The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-14
State Politics--"Kicking Out Of the
Traces"

Some time ago the Bennington Banner
which, by the way, is one of the old and sub
stantiai republican papers of the state-ha,
an article on the next election, and the prob
able change of program which was about t.
take place in our state politics. 1t warned
the old political wire-pullers of party action
and advised them to be little careful how
they moved; and added that "they would de
well to bear in mind that party is at a dis
count, and that whatever honors they get,th,
people will have voice in, more than fo1
the past five or ten years" In the same ar
ticle the bold assertion was made that under
the present phase of affairs, man may vote
for whom he pleases, and not be accused O
"boltlng the nominations" He can vote fol
men and not party. "simply because there i,
no party, and what is more there will be
none in time for political squabbers to ust
the September election for turn-table. on {
grand scale, which will stop in its evolutions
al every fat office and let them off. A little
hard on the politicians, we admit, but sen.
tence containing great deal of truth.
In regard to conventions, the article in
question admits that there must be such
things but most pertinently says "if a few
men make the nominations among them
selves, and by a system of wire-pulling and
brow-beatlng press through particular candi-
dates, and ensure their nominations, why. all
the people will have to do will be to shake
the dust Of that convention off their feet, and
defeat those candidates. This is the sum
and substance of the matter. Men to get Of
fee in Vermont at the next election must be
able to show honest antecedents, free from
trickery, for the people will attend to their
own conventions collectively. and not let a
few men do as they please, and nominate in
the regular routine of PROMISES
The same paper is out in another article
last week in which it talks about that delicate
little matter Of the fifty thousand dollars
which so coolIy stepped out" of the state
treasury couple of years ago, when Bate.
was treasurer. 1t says no definite informa
ton as to the VIII ,1eabouts of that money ha.
ever been arrived at. And although assur
ance was given that the legislature woult
take the matter in hand and slit the subiec
to the bottom, yet there was an effort to husl
the matter up. The article referred to init
mates that the facts in this case are KEEP
back fer fear they may injure the prospects
OF some political organ-blower, and says:
"There is good reason for supposins Their,
was more blacknesS in the defalcation tina,
we yet have an insight into, and thousi
quite an interim has eEsaed, it is none tn
less reason it should be smoothed over b.
men who dare not LEI it come out in its E
normity tor fear their political chances ma
be damaged thereby. 1t is about time tn
people turned their attention from somethin,
besides party considerations" stepped ii
front of political butiooners, and demanded
as their right, to know what has become Of
the fifty Thousand dollars stolen from tn
treasury in 1859"
Stir them up, friend Cook, and don't lie
the politics of the state get any more corrup
than it now is.