Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-21

The WatchpGn commenced one Of its articles
Ia dslence Of the extra session. as follows;

for good intention, and to excuse his error OF
Judgment, if really he did err, by the best rea-
sons that truth and candor would admit Other
wise the FREEMAN can only stir up strife among |
political brethren, and furnish the enemy with /
aid and comfort aud munitions Of war. Po-
iitic1y, we venture to say, these are contraband.
II the next .4rgw does not show utilization with /
the FREEMAN on this subject, We are not good at
guessing
The direct and logical tendency Of the teach
ugs Of the above piragraph--indcpendent entire
Of the particular occasion which called them
oats demoralzing, pernicious and dangerous,
aud if adopted by every member Of the republican
party would soon cost the State more than hun
bred extra sessions and we cannot let it pass
without protesting against the Serve sub'ervien-
cy to party measures aud me0, which it inculcates
as cardinal doctrine, to be recognised and agreed
to as part Of tbs creed Of the republicans Of
Vermont.
The doctrine that the king can do no wrong is
not, we trust, soon to be incorporated into the
creed Of the republican party in this State and
whenever it is the pirty will 60 TO pieces, as it
ought to- 1t ls unfortunately, sometimes deemed
ex pedien to make choice Of evils, aud to vote
for OF support some one unfit for office, rather
than permit some other person more unf to be
elected. 1t may, for the same reason, sometimes
be deemed expedient to whitewash members of
our own party whom we really condemn, lest, il
we tell the truth some honest man viii be aienated
from their support, and some greater sooundrel
get position and influence. But the political mo.
ralty and the official and public honesty that
result from such erpedents, are either OF the
lowest order, or do not exist at all and the
party that ia compelled in successive elections to
act upon such maxims Of political prudence" be.
comes inevitably degenerate aud corruptand either
destroys the nalion or is itself swept away in
some storm Of popular icdignation.
II the history Of the parties which have existed
in the United states since the organization Of the
government could be rulhiully written, j. would
show Enthusiastically the fatal result, to the party
itself, Of the attempt to make party action and
the conduct Of otlicills the rule by which ,lose
who have scted with the party must be governed,
and in which they are TO acquiesce in silence.
The old Wing party attempted in this way to
cram NE flgiliv slave law down the lhfoats Of
tho individual members Of the party,--apd il
found mul,ituies Of editors and officials whose
"pol.!irl prudence made Them as dumb l.dar
the outrage as though they hsd been men Of
dough or putty, But the people, with indignant
violtrce, burst The Nithss Of party, and Daniel
Webster and the Wing dynasty wore buried in
the same grave. The Democratic party attempt
ed 10 make slavery the corner stone Of their
power, and TO silence every man in their ranks
who should dare say word against the hideous
crime aad the pa..y is to-day disintegraled, dis
organized shattered and it will soou be tumb cd
into the " aIt ditch with the rebellion and .ls-
very 10 which party discipline attempted to ally
il, srl over ia remains wal he written, msera-
bly, perish d by bIadly following party leaders. "
Indeed, IN only hope Of securing safety and
righteous government, which tie future Of our
Repubic holds out tons, Is rested on the integrity
and intelligence Of the people, who viii ever re-
fuse bGrdIy 10 follow any leader, who will ever
reserve 10 themselves the right Of individual
, judgment, Of fearless criticism, Of independent
action, aud who will never receive and p IS as
genuine coin the base and counterfeit u,teian E,
! of any man, clique, OF convention because be oil
. they belong TO our party
8 political prudence What doe, it mean
o Shsl. We say black is white for the sake Of apo
P litical prudence " Shall we say Andrew Johnson
i the drunkard who on the fourth Of March dis
e gnced himself, and put damnng stain on bis
!, robes Of Office, was sober, aud altogether did TIT
b correct thing, because the shameful exhibition i
d now an accomplished fact, aud the Argus ma,
u show afhliation with u. in dsnounoing ii
u Shall we say that corruption il honesty, psculato
, virtue, swindlng fair dealing, because it is all al
IL accomplished fac, and il we condemn it we sha
p stir up strife among political brethren " Sha
r. We refuse to condemn what We believe i, worth
N Of censure, because men Of our own party are tn
lie guilty ones Ii this is political prudence "
d, shall very gladly leave the article to be who'll
monopoliled by those TO whose conscienees an
i opinion',f indeed they have any Of sither,-t
!, is entirely suited,
o There has been no safety in the past for ID
u the nation except 10 the homes, and fearless crit
X csm Of public men and measures by the psopl
al aud the pre-" everywhere. That those n powt
D. should not like to be criticized is very likely tru,
NJ and while they have patronage to bestow the
u will employ it where they can to bride into silence
ID or to buy the Incense Of iatlsry ana praise from
as ob.tquious atd lme-serving sleophanu. Tier
Ill are always enough who are bu, too glad to praif
ID the hand that feeds them there is no pa,in
u service N which msrosnsres 10 not lind il (,
d their interest to fight, Fortune will ever hl,
vi ii, sdnlalots, il has only 10 rcc' IL temple an
~ thousands wi hasten 10 adopt its faith and bur
as incense at ilsshiine. And now, vhen the paltol
" age Of power, both state and national, is SO irigh
se fully increased when it reaches into nearly ever
w school district in the land, having It's seryan
AT almost a, every cross road what security il thsl
efl for public and official rer,ituds except in Il
al homes, opinions aud he uniramncl.d action
dis the peopIc9 Unes, cliciaI errors are 70 be bod
,a exposed, oti cistd aud denounced, nov are th
IA people 10 quad against their repetition
d. We believe the d,l has come when all th
I'd doctrine Of "pol,ical prudence" should be ca
:, out aud irodd,n under loot. IL has been one