Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-14

bout equai TO thlr y-hve members ol farhament'
I'd our Speaker, Nr Colia1,l with his 2S000
i1dianans, should be equal to forty. And 'hlsn
he difference between the American and the
British standard OF representation
The excitement oil an EugN'h election, even
With 20 few participants, is far from inconsderabe.
The multitude, who look on while the voting pro
ceeds uiva t0ee, cheer ar hiss the voter as tney
may he pleased on displeased with the vote. Iae
exp3nae Is not small, and the corruption j, tor
midsbie. But whatever the result, whether tue
ms or ouis are Whige OF Tories, the inevitable
rule OF the arstocracy prevails. The Wings IN
power are almost as reluctant 10 press reforms as
th-r ad7ersafes, and the Tories cut Of power are
as eloquent il popular cfiss as those who have
got tier places by mere liberal votes when ia an
rrssponsible minority The only difference be-
tween the oIigarehcal parties, would seem to be
that one party Yields nothing, for example, in the
way Of extending the right Of suffrage, lest in the
end i! should be forced 10 yield all the other
party would conceds something now, lest in the
end it should be forced TO give up all. Neither
are believers in universal suffrage. Both are alike
ayerse to il, and they only disagree as to the Wit
est method Of warding il of. With such issues
an oligarehy, dwelling compactly together within
a small territory, may be able to maintain ltseli
OF an indefinite period, or until tho masses dis,
cover that, wLosoeVer wins, they arc lost Norlh,
Pit, Peel and Palmersion each proIong their
premiership for years. and yet British statutes
present few earmarks by which the Tory or Wing
would bs discovered.
il the Government Of the United States had 10
bear the strain OF O new national election, 10 ad-
tilion 10 elections already provided for, whenever
an Administration measure should be defeated, IL
would keep US in endless confusion and instability.
lhe periodical return Of these eIcitemsnts is
enough without Ihe cometary valuations incident
10 a change cf ministry 10 perpeI the nation sill
more. lac acquleseencs Of the merioan people
ia the decisions Of the majority has been promi-
nsniiy evinced in our whsle history, with but a
sagle exception, and that exception We are 50
rapidly washing out with blood and erssng With
the sharp points Of the bayone, that 1t will be
remembered only 10 be stunned ana execrated.
lie, US concede that il might not be possible for
Grs Britain to adopt our form Of GOvernmen.
uniyerSsl suffrage, voting by ballot, and iie.
qusnt electons-and suecesd. By her own con-
lssson she has less than million people capable
Of sell-government, for less than that number are
permitted to vote. 1t would be quite as unaiss
Tor us to adopt many things whica are the daily
food Of Great Britain, especially the comminglipg z
o. the executive with the legislative department.
know that it is not proposed to extend this
measure beyond a seat n this House to members
Of the Cabinet with the liberty Of speech. No
greater innovation is at present contemplated.
But il may be doubted much whether the half ci
the British example is better than the whole.
3 -. L
nlenogstsd and fail 10 give sati,iaciory answers
They may lose the confidence Of the Heuse, aud,
retaining the confidence of the President, there
they are still TO remain til the end Of the term.
Their failure may be only An ihaptltyde Of speech
or want Of cieyerness in explanation, so that q
good cause may be sacrificed by forcing the
client to become his own sGyooate Legal gentle.
men here, With strong partisan predictions, msy
desire to put d Cabinet ~ which they are oppts.
cd 60 the torture OF a crosse xaminaion, not iJl
the single purpose Of eiciting substantial nior-
nation, but to crafty the passion Of prosecutors
and to figure IN irequen, petty impesehmsnts.
On toe other hand, Secretary may WELD q
Iarge measure Of persuasive power, and thus gloss
aud csrry measures devoid Of those solid merit.
upon which alone they ought 10 stand. Such /,
Secretary would be dangerous ass leader, OF
rather as mlseader.
1t NAV be argued that the scheme would keep
men OF inferior capacity out OF office II TIN,
could be assured, 1t would certainly DO a strong
argument IN favor OF the measure. Ii is my be.
ilei, however, that ineapscity would be more apt
TO fold itself and It's victims IN the sufiocatng EN-
bTsce Of unscrupuous patronage, or 10 hide Itse
il nmble voros and fhppant rhstoric. Uniortu.
naieIy,eXecutiye ability and knowledge OF ofmsnknd
such az guaranty ths selection OF the best ins,ru.
mtnlalltles for the accomplishment OF great pur.
/ poses are not always found in connection with
/ eloqueuce OF with readiness in debate. Some
ancient orators, not to mention any modern, were
dsgraeed when they took the field, and we msy
well doubt whether they would have succeeded
any better as national hnaneers. Albert Gallatu
was no debater but hs WAS one Of our most sue.
cessidl Secretaries Of the Treasury Jefferson
vas great man, but on this floor be would have
be overmslched by Mike Walsh. Executive
ability, the mastery OF great principles SIS well al
OF MINOR details coupled with knowledge affair,
and OF men, is as rare as the possession Of genuI
or the power Of magnetism in debste, and we hav,
10 regret that it sa quality among our eouptry-
men now more desirable than abundant.
practice OF this measure, the worst part OF whict
when all parts are bad, We are now asked to copy
have been 30 great that the number OF the CAblne
allowed seats in Parliament has been moro thar
once reduced and limited. The goal Of Brtisl
ambition is the Cabinet, II men OF marx are as
semblsd there, yet the bulk OF such men appear {,
shun the House OF Commonsi the place is to,
tame, and ITS glory is disappearing. Bright an,
Golden almost alone represent the great ecmmon
ere, tho Clathams, Foxes, and Burkss
When We build up tue Executive Department
Of our Government lot US bot DO il at the expens
of the Representatives Of the people.
Ii we look OF the detail, OF this bill, and th
practices, voluntary and compulsory, that will b
generated by 1t, these will bo found 40 less obnox
lou, than It's fundamental principles,
Section first OF tue bill, as reported, gives To
right to all the Secretaries and members OF To
Cabinet to eccupy seats in this House, and to PAT
ticmte in the debate under such rues as may
prescribed by the House, and these rules may {
course be modified st any lime according to th
pleasure OF any accidental majority.
Section second requires that they shall absolut,
" attend tho sessions Of the House immediatel
on the opening Of the sitting On Mondays an
. thursdays Of each week to give information
reply to questions which may be propounded /
. them under the rules OF the Hou,e.
4 Thus il is proposed to change the rules Of tt
House at the start of this new programme, so tn
3 the first business on Mondays and thursdays shs
l be to consider the resolution, and questions
I which any member shall have given notice, TO Il
exclusion of all other business. II isalso prov,
= ed lnat the mover OF the resolution or Quesli,
e may state suoeincty the object and scope of
b resolution and the reasons tor desiring the info
mition, and such arguments, opinions and facts
} may be necessary 10 explain hll quentons. II
e Secretaries are to repy-but suppose they refu'
d what then giving the intormsuon or the rea,o