Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-24
For the Wachman end Journal.
Cheap Posidge- Politics. Vermont Judiciary
EmpW, Club, Sc.

Emplre Club, &c
WILLIAMSBURG, L. l., July II, 1916.
Mr. EDIToR:-Among the most important adj
vant0ges to be realized from the system Of cheap
postage, is the elasticity and freedom that will be
given to editorial and newspaper correspondence.
1t will hardly be practicable, hereafter to limit the
political sentiments that may be published, to the
dictation of caucus cliques of village politicians
The people, individuals, relieved from the oner-
Gus burdens of exhorbitant POSTAGE will find op-
portunity to express their honest judgment of what
is for the public interest regardless of the dognas
of party creeds and political platforms. 1t is pleas
ing to contemplate the character which our public
journals will possess, when they shall come to serve
the purpose of committee rooms in which the peo-
pie, not as partizans, but as patriots, will meet to.
gether to express their views of great public in
terests.
Surprising cheap postage should run the govern
ment in debt, the appropriation of the public reve-
nues to pay this debt would not occasion solitary
murmur from one end of the land to the other. /
must confess that can hardly justify the expendi-
ture OF from seven to ten millions year to support
the navy with its privileged arstocracies while the
government is tenacious that the poorest of the
great mass Of the people should pay, to the last
farthlng, for service 1t may render them ndiyid-
ual citizens. If necessity should be created for
appropriations from the government, to make NJ
deficiencies Of post Office revenues, here is chan.
mel through which the proceeds of the public land
all parties, and for the benefit of every citizen for
it will be found that even those citizens who are
unable to read or write will become wiser and more
intelligent through the free circulation of knowl-
edge which cheap postage will promote.
But have limited at a topic, that for the present
may serve as u thread of further observation, viz:
the benefits that would accrue from the divorce of
public interests, whether local or national from the
controlling influence of political parties Those
familiar with the history of political parties knop,
that almost every doctrine which makes up the cat
egory of American interests has been both avowed
and denied by almost every party that has sprung
up in the country, Daniel Webster in 1890 was
opposed to protective tariff because it imposed
restrictions on commerce. In 1910 Daniel Web
ster, next TO Henry Clay, was the great god of the
American system. During the Presidency of Gen
Jackson. the tariff was the eye-sore of his party
but in 1914 and IS it is disputed by Northern Dem
ocrats which party are the real friends of pro-
lection to American industry. With political par
ties, it matters not what personal opinions may be
held, if, in practice, the individual may make him
self the to draw in the traces imposed By party
leaders. Political heresy consists in refusing to
support the sei-constituted leaders of party
With them, men THAT is, themselves,) are every
thng-principles are nothing. New issues that
may be developed in political controversy, by the
progress of the country, must be advocated or OPP
posed according as they can be made the hobby
horses to carry forward political leaders. The hon
est profession of Independent opinions of men or
measures, is an act of political Auto de le, whose
victim is held up to the scon of every bgoted par
tzan.
While the city of New York and its appendagos
furnish lamentdble examples of evils accruinr from
selling their local domestic interests to promote
Presidential and Gubenatorial elections, | am
proud to look TO my native State for contrary eX-
ample Of the benefits resulting from its legislators
forgetting their positions as partizlns and acting
for the general good. The appointment of the
Judges Of the Supreme Cont of Vermont without
regard to their political opinions, is not only cred
table TO the State, but has given her Court that
is an honor to America. The annual reelection of
the same men to judgeships for from five to fifteen
years, indicate that these men have laborod for
their reputation, and not depended on constu-
tlonal provision which gives an appointment for
life or during good behaviour. They are no legal
hacks, who can take advantage from their position
to look low people out of countenance, but men
whose reputation is the soundest basis the con-
iidence of those who know them. | am no enthu
slast when say, that digests of the decisions of
the Supreme Court of Vermont will, at no distant
day, claim an authority on a par with the most ap-
proved standards Of law Beside such Court
how contemplate the high Court of Errors of the
great State Of New York, made up as it is, of eve
ry pot.houSe politician who can find means to work
himself into the State Senate.
If this paper finds favor with you, may hereaf-
ter send you few chapters of evils that political
partizans have brought on our city and its suburbs
A peep at the tribunals about the Tombs-the sold
Bayley" of New York-may claim your attentions
also the history and fall of Natyeism, the Catholic
school question, &c. Lest my position and views