Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1867-07-03


be returned to State or National lie,
islature. it is impossible that such cha
acter should continue the Representative
of an honest and intelligent constituenc,
If it be true that ll8, out Of l60 men
bers of the N. Y, State Legislature, actr
ally hold their votes for sale ccrrurtly fc
MONEY!. it must be that there is prett
general rottenness among the masses Q
the people in that state. 1t would no
seem possible that so large percentage o
knaves could find their way to Albany
unless large share Of their electors wer
either knavish or cousummately foolish
In some measure, the character Of repre-
sentative must reflect upon his constitu
ents. As i'll this State, we suppose in N
Y. by an amiabie fiction Of constitutional
laD, the legislative body consists of the
men most noted for their wisdom and vir.
tue, If so per cent of the men most no.
ted for wisdom and virtue, are shameless.
ly corrupt, what must the masses be ?
New York is the great heart of the nation
geographically, politically and CONNER
cially. If we are really thus rotten at
heart, it will not be long he o,e the ex-
tremities begin to feel its influence. In
deed, have We not, already, in Vermont,
begun to feel the influence of this whole
sale Generalization? Have we not men
IN our own State Legislature who barter
and betray their sacred trusts for money Z?
Men who take this or that side of ques-
lion not according to their con victions of
It's merits, but according as they can re-
,eive the largest consideration in cash or
n kind. AS to this we neither affirm nor
leny. But in regard to N. Y, we have
stated the case much more moderately
han the N. Y. press If these state
nents be true, then, in our opinion, this
epublic is in greater danger from such
auses, than it was ever in in the darkest
ours Of our late war. Rebellion and in.
direction can be put down. but when
he great masses become personally cor.
upt, where is the hope for Republican in.
We quote the following from the N. Y,
'aily Times of the 2sth:
CORRUPTION IN THE STATE LEGISLATURES "
"The Constitutional Convention has an
pportunity of verifying some of the char
es of corruption which have been preferr-
d against the State Legislature. Ofgen-
raj ACQUISITIONS there have been more
nan enough, and though details have
cen wanting, the prevalence of bargain.
,g votes in consideration of money has
'me to be considered fact beyond the
Of dispute. Still specific proof
as been Withheld, for reasons which the
resent state of the law makes perfectly
,telligible. The nearest approach to de.
ills was published during the last session
= Tribune correspondent, who evident.
; knows more .han be has ventured to
ii. A witness has now appeared, how
'er, whose experiences as an agent of
'nnel railroad project during four sue.
ssive sessions. have embed him to faith
n the mysteries which underlie legislative
tion. 1t matters not that Mr.. H. B.
'illson is, as the Albany Journal says,
A disappointed protector" The ques- .
on is whether heis able to speak with
G positiveness Of knowledge in regard to
c manner of manipulating reports
ID bills, and whether he is prepar.
to TESTIFY. irrespective of the effect
nich his revelations may have upon his {
IN interests. Mr. Wilson declares that
is ready, and the Convention ought to !
pose upon one Of its Committees the
* Of taking and testing his testimony.
The Trt6une's correspondent asserted
at Of the 100 members of the Legislat- .
Q. Is are known to hold their votes for :
10 to tho highest bidder. MIR Wilson
Insiders this an under. estimate There
re nearly that number" he writes, 0
D one branch alone, that demanded pay. /. !
mt for voting for almost every bill that /,
d money in it, and many took pay a.
IN both sides. where there we're compel u
, interests" This condition of affairs is q
temporary or accidental. but belongs ;, ;,
q system which has gradually risen to 8
present proportions. and is practiceu a
tn shamelssness not easily paralleled. b
o witness before US says: a.
Everybody who knows anything of the to
item of brokerage for the purchase aud +
9 of votes at Albany, krows that the e
siness can be carried on with as much :, y,
punity as that Of a stock or produce 3,
'ker Neither party can inform against is
other, even for gross breaches of faith, T.
member sells his vote 10 advance, we 10
lsay. for $3.50. The money is paid. :.
immediatly goes to an opposing party, M