Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-09
For the Phpnix.

or the fhGn1X.
Mr. EDIroR.--In your notice Of the election
Of II. w. Cushman of Bernardston, Mass, TO
ill the vacancy in the Senate occasioned by the
death Of Mr. Whitaker, you observe, alt is a
! remarkable circumstance that the Two Senators
! from the county of franklin are from one and
the same -Bernardston-from the same
family, and compose the whole of that family
father and son. They differ widely in poll
tics, the elder MIR Cushman being a thorough
Wing, and the younger as thorough Demo-
craft"
| Now, sir, I object 10 the application of the
term Democrat 10 any individual of the party
to which the younger Mr. Cushman belongs,
and more especially to him, as a matter Of prin-
ciple, for the following reasons:
! First. That party is distinguished for IFS
approval Of the extraordinary exercise of the
veto power, such as have characterised the adj
ministrations Of Gen. Jackson and John Tyler.
The veto power is monarchical in its charac-
ter, entirely so, and stands opposed to the un-
restrained exercise of the peoples will in ira
ming their own laws, through the medium OF
their agents or representatives, which alone, in
the United States, attaches to our government
the character Of a democracy. In our country,
therefore, none ought TO be called democrats
who uphold the veto power; especially such an
unwonted and daring exercise Of il as that of
ohCkSOn dO0 yltT, WOtTtUN Tue VIII W tllC
peope-the democTacy--has been so repeated
" defeated, and rendered void and of none eff
feet. On this ground, it is the elder Mr. Cush-
man and not the younger, who is entitled TO
the nppellation in question. The elder Mr.
Cushman was a Democrat in the days of JET
ierson and Madison, and never has changed
his politics. He together with the democrat
ic party, in former times, stood manfulIy up
against the supposed monarchicaI notions Of
The old Federalists, which led them to put this
veto power into the hands of the executive,
and in every way to place restraints upon the
exercise of the popular will, and he remains
unchanged.
Secondly. object TO the application Of the
term democrat to the younger Mr. Cushman,
In particular. for the following reason: He, a
few years ago, was elected, as a Wing, BY the
Wings of Bernardston, TO represent them in
the legislature. Previous TO, and up to the
time OF his election, he prolessed to be Wing,
and for short time after reaching the legisIa-
ture, ostensibly acted with the Wings in that
body. He then came over to the other side,
and during the remainder OF the session acted
with the locos. Now, as | said before, SO
much of democracy as there is in our govern
ment, whether of a state or of the nation, con-
sists in the people exercising their own will,
unembarrsssed, in and through their represent
tatives. The representative, standing in the
place Of his constituents, and acting for them
and in their name, is bound by every principle
of democracy, TO execute their will, 50 far as
he knows what that will is; and if he cannot
conscientiously do this, he is bound TO resign
his place, that his constit Ients may supply il
with one who will do il. say this is democ-
racy, and such is the principle on which every
true democrat has uniformly acted, as well in
state legislatures as in Congress. The Young
er Mr. Cushmsn, therefore, in changing sides
after his election, and thus instead OF truly rep
reseniing his constituents, acting against their
known will and wishes, violated the very first
principles of democracy; and instead OF deserv-
ing the honorable title OF democrat, deserved
title fartherest Of all removed IRON il. Il is
true that Mr. Cushman makes great preiensions
10 democracy, and is ready and willing enough
at all times To boast OF il, and TO brand those
who are really and truly OF the Democratic
school with all manner OF opprobrious epithets,
especially ir they once belonged to that federal
party TO which his own course now assimilates
himself But high pretensions do not always
consist in truthful realities, and few will be
found among people of discernment, who can
think they do in this case. Therefore, until il
can be shown that an uphoder of the monar-
chcal veto power, and the violator of funda-
mental democratic principle, as in the case
pointed out above, is justly entitled, neverthe-
less, TO bear the honorable appellalion of dem
ocrat, our public papers ought TO beware how
they bestow such appellations. inasmuch as the
people, particularly the less informed, are there
by lamentably deceived, TO the great injury Of
the rights and interests Of genuine
February 9, 1914.