Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-10-25
COUNTY APPOINTMENTS.

According to the snguarly refined language
of the Vermont PATRIOT, which will doubtless be
echoed through the length and breadth of the
State, the Joint Assembly has become
SUPERINTENDENT und the "persons most
noted for wisdom aud virtue" who compose 1t,
are but LEGISLATIVE CATTLE" One would
lncsl naturally infer that these " cattle" are the
victims, aud the hall OF the Joint Assembly the
place of lmmolaiion and the great question
would remain 10 be soved-who are the butch
els! Blu, the editor of the Patriot is poet, and
doubtless will plead the poets license as his au-
ihoriiy for saying what lie does not mean, or
meaning what he does not say. He means that
| his risky OK bus raised tho metal Of the herd
and is in danger of being gored or, to drop the
beastly figure, he means that Wing Joint AS
sembIy will no longer, as a mere matter Of
course aud without why or wherefore rali-
fy The political bargains Of their opponents. 1t
is natural for the Patriot to whine over such
decisions; ii toas the organ of the spos party
it is The organ Of party that has SO evidently
attempted 10 barter principles for pelf that It's
most widely recognized name is "truck and
dicker." Thus when the Wing majority Of the
Joint Assembly chooses either to prevent the
prescription of Wings, or The elevation of unfit
men or justly obnoxious opponents to otfice--we
certainly expect that the Patriot riH whine. An
Office is lost and that is contrary to the consi-
tuition of progressive locofocolsm,--t first ari-
Gle of which is that The ocoiocos are 10 have all
the Offices and The last is, that when they get
hold they never to let go. Witness the uni
verss sweep Of Wings in Jackson, and Van Bu-
rem and Folks days-it was all according to The
loco loco constitution them Witness nop the
whining over the removals and appointments a,
Washington, and The weekly hullabalo over the
change Of petty posl-oflices here und there.
But really what is the Patriot whining about,
if ii is no; simply that the Wings here may do,
what locotocos always do esewhere-and in
Vermont would do if they could to wit--prefer
their Gun nen-men in whom they have conf
deuce or at least make thelr own choice from
the ranks Of their opponents,-fr the offices
which II is their duty to supply? This is really
the thing complained Of but os,ensibly there is
another ground OF complaint; and that is, de-
parIure from the old custom To this point we
have word or Two to say.
The custom has for some time been, to make
The caucusses OF the county members the np-
pointing power. Thcse ,aucusses have nomi
mated, and practically their nominations have
been appointments, the JOINT Assembly rarely
overriding them. Under this system it has fol-
Owed that in each county the political majority
Of Senators aud members sometimes against
the popular votc,) has controlled all tho appoint.
ments. To depart from this custom the Pa,rio,
asserts Is prosclption-to refuse to iatify the
edicts Of the caucus 10 slaughter" Very WE'LL
we reply, that 10 confirm the edlcls OF The caucus
is equally proscuplive-e equally slaughter.
But this is not the tue statement of the case
The wings have pot determined either to confirm
all caucus nomuulons-which has been the
custom, Bnd which has resulted in an endorse
, men: OF Locofoco PRESCRIPTION By Wig
joint .Asstmbiy; nor yet have they determined
to reject aH The Proposition rather is, that III,
joint Assembly shall consider all, and determ,n,
upon all, in its own discretion.
} According to the Patriot this is undemocratic
but by what rule? The so called democratic
} party has never had the power in Vermont tc
} show us what would be their principle of action
Reasoning from their known illiberal and pro
scrptive character, and from the conduct of thai
party wherever it has the power-we should say
they never would tolerate wing appointments.
But let this pass.