Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-04


1t however aggues prospectiyely that the
population will Increase more rapidly in the
present third district, than in the other two, and
his present inequality thus be remedied. In
our judgment, however, it would be wiser to
make division that shall be just to-day, than
one that it will require ten years to make right.
OF the convenience Of the proposed change, the
Waichman says
As to convenience the proposed first district
will be as incOnyenient for Windham as the
present one is for Washington. The second is
not improved and the third We think is H.
proved. Nevertheless, the matter of convenience
IS of less importance than any other. as it con-
Germs only the gathering Of conventions. The
Importance Of these, and the interest in them,
will secure representation in any event.
We dissent from this entirely. 1t is not as
inconvenient for Windham County to 20 to Rut-
land-where the Conventions in the proposed
first District would undoubtedly be held-ss it
IS for Washington County to 90 to the same
place or 10 Mid ebury. The Windham County
people, on the contrary, can get to Rutland by
direct railroad communication, and as easily
as they can 90 to White River Junction, where
the Conventions in their district are now held.
Nor do We agree that the lmportar ce Of Conyen-
tlons and the interest in them, will secure a iull
representation in any event. 1t may " secure a
representation, those who are employed to 60,
or who have personal friendship for and inter-
est in some candidate, attending, but The people,
who have only general interest in the matter,
will not attend, unless they can conveniently
at the place Of meeting. The result, as a mat
ter of course, is that the few politicians who
are always on hand at such a time, o. the dele
gates hire d by some working and paying cand-
ate, will control the convention, and having
made nomination will compel the party to
swallow 1t, by crying out against boiling regu-
lar tickets a partial remedy asaus, this evil,
is to so combine counties as 10 make it conyen-
lent Tor The people to assemble at the places Of
holding conyent4s, and then if they stay at
homo it will be tar own fault, and not that o.
the law makers.
The souul party policy " reason, as
given by the Hashman, seems SO utterly pre-.
posteroug in the present state Of parties in Yer
mont, that to avoid the charge OF ezlgsora,iou,
il We should attempt to give it in our own
words, we copy the language Of our co.empor-
AIRY
i Whoever looks back to the history Of parties
in Vermont, will sec that the time has been
when the proposed districts would give to the
democrats at least an equal chance for TWO
members out OF three d; and that, too, when
they were minority in the State. The ma
jorties OF Addison, Rutland, Windbam and
Windsor have more than once overborne tho
rest of the State. Certainly it will be neither
Just nor wise to make such districts as can by
any possibility msrepresent the political sent.
ments of the majority of the people. Wewould
avoid that risk.
To show how small the e" risk " is, which
" sound party policy " should lead the legisla.
turo to avoid, we give below, in round numbers,
tho Republican majorities in the proposed dis
triots on the vote Tor Governor in 1858, when
party lines were strictly drawn, and in 1861,
when they were not 50 apparent.