Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-06-09

mem. We hope, therefore. trnt every
man will feel how much il is his duty
10 db what he can towards it, in this
case, unseducrd by the flattery of in
tcrcxsed partisans, and disregardful OF
the or'fnl sophs,rv of lovers Of place.
We say, then, that if the oflice-hol-
ders address is carefully looked
tlr0pgh, from one end 10 the other,
wernay safely challenge any person in
the country to put his finger upon n
single place where any amendment Of
the Existing disorders, which affect all
industry, is promised. There is great
credt taken for the payment of all
g'<tnsssncsi dues. although Il is Iloto-
rious that they have never yet been
fully paid, excepting with promises.
bnt there is no prctence that the more
important duty Of preserving the means
of performance of private contracts be-
tween individuals Of different States. or
of the same State, has been, or will be
fulfilled. In default Of this, as well
might Mr.. Van Buren, and his officers
claim merit for paying their butchers
an bakers. The people, as a mass,
care very little what the government
pays, in comparison with what each of
their own member receives and pays.
The independent farmers Throughout,
the country know very little about
Government contracts and Treasury
Notes, but they feel the difficulty when
they cannot realize the value Of their
crops. 1t will hardly satisfy them.
that things are going right among the
ofiice-holders at Washington, when
they find that they are going wrong
everywhere else. The thing that they
now need, is action, not profession.
A little earnestness to do would con-
vince them more than all the saying in
the. world.
1t has somewhat surprised us hereto
fore, we must confess, TO notice the
quietness with which custom-house
officers have been allowed to pass from
place to place, and address the citizens,
without comment upon the extraordi-
nary nature of the new vocation they
are assuming. Independently of the
gross indeiicacy of appearing as solicit
tors for themselves, the very preparation
necessary for so different line Of du-
ties, implies either a diversion of time
from that which they are appointed to
performin regular course, which would
amount to positive ne elect of it, or else
such snperhuity of leisure from
the performance of every thing requir.
ed, as would prove the necessity of re-
FORM If n custom. house officer is paid
to attend at the custom-house, he ought
to be at the CT siom-housc. If there is
no need Of his being at the custom
house, there is no need of his being a
custom-house officer. The people do
not want TO pay him n large salary,
merely for the privilege of being told
that he is good Democrat. They
will find that ont in time, for them
selves, in some surer way than to take
it from his interested assertion. We
would all be excellent Democrats for
four or five thousand dollars year,
and no merit in t, either. We would
any Of us be glad to go round teaching
the merits of system which paid MS,
when every body else was in danger
Of ruin.
What would the worthy citizens OF
Massachusetts have thought, if at the
time of the revolution, Mr.. Paxton; oil
Mr.. Oliver, or Mr.. HaIIowel had I'M
dertFken 10 Instruct them about tltcil
duties, by ecturing abont the value %
the Institutions ofGreai Briinin? Would
not they have turned round upon them
and said, Gentlemen, you get your
bread by your places-if the mother
country chooses TO require of us to pay
stamp duty, You find it very well
because you get something for collec.
ting the tax, but is that any reason why
we, who are called TO pay it should be-
lieye what you say in It's favor, or hes.
itate a moment in resisting the claim!
TO us, the government is oppressive.
however kind il may appear 10 you.
We will, therefore, endeavor TO get rid
il and of YOU at the same time" The
Cnstom-House was not then regarded
as the temple of liberty, nor is there
any reason why it should be more so
now. The persons who occupy II for
certain specified purposes, doubtless
are very respectable citizens, but II IS
not their place TO come before their
brethren with any argument in their
own favor. They can never he the
best expounders of the principles OF
liberty and democracy, who have every
;uducoouopt conceivable of "a SelflSh