Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-03-04
Our Town Afaiis.
FERRAND F. merrill,
Secretary Of S,a.e.

The Aanual Town Meeting will be held on
:he 9Th prox., and on that ccc 1sion we shall be
called upon to elect a new Board Of Select
men, at least, VIC are informed that two OF the
present incumberts decline reelection, and
will not serve another year. They have served
their town faithfully, AMI we doub, not, to the
satisfaction cf our cit lens generally, and hay
inr done So, they should be at liberty when IN
cnnuton Or duty requires, to resign the charge
.1to other hands. We hold 1t to BE- the duty
Of all, when called upon, to bear his slare of
the burdens, for burden II is ottentlnes, Of a1-
nilisterlng our Town uHlirs. Nis duty we
owe to thusG who have heretofore been wiling
to serve Us, and now wish TO retire it has been
zoo often the case that those whose interests
are rs much at stake, and who suffer US mach,
if not more, than many others, from any mis-
management, have shlrked this duty, while
they wish to retain the right to find this fault
and point out that defect in the administration,
Which by their negligence, they have been the
direct cause Of creating. Ii our citizens Of
large interests will not be induced to take
these Offices, but insist that they shall be held
by those who have little or nothing at stake,
t.ey have no right to complain if neglect and
Indifference should be the result
Another error has heretofore been COMMITTED
OF making these town elections the sources Of
political strife, for the maintenance o: our po-
liucal preferences, thereby losing sight Of the
Legitimate object OF them, III our desires for po-
ht.cal ascendancy. Such al element should
lever be found IL these elections, our interests
are too closely allied, nd We stand On the 5 Iinc
footinr, with equal righ;s and privileges, and
whether we are democrat, or wings, IN This re-
gard, there is no Legitimate distinction WM'c
crH'dJIuyi4 considered The all important re-
On site for success in political contest, pres
pective Of al! other kinds Of ability, the dan
ger Of Introducing tins eemeu! into our town
administration must be apparent 10 all. Oui
ai,u should be ,Ien, to select those who art
competent to the discharge Of these duties
with iiciouS regard to locality, and pro-
per respect for the interests Of all parts Of on
town, taking care that the three legsei stool q
Girls should rest as near the center Of on
population, as the vents Of the town and the
tregncut rleetlngs for the exercise oi lAcIr Off
cI4l functions, would seem TO demand,
Among the important matters to be hrou gh'
before this meeting il the report Of the Cor
mIttce upon the Town Hall now ia process d
erection. We hear that the appropriation nIade
lAst year Of $4,000, viii not be sufficient t,
dulsn the building, upon III. scale OF ;aagniA'
cence upon which i IL begun, aHi consequent
/, they VIII ask for additional Ike anDCut
for the purpose Of flushing the structure. We
regret that this should be the result Of an et
fort ON the pat Of the town to have resgec'
tble Town Hall, ami that the appropr 4,lol
should bear such an inadequate proportion L
tie requisite requirement. We know OF moth
lug that our town requires more, TINA a respec-
tab,e place TO hol their town meetings, unc
wc do not believe there would be a Dissenting
voice to this opinion no one who has passel a!
hoar IN the oaly place We now have for this
purpose, but must Zee. that It Is a disgrace to d
tuNu like tbs, to make a cellar answer the
double purpose of Town Room ana Engine
House. Still We think that the school fund
anpun ins to SOM sixteen thousand dollars
aiorc II less, might hay, been su,ii :lent Judi
clousy expended, to have rcmedicd the dlfiicui
~. and tbs with al! due regard to taste, con
venience necessity ana architectural beauty
al We feel confident that the town viii be Of
tbs Opinion " hen called upon for futher an.