Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-26
From the Vermont Journal
6. The Extravaganza and Misrulc of the
Mhius

The late I%.ocofoco state Convention solemn
" resolved that the " hig administration Of
Vermont had waxed extravagnnt and corrupt
that the * expenses of the State were rapidly
increaslng-and that unless the government
should be committed to the tender care of the
Democracy, we should soon have n bankrupt
treasury and a ruined people. Perhaps I've
stated the resolution a iiHc stronger than it will
bear, but It's always best to reduce the infer
cnces of that immaculate party to Words.) Fol
lowing in lis wake, the smaller guns, al County
Conventions, have discharged their squlOs in
the same direction, contining themselves al
ways, however, to vague aud general charges,
and carefully avoiding any definite assertion.
But the Montpelier Patriot, not having the
fear f its own exceeding stupidity before It's
eyes, has fairly put in its foot after this
sort -
Setting aside National matters, there are album
dant reason, why the Democracy Of Vermont should
exert themselves to change the government of the
State. The enormous state expenses are alone suli
Client to induce the farmer, and mechanics, in fact
all classes, to seek II change. With Il population
very nearly the same as New Hampshire, our State
expenses are unaccouatahly very much larger
There can be no good reason why this should lie 50.
As matters are goHsgson, we are in a fair way to
he saddlcd with another State debt, aud "a we have
no more school funds to absorb, what is to he done
Have the people ever Thought of these things =
Have those who are pairing high taxes to support a
State government, ever thought how much more they
are paying than t.c people of States who should
apparently pay much more ! What hope is there
of a change in policy without a change in rulers !
Let the people, the taxpayers, consider this mat
ter, for it is Of vital Importance to them
Poor, abused people of Vermont! For years
we have labored under the deluslon that our
government was a remarkably economical one
that the salaries of our public officers were ex-
ccedinglv moderate and that our taxes were
far from burtlcnsome. But the dream is over.
The Patriot has spoken, and we are awake to
a sense of our oppressed and down-troddcr
condition.
"Wlth a population very nearly the same as
New Hampshire. our State expenses are unac-
countabIy very much larger. There can be ne
good reason why this should be 500 There,
where we agree, Major. And while we're
about it, suppose We look ut the figures, ant
see Just how much more our Wing govern.
ment costs than the Democratic admlnlstra.
ton of New Hampshire.
In New lIimpshlrc, as the Patriot is doubt
less aware, County expenses are paid by q
County tax, and are not included in the Treas
urcr's report Of State expenditures while II
Vermont they are all paid from the Stat,
Treasury. and 90 to swell the cost Of gov
crnment.'
! have before me the three last annual re
ports of the Treasurer of New Hampshire, am
the three last annual reports of the Auditor .
Vermont. | tnd that the actual expenses o
Vermont, exclusive of County and judiciary
ii 'burscments, have been as %iollows:-
For the year ending Sept. !. 1850, $6l,7oo so
" |, lNjl, $3.50 30