The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-10-25
MESSAGE.

and document, Con'dihiuS
Just and enlightened views of the subjects
which have claimed attention. What is
worthy of all praise is the perfect ingen-
BUSINESS of his excellency in expressing hon.
est convictions which trimming politicians
would be likely TO gloss over with ambigu
Gus phraseology for fear of incuring popular
displeasure. He has but one face, and his
language will admit of but one single inter-
probation. He justly remarks, the Peo-
pie have never been fully awakened to
their momentous duties as sovereigns, and
no government can be worse than a self
government which the people neglect
Notwithstanding the disastrous misrule
which for a few years past has brought woe
and ruin upon us, there never has been u
time when there has not peel virtue and
intelligence enough. to give the govern
ment a right direction. The real difficult
ty is, that honest, industrious, and estima-
bic citizens, are too apt to be absorbed in
their private concerns, while lazy designing
%loafers are investing themselves with polii-
icaI power. Having seized upon the rcins
of government it is converted into an en-
CINE of party, and all its measures are
aimed at the perpetuatlon of power in the
hands of those who have artfully and I'M
worthily obtained it. Vigilence is the
price of liberty Every merchant, mechanic,
or farmer should watch the of government
with as much care as his daily avocations.
and every freeman who neglects his duty
in this respect, and especially fine neglects
the polls, should be punished as for a breach
of trust disgraceful to an honest Citizen
Unless honest men attend to it, the coun'
try will be ruled by rogues.
The observations of Governor Paine in
relation to the Rhode Island rebellion, are
seasonable and just. Never since the or
ganization of our government, has a more
alarming feature ofanarchy exhibited itself,
than in the grounds taken by the free suf.
frage people of that little Safe. Neither
the grievances which they suffered, nor the
means of prevention were so desperate, as
to Justify a resort TO forcible revolution
The inequalities of their representation
were no greater than now exist in several
States in the union, and especially in Yer
mont. Property qualifications were, until
within a few years, common, and still exist
in Virginia and several other states in the
union. Many Of our most sagacious states
men, and among others Martin Van Blu
rem, have been its strenuous Advocates
But if wrong in Rhode Island, it Is now ev'
ident that public opinion was fast correcting
the error. During the anarchial proceed
ings of the Dorriies, a constitution was in
progress scarcely Objectionable TO those who
were in favor of the broadcast liberty, and
its adoption was defeated by the revolu'
~tionists themselves. These facts strip a.
way every excuse for the agitators, and I'm
fold their desperate motives. To the eter
nal honor of Rhode Island, fraud, bully.
ing, and force have failed to subvert the
government The friends Of law and or.
der have, from the announcement uni.
rallied around the existing authori.
fIeS nathan ,apef.N,1a L. -1-.I. |
been framed, and is about 10 be submitted
TO the people which must embrace nearly
man as a voter in the state. 1t is
10 the great praise of those who par ercel.
lence style themselves the democratic par.
ty In Rhode Island, that the attempt made
identify them with the movements Of
Dorr have signally failed. Much the lar
5est portion of the leading men of this par
have been found shoulder to shoulder
with the friends of law and order, and raj.
led around the regularly constituted author.
ties. Party distinctions were forgotten in
heir adherence 10 the proceedings and mo-
ives OF Dorr and his band OF coadJutors.
But abroad, it is to be lamented that ma.
~ Of the presses and distinguished men of
his party have disgraced themselves by
aking part with the insurrectionists. 1t
las been painful to witness the efforts of
he Slam Bangs and others in New York,
Boston, and Connecticut endeayoring TO
the fame of rebellion, and even to enlist
uffains and rowdies to aid Dorr in forcing
he suffrage constitution upon Rhode Island
t the point of the bayonet. The executive ,
f the union, whose duty it is to suppress Z
nsurrections in the states, at first took Il I
ob!e stand. But from the tone of the {
ladisonian we should doubt whether in ;
ase of an invasion from Dorr, the people c
ould rely upon any substantial aid from q