Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-02-04

only in the latter caselt might be proper
tionally {" intensified" Gov. Morrill, pro-
pose. to "ehoke %" these men,-the choice
OF the people.-and only allow them to come
together once in two years. aud thereby
prevent the rude de?rcda'ious they now
commit upon the Statute books OF our State
4 strange remedy, As seems to US. Accord
iur to this logic, why no; "ehoke them oil "
four or ,iI years instead Of two9 They
would, 60 carry out the theOry,) doiess mis-
chief. The evil complained Of, has a Sim
pie remedy; and il i,in the hands Of the peo'
PIE to apply il. lfthc senator's and Repre-
.sniatiyss sent to Augusta lesislate 10
upsi. leave thcm At homo hereafter, and
SUNNY their place. with men Of more s,atd
habits. and le., worldly ambition.
Our worthy Chief Magistrate in present.
ins hr views upon the third point, says
- Tha, the ceas,less agitation incident TO
annual elections, is prciudicial To that calm
dignity which should characterize the clec-
ton o. our rulers and Legislators, will not
he doubted" lie further inquiries, "wheih-
or the real interests % the State may not BE-
as well cared Tor. with lcss attention be.
slowed upon political and party questions,
leaving more leisure or business pursuits "
From this idea We mos, respectfully dissent.
The people arr 80 Acknowledged source OF
81 political power under oar form Of gov.
crnmcpt. II they q, not look ont Tor their
own interests. who will = Would IL be we'll
for them 20 sc;ilc down into sluggish in
activity. and in their zeal to take care Of
their &c business pursuits, leave political
question: 20 be- taken Of by the rofhdGrd
Rurkc once remarked that the price o, In. ;
crty ., ,'.r-rl vigilance" and the saying
m. me, such universal response in the
hearts of ,bc friend, Of free government, that
il has Ion. since passed into maxim. We
believe a healthy political agitation i iniis-
rcn.ablc 20 the purity o. a republican form
Of government. Il i.uo task for tho graf
mas. Of the r'orle TO :, TO the ballot box
once a wear neither i 10 viewed hy them in
anv such light. The little excitement usual.
Is attendant uron our annual elections, ha,
a healthy influence. I, loads tie mass. 10
real, reflect, and PCS, themselves Up 80 that
they can urdcrs,srdirsly perform the Incl
dental duties dcvolvirs upon them ~ ci,'-
gen. ~ sovereign STATE. Theu. again, It
hri--. IN review the manner in which our
State rulers perform their several duties A.
public ot6csr-. The further You place our
ruler, from the people, the moro danger
there j. q Official corruption. ANY system
that call, away tic attention u the people
from a., manner IN which their public AZ
fairs are managed, &. dangerous. We Ars
opposed ~ tins continual ,amrcrius with
tie constitution" Itisan evil Of itself.
There should be- something about the n.
rremc law OF the State that Is comparative.
ly permanent. This cutting up tho cousti.
tut1n int .hrcj., is worse than ,ampsrins
with statute laws.
ln ISL, this very question was voted up
on hy the reoplc OF TIA, State, aui biennial
SESSIONS r.I.ri.a by very decided manrity.
The people may have changed their minds
upon this subject, bat We douht a., Ia the
Oll.rI Dcm,cra, under date % June 10Th,
l-Il. w. frl. cJi;orial.y endorsed, the FOL
lowing views urlu this question taken from
abe N4iuc CuliI,atrr, an agricultural Ia
rsr. ve mistake not. then under the ulit-
orial charge OF tie now venerable DR..
ll,lmc-. We commend them 10 our rad
e. %. containing u Jrisf and candid r,yicw
Of ,'i. question
o" The advantage, of hi,rpial tenure Of ~.
o., over trr present system which prevails
tlr.uch'u. New England. are first, that We
should have less frequent elections, and con.
sg4lyut.y i,,, frequent renewal VI larti-
IAN ,tr,It, which now annually J.s'garts our
PEOPLE. ard which Goo often creates personal
auiiuusijIts and iriur., th- general cause ul
public peace and public morals. Second,
the expense 20 sustaining the sl,eumeut.
sl arat least "a, tH. ..-'. cd legislation are
c.rer-u.l, would = ..r-,i,rlIIr, perhaps
nearly ous-haf diminished. whereby there
would De- "a considerable .A,ing Ut toe pub
lic treasure, yr whereby the State tax ct the
people would p, 'cs,. Tlirl. the tenure OF
orc, being extended, thr honor aud rcTnn.
stiIiti., 1T Office would seem % be incrr,s-
%. aud consequently a greater care would
hr taken tu select suitable and trustworthy
men o. Do boz ulbca - long. rho~' officers.
to-. h1liiu. Offices longer. would be likely
o. h.cymo better qualified for the discharge
ui their duties, and the evils u TIE present
very frequent changes would b IN "a meas.
urr 0'yht,i We believe these arr the yriu.
ciI,l advantage. contemplated by the friends
% che Vrl"gt.
&c GA tho other hand. in reply % these ar
cumeut,. and "a defence Of tie present ,ys.
tenn. 10 may he saii, that frequent elections
ar no injury 20 tire people; they are more
democratic, because ulcgr, are holden O. a
more immediate responsibility to tho Peo-
pie, ppWer returns olieuer o. the original
source. and there Is les danger Ol abuse
II our frequent elections are an evil. lrt Nc
discharge the evil finally hy dispensing with
all -iryuous--let a monarchy or al aristuc.
raCy govern by Inheritance, or Il this would
uD' slit the d'uo1 ate dread at fiouui
elections. lc; them be- rendered - iulrcgucht
that ore generation may sutler the evils %,
political campaign. Elections, therefore,
Gully once in thirty year. would trouble a
sInsI, generation but once, aud would save
It's vast amount in strife and in cost o. Lex.
islatiun.
III the meeting Of the legislature aaHuql-
ly Gusts too much, aui the object j. 10 save
money at the expense Of any benefits that
might aris- irom a yearly attention to BUSH
nyss aud lrum an annual revision OF our
Laws. then il ssgus probable that IT We had