Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-02

The Cdledonian for the past two weeks has
devoted considerable space to replies to GER
tain structures which we (thc SUBJ saw ft to
make respecting the course pursued by the
Governor in matters pertaining to the raising
and fitting out Of the regiments which have
been sent out from this State. Owned as the
Cdiedonidn is, by a son-in-law of the Cover
nor, and edited land ably edited too all A.
long the avenue to his Excellency's residence,
IL was to be expected that this fact, as we'll as
the fact Of its local position, would induce it
to open its batteries against any attack that
should be made upon the course pursued by
the Governor. We were not at all surprised,
therefore, to find its Long Tom" opened
upon us in response to criticisms which we
at the time considered just, and which we
still think the facts would in the main, bear
us out in making. But having received a
gentle hint that our views are not exactly in
place we chance temporarily to occupy, We
propose voluntarily to spike the gun which
has been committed TO our charge, and leave
tho matter to other and ADLER hands being
assured that in due time facts will be publish
ed showing who is and who is not response
bic for the manner in which our volunteer
regiments have been organized.
We are not Of the number of those who be-
licve the position man chances to hold,-
the fact that he handles few more dimes
than his less fortunate ncghbor or that ho
has been more successful in political chicono-
ry, succeeding in checkmatng bis rivals, and
thereby holding in his hands power that
may OF may not be safely entrusted to him.
should of necessity absolyo him from all crit
icism. The too prevalent disposition to gloss
over and cxtol the acts Of those who chance
to occupy place or hold power, is an evil tho
effects of which are not fully realized by ihe
people who are really tho victims Of their mis-
deeds or shortcomings The idea that be-
cause man has been elected to high and
honorable position, his acts must Of necessity
be ex,olled to magnify his office, and not
word spoken OF a sentence written, and above
all, not a paragraph printed, except in praise
Of the man and in defense Of his every act is
a himsy humbug, delusion and a cheat, in
vented by mere place-seckcrs who would fain
occupy the same position Themselves, and be
absolved from the criticisms which, if their
honest convictions were expressed, would be
but too freely given TO the acts Of the man
whose mantle Of Office they seek TO wear
The idea tina, " the king can do no wrong
is long since exploded in unpriudiccd minds,
and is entertained only by those whose inter-
est or ambition has got the better Of their
judgment, and but for its too frequent crop
ping out we should be blessed with better
citizens and better rulers Instead Of the in-
terminable scramble for office, with It's at
tcndant turmoil. strife and contention, the
people would seek out for themselves the men
best fitted to administer the affairs Of state.
and there would be less cause for the censure
which these hypercriical apologsts so much
deprecate.
As to the daioterested O. defense that is
attempted by the Ca'e3oaian in this pariicu-
lar instance, we are not disposed for the rea-
son naiIi 70 pursue the controversy further;
neither are we rrsdy to seek absolution by
due penanco and contrition' for anything We
have done or anl thing we have said in reIa-
ton to the Governors course in fitting out
our regiments. The Caiedomap is Informed
that the "rat-Aole in Montpelier small
enough or large enough for that purpose is
not yet dug. We seek to screen ourself from
not whit Of the responsibility. Time will
tell and future disclosures will reveal wheth-
er " rai-hoies' yet to be dug are best fitted
Tor our humble self, or for those who, in their
high position, should possess those mental and
executive qualities which would place them
entirely beyond the suspicion Of the cause Of
censure. The CaledomGn is welcome to all
the glory that it has gained in this matter, bat
for ourself- But we forget, we've spiked the
gun.