under.
taic 10 show. that tie merchants ihenlsei IS are
oct altogether free from censuie, aud this rcmsfk
3. applicable, in common With the merchants, 10 the
fca, insjnu'y Of the cducsted and intelligent per.
items 81 the nation. The censul 10 "hi'h tins
class NJ our fellow ci,jzens are haS" that Of al
+ most wholly obandou,ng politics. and oil care ri
elections 10 politicians BY trod,, and TO those to
/ whom their Interested stratngems, devices, and
J representations csn Influence.
/, has been sort of fayore theory with some
men, that merchants should N nd their own busI-
ness, belong 10 no party, aud always vote fr such
men smong candidates for Office, as seemed most
likely - serve The commetcia interest, without eX-
erc!sing, or seeking TO exercise, any Influence IN
the selection of those candidates. or without IN
curing TOO nicely-so they promised well IN this
one phrticulat-wha, their general political views
or character were, what their party pledges
or attachments, and wha. their gene al capacity
aud reputation.
To US, who rate rery highly the mercan iie char.
arter, and the utility aud dignity OF the calling this
seems most unworthy and hImiIIaing theory, and
suite, If sfried out in practice.
There is no one pursuit more liable to dernhge-
men'. or injurious alterations, from the lncompe-
tcncy or corruption Of rulers than that Of commerce;
aud no one therefore, whlA, on the score of mere
seIfinteresr should take e that SO far de.
pended upon their exeronaS the public should suf-
fer delrmenl. But even this is narrower view
of the whole matter than il becomes Americans,
boasting at once Of their freedom and Of their intel
ss %s io sS '; 1s; no man republic a.. right
to be ncuter, or Indifferent politics. It's on all
hands admitted, that virtue and intelligence are
the corner stones of Iben pnd that safety can
exist for the permuDency free institutions, bot
IN the vigilance of the. wisd bud yr'uous, 10 Sc
that these Institutions be no, ncrversely or cor
ruptly administered. Hence, 1t follows, tlat the
wise and the vlruous must moi, from any plea #
personal convenience profit or from real or imsg
may eo"shano". tina, all wiz well. without their
in,erposition Withdraw tts dives from The po-
l'tical ,riie that must alway txist where men are
tree. II they do not lake Mir share, and their
foil share too in measures to insure good rulers,
there aill never be wanting those, who. for their
own aggfandzemen'. will be Jealous and earnest
in promoting corrupt rulers and then, what hight
have the neutral, aud the Indifferent to complain?
They abandoned the field to the soldiers of fortune
who we're willing to occupy ito the Darid Dat
geiiys who fight for 'spoils" and the "provunt.'
and they must be content to abide the com G.
qnences of the success Of such mercenares.
The application OF tuc-c remarks to the actual
condition Of public affairs in this country. lie I'M
happily but too obvious. Commerce Is at u dead
stand, credit is onnihaie'l, bankruptcy stalks over
the land involving alike the public Treasury, the
local banks, and pr,sic Northumberland all be-
cause gfea, many professional men, merchants,
manufacturers, mechanics and farmers thought it
better 10 mind their business exclusively, ra,b-
e. than, without negeciing that, to have 81 eye
also on the business Of the nation. No one, We
presume, not welded TO party. will contend that
we should be where we are. in Congress, and the
executive Offices, there haC been nfus5n Of
,elligent and educated men OF the different profes-
siops and pursuits we have referred to- eiccted,uu
/ through the subseryency to party or pledges il
advance to sustain, right or wrong, particular ad-
n.inistraoh, bot because other knowledge Of the
interests and wants OF tie country, and above ALL
/ because they possessed sound understanding and
homes, Inde peuience. Why are there not such
men 10 the public council : Plainly because for
such men there has been 10 hope in the e0ueuscs
aud party usrPes. which determine The qualifca-
lions of candidates, and the ssue Of elections. Bat
II is not less certain that the Of the people of
! the country mean rightly, aud that they vii
ling TO choose the best wherever The beet offers if
only pains be taken TO show them winch is the beet
Here, then s the hrsi siep-that men Of character
and capacity should look npon It asa duty, Of az
solemn obligation az any social duly, 10 take pslt
( whether IA primary assemblies Of the people or
B through The press, or 10 such other WAY may be
deemed eXpedent and efficient in a. proceedings
having for iber object to enlishIen the public mind
as 10 the nature OF political measures the chsrac-
ter and integrity Of political men, and the bearing
/ Of any great political questions before The nation
/ Nor is this oil Such men should feel Lound to
I give their political service, WheL required ia such
stations their pursuits aud et uoaiion fin them for
and Ihus pay their portion Of what every msu IN
I Zee county owes TO the Commonwealth.
Have the mefchans-hsye professional men Of
/ slandng-haye the industrious And thriving maLu-
iac'urers, mechanics aud lsrnors-generally taken
Y tie part here indicated one called for by duty
/ end patriotism Assufedly no:.
/ The evil consequences cf their omission so 70 do
are nov around us and upOn Us and It Is now
IA tic season If sdsefsiiy sHd u trial that We
think that the words Of atmunliIon and eHhoftat ION