St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-02-03


terests will suffer, but we may fear that
D! they will get Il larger slice somewhere
clsc-a little more out of the popular
view, but none the less real. | for one
would not like to give them so good an
excuse to increase their prerequisites
But if it must be 50, all that can be said
is that Il sugar pill is easier to
swallow than one that is not l take the
ground that the main benefit of the frank
ing privilege is for tie peQple-they get
the irankel matter, and if that matter is
of no matter or of no consequence, the
people should demand that members of
Congress stop discussing the various ques-
tions that are brought before thcm-stop
collecting and publishing information by
the census, through the agricultural and
patent office departments, reports on the
various subjects, etc, etc. Such things
would be almost cntirel y useless if they
are of no consequence TO the people. This
Is the matter lrankcd. 1t is presumed
that no one would advocate such 4 course.
Then it Is pertinent 10 enquire whose
business is being done by the law-mak-
crs, and who ought to know just how 1t
is dDnc! There is but one :lnswcr-lt is
the people 1t follows then that the pco-
Aplc are the sovcrcignS, and members OF
Congress- their servants therefore what
ever is done in the halls of legislation is
Of interest to the people. II that some
thing is Jolly, h1tSt. the more need that
, the sovcrcgus know who are the worth
les servants that they may he elected to
stry al home. And when questions OF
, real interest are proposed or discussed,
the people should he permitted t" know
, the ar4umcnt, pro and con also reports
from thr departments AMI all the matters
connected with thu government should be
! lail before the people. Not such doubt
iml and one sided statements us are mlny
times given by party newspapers, but the
, real ones made 10y the servants uf the
- people. 1t i, the masters eye that makes
faithful servants, and nothing short oi
the fullest, finest, nearest AMI LHJSt I'M
served intercourse with our Legislators
can secure our hi2hcst well living us 4
nation - ,m2 one has SAID that eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty, and how
can this bc exercised without sending
broad east over thr land the acts and do
ms ul the lawmakers 1t seems 10 ml
like selling our birihright for Il mess OF
pptta@a, To 1--WE up the iranking privilege
The national legislature will i'll 4 scrst
} I.,s-ittin. with closed doors, and the in.
formation We shall oct about what Is 90
in on there vii! not come 10 us with lliC
, broad seal OF the Government, but may
he only such rs suits the interest Ci de
,.uiug men To i've.
am unwilling To surrender the l."lo
we now have upon cur servants TO rcn.I lei
account and take what their generosity
, amd it may b, only what their interests
- NAV prompt them 10 1--WE. can think
, of but one consideration that would IN
= ciucr me To- consent 10 the abolition %
= the fr:lihing pIivIlcgr, ami that l. tina
: the government should publish all the do
=, ing- OF Congress and reports from I'll,
- DEPARTMENTS. etc. in suitable form an,
:, furnish it at least once 4 week free 10 cv'
.rry household in the land. | know ii
woul be too expensive To suit the poPu
=. lar taste, bat none could deny but tina
:, the people would br better prepared +,
:, DISCHARGE the duties OF trGcmcn than they
=, now are, an | that it would have \ SaIu
tary effect upon the law makers but Il
, me dpllarS and cents look small compare,
with our priceless liberty, and it has
:, seemed strange 10 me that there should
20 be -Ilrh popular clamor to 10 away tin
-. very system that brings the people the
nearest to the government we all hold st
=. dear. 1t has not been my object 10 spcal
OF the abuses Of the privilege in question
they are, however, too iilgrant 10 c>cap,
attention. and to correct them Is Il duti
=. we owe our country. Bat because TN
!, system Is abused Is not Of itself Il suli
= Client reason 10 do it away. | was il
l hopes that some of the members OF Con
gre>S would have had the interest of tn
;, people - much ut heat is TO rcmInI
! them that they themselves coull do with
=. out the privilege easily enough, bu: on
n which the people ought not TO be depriv
n ed OF But | suppose 50 persistent wa
+, the clancr that they thought that moth
;, in. short of actual trill woull be of an,
:. avail. Ii could have my way, | woul'
i now pour in petition after petition int
! tie Senate 10 have them stay the threat
! cncd evil.
l. Nr,Er,rrr. ,<I, III nNEr SErbS -