The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-08-06
STATE REFORM,

MAJOR EASTMAN Il was highly gratied, by
the perusal of the proceedings of the Reform State
Contention, holden at Chelsea an the 23d of June.
think those proceedings must meet the appro5a-
ton of evrv true (iend of the welfare and prosper
ity of the State, by whatever party name he may
be called Have not all the industrious and hon
est portions Of the people of Vermont the same
common interest Why then should they be kept
chained and never TO stand aloof from each other,
merely to enable a few intriguing party political
leaders to ride into stations of honor, trust and
emolumeat, by their votes, and be supported III
likeness and luxury out of their hard earnings =
Do they not know that every dollar taken from
them by way of taxation, is so much deduction
from the proceeds of their honest industry-and
that consequently, all taxes, however small in a.
mount are in the abstract, erilS. But as the neces-
sary operations Of government cannot be carried Oh
without some expense, and as government Is insli-
tuted for the promotion Of the general welfare, the
people must necessarily be taxed, to pay such ex-
pensc. But, repeat, they ought TO be taxed no
more than what is absolutely necessary to carry on
the operation of government, under the most eco
aomcal administration. When the expenses are
increased beyond their limit, the administration of
the government is wrong, and they ought to be
vgilani to correct the evil at the beginning I'm
der the economical and wise system of admnistra-
ton, adopted by the patriotic trainers of the re-
nr hn toy
light, the great body of the people independent,
vrtuous and happy, and the State steadily increas-
ing in wealth and population the current revenue
also fully met all the expenditures, and left a sur
plus in the treasury. But, alas how sad is the re-
verse. Under the modern system Of admnistra-
tion-more splendid to be sure, than the former,
the State is embarrassed by II heavy debt the cur
rent annual expenses, exceed by many thousand
doars, the annual revenue, and idleness, exlrava-
gance and moral degeneIacy, with their attending
evs-vce and pauperism-haye superseded the
industrious habits, the patriotism and sturdy vir-
tues Of our ancestors. Is it not full time then for
the freemen of the Mountain State, to ponder and
reflect, and TO relrace their steps! Let them then,
throw aside all little party Jickerings-w it is
the interest of Intriguing leaders to keep amongs,
,hem-and make STATE Reform the irdtch-word,
a, the coming election. Let them uni,cdly deter
mine to support no candidate for any station,
whether Legislative, Executive, or Judicial, who
will not openly and unequiyocaly, pledge himself,
to carry ont the great principles of Reform, and
thus bring the State back to that proud and indie
pendent station which it once, 50 happily, occupi-
cd But it may be asked, in what way can the
State debt be cancelled, in manner the least oner-
Gus to the people and by what means Fan the an
nun expenses be broush, within the current rev.
enue' will endeavor 10 answer these enquiries,
in future communication.
A FRIEND TO REFORM.