Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-02-02
The Freedom Of Elections

The Montpelier freeman quotes Jefferson
jackson. Webster and others Of the fathers, to
US. in favor of guarding the freedom Of elections
against undue influence from federal cfioe-
holders, snd adds:
The Free Press will obscI,s that Congressman
will not be likely to control conventions by send
inc 10 them custom house clerks and civil
officials gho are under obligations 10 them for
their Dlaces." Il Mr. Wizards bill should be-
come law. Whether it would be wise TO pro-
hibit Congressman from " elecuoneerlns is
question depending upon different conslderauons
thsn those urged by the eminent persons quoted
sboye but we sre confident hist even Con-
greesmen spend great deal toe much time "a
'eeotioneerinC, and that too, 70 the negiect OF
their duties rs Congressman, and TO the puouc
injury Ii is possible, however, inst some OF the
points sugF1tted by the Free Press are ana
srous to tae csse OF custom house omcer'
who, either when applying for ONCE or when
fearing a removal, could properly enough
and without any violation CT the Oil pro
posei By Nh Willsri, show to the appoint
ing power reasons Why he ought 10 De ap-
pointei or retained in office. II the Gaze Of
5 Congressman, the people are the appoint
ing power, and before that tribunals the
applicant t.r q custom house appointment be-
fore an examining board candidate Cor Con
gress may, possibly, without inprop1e'y' De
allowed 10 present his case. We DO not suggest
this, however, because We approve cordially oi
- e.ectioneering " ioT any once, but merely 10
suggest thst tie 800 cases are not entirely
parallel, ia the sense il which The Free Press
speaks Of them.
The evil which SIr. WIar5's h.ii was intended
to remedy, is the sc-ive Interference OF federal
ofi,e-holiers in conventions and elections, and
this interference, Gen. jackson said, had even
in his time, " brought tie patronage Of the
general government into conflict with the
freedom Of elections" If the Free Press
thnkE this is not 81 evil, Il ought TO, OF course,
ss IL does. upheld it, There Is not the remotest
possibility thst Jsisrsou's doctrine will be made
into : law by this Congress, II 1t ever i9
and fl- thar matter, 10 part Of the
proposed civil service reform has the ghost oil
chance Of being approved hy The present law
making power
We believe We yield 20 &c ole in Jealousy Tor
the freedom Of elections. We appreciate ana
respect the motives which undoubtedly governed
cur friend Mr.. Willard, in the introduction O;
his bill, which he says. hss no chance Of becon-
.ng 8 law. Bat il has seemed TO Us, that he and
some others Of cur legislators Al Washington
were, IN their efforts 20 cure one evil, in danger,
so far IS they make any A5aiEay, Of bringing
about another serious evil For President JEFF
ferscn to issue circular to federal oiiciar under
him, discouutensnoing undue interference with
elections, R,s one thing /: To1ld be quite an
other thing 70 ea.ct law attaching a severe
penalty to " auy attempt to influence the votes
Of others" on the part Of sDy U. 5. oficeholder
It wouli not conluce 10 the purity aad elevation
Of the aeryice to tx things SO that 10 man Of any
se.f-respect could hold federal Office anil GER
tanly 70 highmjn5ci msn would consent to
hold ofioa, under conditions which forbid him
to exercise the rights which make American cit |
i.enship valuable, such as the right to thare
IL the selection Of public officers, and to express
his honest views On public measures and public |
men, even though they should happen to " IN
fueuce the vote, Of others
As to the prcpriety of inoiuiiug Congressman
in any such prohibition, We may recall to Mr..
Willari's memory tie fact that the most for |
midsble attempt to interfere with and corrupt /
elections in this State-in fact SO lar as we |
are aware the only widespread and organized |
attempt TO interfere with the fee choice Of the |
people, in the history Of our State-was the work /
of Congressman, who endesvored to convert /
the federal Offices and cficeholders Of his dis
trict into = machine which should keep him IN
power indefinitely sud who came much nearer to
succeeding than it WAS plesssn: to contemplate.
We do not propose to argue question which
cannot be considered a practical one, at present
hut we csu see no reason for padlocking the
mouths Of federal officials. and excluding them
from osucutes and conventions, which does not
apply to Congressman.