National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-04-08
sADFORp. FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1870.
TIE LOEB i.

presence and services are not re-
luircd either Ly the people or Their
representatives. In establishing a
zee representative form of govern y,
,ent. it was not designed that there !
,ould be any middle men between
le people and their public servants.
was designed that our represent
lives should be very p5ar to their
pnstitucnts; should represent and
. lyocate their vaults and designs
nd that the people should have dl-
oct access TO those who represent
.heu,, aud not haze to work their
"a, through an intermediate body
men who, in most instances, mis-
rprcscnt the people in order to .
Irthcr their own ambitious designs.
asa general rule the composition
the lobby is anything but attract
&c to honorable, independent men;
nd the moral and political atmos
'icrc surrounding it, is far from be
healthy and wholesome. 1t Is .
IMPOSED of men who have not !
critcl the confidence Of their tel |
" citizens, either as honest. patri. (
t. men, or have not the learning !
I'd ability sufficient to make them
ompctent and eligible legislators
le;. uh0 have aspirations to repre-
ut the sovereign people, but whose
,pirations and patriotic impulses
re not reciprocated by the sover
'igns.
:. tier our regular plcctionsin which
II have an equal chance to receive
ne suffragcs of the people, these
hbyists, composed Of IL motley
eovd of defeated politicians, hired
,cratOrs for all kinds Of local
chcmes, and all stripes OF hangers
n and casuals WHO extract exist
nee from the members by doing
heir dirty work or levyiug black
aal on them, flock to the capital
1t the opening of the legislative
session. There they congrcgate and
aucus together, and concoct their
schemes, and commence their shane.
IS intrigucs to corrupt the mem.
,crs and thwart the wishes of masses
If the people. They easily Subduc
the timij member aud the one o!
easy virtue and honesty. II in their
dishon, 81 work they encounter a
II mcmbt whose independence Of
character aud manly, patriotic in.
,iincts resist their persistent efforts
At corruption and bribery, they at
nee run through every community
\ this members district, Willy the
representative, and poison the mlnd'
: his constituents with their ialsC
.ad slandcrous reports. y pure
minded representative, is not /
pngcnial spirit, with whom these
lobbyists love to associate, and they
york to have rs few Of such Spirit'
,vted us possible. by urging auC
securing the election of unWinc plct
alcn, they corrupt and disgrace cN
~ political organization in til,
un,ry; pcllutc and degrade al
"uc political sentiment, and Icudc
Mnurc and mclean the very touu
ms liom which should come loft
airiotism, and sound and homes
l,cSmanship. In the legislatiy
llls they cause public measure
lich are vital 10 the interests ,
ne people, tobe carried or delicate,
money and bribery, and not h
md, eloquent argument and rca'
ing. IN fact they destroy I'll
wer and influence of sound rcSol
20, and DO away with every inccn
> aud every motive to legislatc b
Dqlti,t argument aud sound state
iisihp. The heart of the patrio
TAtcsm. n is saddcncd, the warn
ivid cloqucnce which the dellh,
ions Oh all public measures, won
naturally call forth, il chilled M
.cadcned by the conviction that
Ntct will be Countcraetcd aud ,
,ltcd b, ycnal aud incwcnary lo
lists, using Their money III buy il
ne timd and dishonest mcmhc
!rreiosc we have speeches read
cad Of delivered, and 10 one pa
,uv attention 10 them, or they q
plintcd without being heard at
4 the legislative halls, and ~
speeches have no more influence
latterS pending before the lcgis
Ire, than the school boy essay
,prc some rural debating club.
Such are the evils which are
rapidly increasing IN our mode
lcsislaticu, that 1t is evident to a
ne who has given the subject
moments consideration tint %