Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-14
Orleans Independent Standard
CIRCUIT BROTHERS, Editors.
Barton, Friday, September IA, 1866.
No Election.

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1000 votes of a majority.
When about two months ago it was
learned that Mr.. Baxter had no
thought of surrendering up to the peo-
pie, the Office, which as their gift, he
had enjoyed six years, and allowing
them to select from their number, a
new man, many in the district felt
that in the first place it was presump-
tuous on his part, to allow himself to
be candidate after having been used
so well, and while there were so many,
who in point Of ability, would, as is
conceded by his most ardent admirers,
excel Mr.. Baxter, as a legislator
They felt this all the more fOrcibiJ
when it was remembered that at The
time of his last denomination, 1t was
fully understood that he was not again
to be candidate.
And further, when it was observed
that Mr.. Baxter had, during the SIX
years he had been representative,
gathered about him a set Of men whom
he called his friends, in every instance
men who are now holding, or have
held some Office, State or Federal,
through his procurement, and that
these men were all clamOrous for his
denomination and reelection; and that
Mr.. Baxter when spoken to about his
successor, was won't to say, that he
would not press his claim, providing
some man could be agreed upon, who
would be satisfactory to has friends +;
it was apparent to the more dis
corning in the district, that Mr.. Bax-
ter was building up about him a dy-
nasty of cffice-holders, and establish
ing himself as their "head centre; !"
which, if allowed to 90 on uninter-
rupted, would substantially take from
the people, the power Of choosing
their representative, and lodge that
power in the hands of Mr.. Baxter and
has friends. This scheme it will be
seen at once, was dangerous in the ex-
IRENE, as being subversive of true Re
publicanism.
Our view upon this point is, that
no one man, or set of men have any
right to select a candidate for repre-
sentative; that to the people alone,
belongs this right; and when Mr..
Baxter proposes to retire in case he
can name a man as a successor who
shall suit his friends, he proposes to
take from the people, a right which
belongs to them, and not his friends
and of which they-the people-ought
to be extremely jealous. As a repre-
sentative MI. Baxter, according TO our
view, has no business to have any
friends who must be consulted about
his successor. He should propose to
consult nothing less than the whole
people; and VIXEN he proposed to
consult merely his friends, the propo
sition itself was sufficient to alarm
all thinking men. In fact 1T die
alarm many in the Sd district. Ihey
felt that through love for the spoll
of Office, and lust for power Mr.
Baxter and has friends, were managing
to perpetuate themselves in author
ty to the exclusion Of all other men
no matter who they were, nor hoy
worthy they might be. Many.candi(
fair minded men in the district, fe
that this was the inevitable tendenc
of Mr.. Bakers course; and that
was at once undemocratic, and ant
republican. 1t was also believed tn;
the intelligent thoughtful freemen oft
district would not cast their votes
favor of such a scheme. Hence Il
beginning of a determined opposite
to his fourth election.
About this time it also fell out tn
In the distribution of the public pa
ronage-to which Mr.. Baxter ha
from the first, given the closest ate
ton, and in which he has manifest,
the deepest interest-he had bestowt
certain Offices upon individuals, up'
the consideration Of money promise
to be paid; and in due time the spe
fcations in the StOrrs case were MAJ
public. Although the reasons fiji
above given, were sufficient with I
for opposing Mr.. Baxter's renomir
ton, yet this last one, to our mir
was conclusive; especially was IL
80, when it further fell out that DAN
Roberts, of Burlington, a special age
of the treasury, was removed from
flee through Mr.. Bakers agen'
when he was in the midst of an
vestigation Of this Storrs case and o.
er cases involving Mr.. Clapp, and n
Baxter, in breach of official duty.
To our mind these were insuperal
objections to Mr.. Baxter's reelectit
We felt that the honest freemen
the Sd district, would never conse
to send man so accused to Congre
And we also felt it to be our du
as public journalists, toprote
against the continuance of such zen
a