Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-01-20

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President. The more able he is and the more
beloved, the more harm he is capable of do
ing, and the greater use can he make of I'M
limited power. Undoubtedly some spend
ment could and should be made, but the
principle is certainly correct, especially in
view of the fact that Presidents always pros
titutc their patronage to secure their r%eelec-
ton.
Mr.. JENCKs' REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The great remedy for this state of things
to remove the dangers of patronage and the
evils of collisions between the President and
the Senate,-is to completely remodel the
civil service. This has been proposed, and
Mr.. Jenckes of Rhode Island has submitted
a very acceptable bill. 1t is taken in a great
measure from the systems of those countries
where the civil service is best organized. 1t
is strange what poor, good-fOr-nothing per
sons are employed under the present system.
No sane man of business would have half of
them in his place of business. The veriest
~loafers, the dullest i7nor0ni, the most super
animated local politicians, all unable to do
anything else, must have positions under the
government. Mingled with these men are
some remarkably able men, who do al! the
work, get the least pay, and are never heard
of outside of their own little Office. \ good
discrimination could select from almost any
Office here half the men who could do ell the
work we'll, and who really deserve double the
salary they get. The government would
greatly save by raising the salaries fifty or
even one hundred per cent, retaining capable
men and making their tenure fixed and Ger
tain, and discharging all the drones and suck
ers, RENTING them to the county p~oor-house,
if necessary at any rate, making them -arR
their living. All this the bill would do.
Why, then, is it not passed? Simply because
the Congressman have all the patronage now
and this would deprive them Of it. Gen.
Logan says, because it would be initiating
monarchy, and raise up an aristocracy among
us. Is any sensible man afraid Of that? It
is astonishing what foolish things a man will
do, and what nonsensical reasons he viii ad-
duce for the support of a cherished measure
or the defeat of an unpopular one People
do not seem to think that the United States
should do as shrewd business men,-look
carefully after their own best interests. No.
Uncle Sam Is a victim to be plundered, and
he who gets his hands in deepest Is the most
honored and respected.
What would be thought of business man
who paid his clerks barely enough to live
on, saying to them, 'go ahead, steal all YOU
can, everybody expects it, make tho most OF
your time, for at any moment you may be
turned out that some one else may have his
hands in the plumber" Yet this is virtually
said and done to every employee Of this gov
eminent. Is it not high time this was
stopped And vet We cannot expect it to be
stopped by men who seek to make a fortune
by engineering through a Mexican loan, or
who fill their great chests with gold, OBJ
tanned on some gigantic railroad swindle.
Purer and less selfish legislators must be
found before any reform can he expected.
TIE NATIONAL CoLoRED CONVENTION
There is at present in session here q Ma
tional Colored Convention. 1t comprises
delegates from all the states, and has among
lite members many Of those who have become
noted throughout the country. Its Prcsi-
dent is Fred Douglass, who has 50 wide a
reputation, and who on one occasion said
that he had reason to believe that he WAS she
son offs United States Senator. The famous
~I~-- AZ o-..~-&- -
among the delegates, as also the colored
claimant to a scat in Congress, Menard.
Their object is to memorable Congress To
admit them all to suffrage, and to arrange
their plans for the work of the coming year.
Some of their proceedings are very amusing,
while generally they show a great deal Of
ability and strength in their action. Yes
terday one of the delegates introduced 4 res
o%lution TO urge the foundation of a Colored
Medical Bureau, at the head of which he
himself was 10 be placed. Occasionally ma
tive modesty Is too weak to keep them from
ridiculous blunders like this, but that rarely
happens. Negro suffrage is, Of course, their
principal work, hut in addition to this they
propose TO petition Congress to continue
them in the possession of the sea Islands OF
South Carolina. which You remember were
given them By Gen. Sherman's famous field
order, as well as TO act on several other minor
questions. They arc very slow in their pro
cecdings, taking UP a great deal of time 1T
debate, for it is a fact every one must have
noticed, that great colored people are re
markedly fond of talking and imprcssine
every one with their greatness.
NIAGARA FALLS CANAL
That great national measure, 4 ship cana
around Niagara Falls, was again agitated ii
the House yesterday. 1t is one Of the few
internal improvements that really demauC
the aid of the United States. and as Caand,
will probably soon be a part of US, viii b,
then even more necessary. rs things nov
stand the railroads aad she Erie canal mo
nopolize the transportation Of all the grain
and other produce Of the West, very mucI
N th@ ini,-v ne all secti,ns hut moro ps