Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-02-12
FOR the Freeman
Reform.

rogator, Z" Concerning Extravaganza and
hearty response with your patrons in this
vicinity. We agree with you that the rem
edy is only at the ballot-box, and we think it
is not - asking foo much " of legislator to
insist upon the reform of political abuses,
that he is in honor and duty bound thus to
act, for the good and interest of his constit-
uents and if he neglects SO to do, he should
he held to strict and rigid account. You
say with truth that " it is easy to rebuke the
representative of another town, but not quite
easy to make issue against the repre-
sentative of ones own town, yet until this is
done reform will make slow progress All
very true; let Judgment begin at home, and
painful as the ordeal may be, we acknowledge
its Justice, and are willing to be subjected to,
and more, we court the strictest scrutiny
There is nothing n1edner in this naughty world
than to shirk ones sins upon another.
And now, in view of this g state and ma
tional reform = which you recommend, we
respectfully submit whether the press has not
an important duty to perform in the premises
Let the press throughout State portray
these political evils to the eyes, and din them
IN the ears, of the people, until they shall be
thoroughly awake to the Importance ofreform-
Ii seems to US, if there ever was time in
our State country when financial economy
called for, the present is that time. Let
the press, then, as watchmen upon our p0lit-
ical walls give the trumpet certain sound.
The antecedents of the FREEMAN justify us in
the belief that it will lead the van ; first in
freedom, it should be first in reform.
Now as to reform on the mileage question.
As l remarked in ny former communication,
it may be impossible to do equal and exact
Justice to all. but this is no reason why we
should not approximate to it may
be. Suppose the committee on mileage, at
the next Legislature, be instructed to report
bill upon tn principle of short mileage,
giving the mileage of each town to the Capital
permanently. That committee would have
ample time to perfect such bill, and get it
through, too, before the debentures are made
up, providing the House pass another bill to
the punctual attendance of its mem
bers; and this part of the programme the
people must inslst upon at the ballot-box.
Now if one town is more unfavorably con-
vened than another, give it a little advantage
In the y0ke as we farmers do, when we have
an unmatched pair of oxen. Let these addi-
tons and subtractions be made to balance
each other near possible. We throw
out these crude thoughts, hoping you and
your correspondents will improve upon them,
or devise some more feasible plans, and keep
them before the people until these abuses
shall be reformed
Your correspondent - Interrogator - asks
to review g Bit of History" which ap-
peared in the Argus and Patriot of Dec. Goth,
and give the q facts they appear from
standpoint of view The g Bit of History
referred to pertains to the railroad contro-
versy between Mr. Park and the Messrs. Bur
den of New York, before the Legislature.
We agree with '' lnterrogator - that # true,
that 8. Bit of History - is most '' disgrace
fuI" affair, and ought to receive the utter
condemnation of every honest man Most
cheerfulIy would we comply with the wishes
Of your correspondent were it in our power.
Inc great UlIuculCy Is 70 get at tne JdCtS from
these bits of history. One history informs
US that Bonaparte crossed the bridge at Lodi
in the face OF the cannon, another that he
crossed the river in another place. One of
these bits of history must be false. If the
railroad committee packed by the Speak
er, and . dlend and ,1ined " in the interest
IF Mr. Park, as intimated by the Argus, we
confess we have no means of knowing such
10 be the g facts and being little tender
of our own reputation, we are disposed to
treat our fellows as we would have them
treat Us in like circumstances. We think
the Argus is right in assuming that g the
parties. no doubt, spent some money!" icon
siderable, may be,) . but the public treasury
by far the greater sufferer AS this
. Bit of History" has been pretty thoroughly
canvasscd since the rise of the Legislature,
We have only to say that think it very
doubtful whether any body of men would
have acted differently from the evidence as it
came before the Legislature.
Interrogator " says = we desire to ask
B. r. whether in his view the railroad inter
est does not constitute one of the largest
waste pipes that are draining our treasury ?
and whether, in his Judgment, partial or
special legislation has not become very seri-
Gus and alarming evil, ETC.? The history OF
railroads in our State is fresh in the minds OF
the people, and familiar to all. We question
whether that . Bit of History is reviewed
by the original stockholders with very much
delight. Whether the big fish can live with
ont swallowing up the little ones, may be a
question that they hare not, in railroad
matters, is very certain. Whether the State
has kept its finger upon the safety valve, as
it should so as to stop these ." waste pipes >
from draining the :" treasury" may be ques
toned again 1t is much easier to gran
power, than it is to balance and control it a
all times, so as to make it subserve the pub
lie interest. The wisdom of this world hai
not as yet been equal to such task, anc
probably never will be- In the progress o.
events we have got the railroads, with al
their uses and abuses, and as the car of prog
ress is ever onward, l suppose shall no
20 back and draw our oxen by the horns, bu
trust we shall accept their uses. and seel
TO reform their abuses
One word to - interrogation :" on ' partia
or special legislation" and we are done
We confess we think there was a little squint
ing in that direction in our last Legislature
The act passed to exempt capital from taxa
ton invested for manufacturing purposes w
think questionable Taxation without repre-