Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1837-07-21
VERMONT-THE TRUE COURSE.

me democratic party of this sac las now
adopted creed which, if fairly carried INTO pac-
tce, will revolutionize the policy of the State
The great reform which is needed in this gov
eminent, in order to secure the rights of the peo-
pie and restore the affairs of the nation to sound
and permanent State, is reform an the Legista
tion of the States. The remedy for past errors
and present difficulties must come directly from
the people, operating through the State legisa-
lures. The mischief TO be cured, originated in
departure from the true theory ofOur institutions,
in the policy adopted very extensively, if not gen.
orally in the States. The great fountain from
which has flowed the manifold evils which have
long been gathering in blackness and darkness
over the land, is special and partial legislation
The arisocrac or selfish principle Of our nature
has been gradually triumphing over the great
principle of equal rights upon which our govern
ment is based until il has overwhelmed the land
in its length and breadth, swallowed up the rights
of the mass and established monied oligarchy
on the prostration of the popular will. The ma
ton must now fall back upon first principles
see where the departure from the true path first
commenced and there begin the work of renova-
ton. Great first truths-the very axioms of re-
publcanism have been lost sight of by our legisla-
tors in their career of innovation upon the staid
practices and principles of the founders of
the republic, and the race which they have been
running has been one which has LED them
through devious untried and unsafe pathways
In the sagacty, independence and patriotism OF
the people there is alone hope. Unless they ar
rest the progress of the hereses which have pro-
duced the evils and changed the policy OF the
State governments, the mastery which the spirit
Of monopoly has now obtained will become I'M
controlled and despotic. The legislation of the
States must be made general and impartal-ihe
laws must be made for the benefit Of the masses
instead of individuals or classes-the increase of
monopoles, in every shape, especially in the form
of banking institutions must be steadily resisted
and as far as practicable their number diminished
every action Of the government which tends TO
concentrate wealth in large masses and build up
sort of landlord and tenant relation, must be uni
formly checked--and government must, in short,
be made to operate benifcently and equally upon
all and afford the same means of wealth, the same
means Of education, the same protection and the
same privileges to all its citizens, without disnc-
ton of class or condition.
This work of reform has, we trust, been COM
menced in earnest by the democratic party of
Vermont. They have resolved to do their duty
in relation TO State policy, whatever may have
been their difference OF opinion in relation 10 the
course and measures of the general government
1t is not to be disguised that, although there have
heretofore existed in this State two or more par
ties differing in their views of the policy of the
general government, they have still not been
widely divided in relation to the measures and
policy Of the State. The same general features