Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-04-26

the sci ection Of such man what a number
of doubtful or Objectionable steps are taken.
What canvassing, what fnesse, what in
trigues. What loss Of money, time and
temper. And then the antagonisms of par
ties; that old, hollow, but still successful,
means Of stepping into office. The mischief
that all countries, adopting the representa-
tive system, have suffered by party is scarce
ly exceeded by that of the feudal system
which it supplanted. To name only one of
the serious disadvantages of this system Of
giving up our own government, the percep-
ton is now almost universal that the best
neighbors seldom or never are chosen. The
best men are not party men, and never can
be, aud none but man espousing, or rather
chained 10, one party or other has any
chance Of appointment. The best men
can not be selected for another reason also );
thai the law is so well and truly made, &C
cording to lis own principles, that the mass
or majority Of voters are faithfully represent
ed. The representative is all exact reflex
Of the power, which makes him. But the
mass is not the best, and it is impossible
that at any time they should be. The very
integrity and presumed perfection Of the rep
resentative system therefore preludes the
admission Of the best men TO those Offices
which depend on the voice Of the mass.
II is not TO be denied that men Of consid-
cradle talent are chosen as we'll as many Of
moral integrity; but it is admilted every
where in private, that we shall 10 vain seek
progressive and wisely inspired souls in leg
isIatve halls. What remedy can be found
! for this misfortune, consistent with the pu-
rly of The representative system, it is not
easy to divine. Government by The best is
an dristocrdcy. That is the literal mean
ing of this Greek term. But we do not de
sire an aristocrdcy, in either the common
view of set of hereditary Legislators, or in
the literal Interpretation of the best and pur
est selected men. The people desire per-
sons 10 make their laws who are most like
themselves. Idle schoolboys if left to choose
their own teacher would make selection
on the same principle as grasping and sell
fish men choose representative.
Letus suppose all the unworthy and un-
pleasant processes Of election to be passed.
The men are fairly chosen. In due time
they are collected in the metropolis, and pro
coed to business. First, however, comes an
adjustment Of parties. Intrigue, fnesse, and
ILL VIII, commenced at the town house, are
repeated on magniied scale at the state
house. Business DELAYED, time dissipaled,
temper destroyed, wealth wasted there for a
day or two, are here extended to MONTHS
| In the Massachusetts legislature during the
session Just closed how many days how
many thousand dollars were absolutely vast
| ed according, not to my assertion merely,
| but by evidence Of the members of the rep
resen;ative body, may be seen by any one
who will take the trouble 10 search the rec
ords or TO read the newspaper reports.
believe it would not be too much to say the
choice of speaker alone cost $4,000 dollars
And TO supply these funds sane and homes
men are TO be sent TO Jail, terrified, coerceC
or caioled, for the amusement Of a gaping
nation, the satisfaction of party, or the cor
ruplon Of place hunters.
Bot these it may be said, are Academia
evils and not necessarily parts of the sys
, tenn. They have, however, chung so close
ly to representation ever since parliame nj
, were invented that it is pretty evident the,
are essentially vices in the Representative
t plan elf you would have your work done
do it; if you would not have it done Sc
r some one else about il, is an adage as ap
plcabe TO nations as TO individual men g
. business On calm investigation it will b
> found as fatal to moral justice thus to max
profession Of hireling statesmen, as it
E deathful to religious love TO set up the pro
, fession of hireling priests, Nations an
, people have been unhappy under the repre-
!, sentative system, not on account of the de
l fects in its several modes but because il
self is one huge defect. Ii is utterly a de
lection from the principle of selfgovernmen
i or conscience government, or God-goverr
ment in the human soul, These are br
> three expressions for one fact, which, Will
o men, as religionists, profess to uphold, the
as statesmen practically subTert. Ideall
y they Sc, up goal, but they are determine
,, it shall be no more than talked about ft
; they put the greatest obstacles in the wa
liz Is actual attainment, and denounce an
one who seems likely to get over them.
Surprising however all these disagreet
n bles, which at least they are, TO be owe
....., knt Ihn,. accidn LII 9