Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-10
For Congress.
HON. kINMAN ALLEN
COMMUNICATIONS.

Mr.. STAcY:-In looking over the arti
cles in your paper on ,he subject of the
election, one is struck by the feversh anxi
ETY. that is occasionally manifested. 1t is
quite natural that our elections should be
regarded with interest, it is proper that it
should be so. The election is the combined
will of free people on the momentous
subject of their own government, putting
into practice those principles which bear
on our prosperity. While therefore, it
should be regarded with interest, there is
no occasion for that restlessness so often
displayed. The power is where it should
be, in the hands of the public, in the hands
of people intelligent, vir,uous and free.
Where then is the ground of apprehension ?
The people are doing their own business,
their intelligence cannot fail to point out
what is necessary, and their own interest
as we'll as their sense of right, unite in
urging them 10 do it.
The history Of the past is guarantee for
the future. No spot of earth has sent up
purer flame of liberty than Vermont.
From the first committees of safety, the
rudest forms of organized government, to
the more perfect administration of our own
day, a spirit Of liberty has actuated all
classes and conditions, and high sense Of
responsibility has guided all our conduct.
There may be a spice of pride 10 the feel.
ing. but what son of Vermont does not
rejoice in the position which our mountain
state has maintained. She has not only
been free, but all the arts of the admnis-
tration, the seducements of official patron
age, and the drill of party demagogues
have not turned her from her republicanism.
While the past gives US confidence, the
future is full of hope and animation. The
revolution that is sweeping over the land
has it's foundation in that intelligence and
virtue which is the stability Of our govern.
ment, will be as extensive as the intelli
gence of the people, and as decided as the
active nature Of their virtue. The idea
that an intelligent and viruous people will
not keep in view their own prosperity is q
solecism. The existence of measures OF
injurious tendency presupposes that the
people either do not understand their
nature, or that virtue has given place to
some selfish end or ambitious project.
That individuals may be found whose love
of office or craving for power, has sencct
the still small voice within, is proved a
every election, but that a whole people
may be so corrupted is not to be supposed
1t is often said that the people in the en-,
judge correctly. On the ground that
have assumed it must be so. The conse
quence is that all intelligent end virtuou
men will in the end come 10 a similar con
c'usion. There is another adage: grea
bod'es moce slow-that has q forcib
application to the movements of bodies O
men. Some leading measure, some grea
principle is proposed; at first it exctes thu
attention of the few, but by degrees
communicated 10 all. In due time TIT
whole body is alive to the subject, and 'he
comes the conclusion, slow, but resistles
as The oceans tide. Ifthen the revolution
in nj
cobweb power of this administration. ha
its foundation in intelligence and virtue.
must produce like effect here, our peopl
being equally intelligent and virtuous
This is a mere philosophical conclusion
from the principles of our nature.
The inference to be drawn from III
foregoing reasoning is, if men have tn
same intelligence here as elsewhere,
virtue has the same dominion over them
if they have the same prosperity in view
that changes will continue to be mad
from the Jackson party to the ranks OF tn
wings. If this is not the case, the
assuredly human nature has experienced
change in Vermont, and dream has com
over men to blind their clearest visions.
believe am not an enthusiast, but ! can
not resist the conviction that thousands {
the Jackson party will adopt dlfftren
course. They have done thus in othe