Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-27

class of newspapers are now lifting theil
hands in horror against an elective guui
ciary, when for years they have been silen,
on the subject? Is it because the bone and
sinew of the land have at last lifted them,
selves against the crushing exactions oil
monopolies, which have crippled their COM
merce, controlled their politics and absorb
ed their means?
have an elective judiciary in Vermont
not like that in Illinois, where the Judges
theless elective. Would the people like to
give it up? They may know that it has
been abused they may have heard how
the choice of the Legislature has more than
once been but the mere ratification OF
choice previously made by one or two men
whose interests were largely at stake fhey
may have shrewdly guessed why men OF learn
ing and eminence at the bar have had their
spontaneous candidacy suddenly nlpped IN
the bud to make room for the unfolding oil
mere mediocre lawyers" who knew their
masters will all these things and many
more the people may have understood and
vet tolerated, because they are slow 10 rise
in opposition to anything which bears the
semblance of responsibility until convinced
that it endangers liberty. In the main the
people have not doubted the high character
Of our judges-they have never suspected
that any one of them has ever been elected
with reference to 4 particular service nor
have they dreampt that any one of them
has ever fallen 50 low in a canvass as to
offer to remove to any particular locality to
ensure his election When the Burlington
FREE Press, in what we are now bound to
believe was n moment of Inauyertence,
made the statement last fall that IN
stead of the Courts running the rail-
road, the railroad to the extent oil Its
connection with it ran the court, the as
tonishing declaration fell on thousands of
unsuspecting ears. Ifanybody should now
make the statement that the same railroad
which thus ran the court has by excessive
local rates cost the State more than the war
did. thus absorbing the general wealth and
stunting the permanent growth OF towns
which may have had an ephemeral pros
perity from local and temporary causes
nay more. if any one should declare that the
same railroad had cost the State what
was dearer than its wealth-its fair good
name, and dragged down with it the credit
of other roads so that they cannot float
their bonds for fear of what our Legislature
and our courts may do-would not ,the peo-
pie rejoice that they have still left in their
pONtIlul W toh
apply in their own good time ?-!N. Adams
Messenger.
If the Messenger includes the FREE PRESS
in the certain class of newspapers" it al
ludes to, as we may infer it does, from the
fact that the paragraphs quoted above form
part of an extended leader for which n
paragraph from the FREE Pass furnishes
the text-it shoots wide of the mark This
paper has not been silent, in former years,
on the subject of an elective judiciary.
When such discussion was timely, as when
Councils Of Censors and the Consttu-
tional Convention were in session to consider
amendments to the Constitution, this paper
steadily advocated the appointiye system
as superior on the whole to the elective, for
the selection OF Judges. in this State, it is
true, the elective system has worked
pretty well. Our people are staid,
conservative and intelligent enough. to
guard in practice against the dangers to
which the system they have chosen is liable. |
They have kept politics out of the judicial |
electlonsto great extent; and they have Sc
cured permanence in the Office, and have re-
moved the Judges in good measure from fear
OF popular caprice or desire to curry popu-
lar favor, by a rulc of re-electing the
Judges, as long as they prove themselves
and trusty, which has come to |
have almost the force of law. The State
has thus secured under the elective system,
the best advantages of the appointive plan.
While this remains 50, We have not |
called loudly for a change, or lifted |
hands in horror against an elective iu-
dietary. Yet we retain our opinion, not
born of day bat held and strengthened
through many years, that in principle, the
appointiye system is best and there have
not been wanting premonitions in the his
tory ofour State-the Messenger, it seems. has
seen some-that in practice it may yet be
lound the safest. here as elsewhere.
So, too, the FREE Pass is not open to
he charge Of telling the truth about our
supreme Court by - inadyertence. We
ave never concealed our opinion that the
peculiar relations of the Court of Chancery
0 the Vermont Central were dana ging to
he credit of the court of the roads and of the
'tate. We have reason TO believe that some
Members of the court have shared that
pinion and that the present Chancellor
vent as far at one time, as to declare To
ONE OF his friends his intention to leave the
'ench rather than he party to the indef- t
late continuance of the road in the condition
i ward in Chancery. However that NAV
e, we have not minced matters in express !
NJ our opinion on the subject heretofore. I
nd We do not intend to, hereafter. We're
ard 1t as extremely unfortunate that il has d
zen found necessary to continue the re-
eivership for a day under the new manage =
ient. The corporation should be placed on :
s own ieet at tho very earliest possible mo- d
lent, and II we do not spend more words on /
ne subject, it is because we believe it to he n
ne intention of the Central Vermont direc f
'rS to take their charge out of court at
cry early day, and as soon as possible.
As for the rest Of the Messenqcr's screed Il
'e have only to say that, - If ANYBODY l.
lould make the statement that the YER e.
ont central has cost the State more than u
ie war did. by excessive local rates il n
ou!d find believers only among those who. a
Ike the Messenger, have personal grudge OF
saihst the Managers, or personal interest p
fshtIng the road. Whatever other sins IL
nc old Central is chargeable with. it is not pr
be charged with diSregarding the public 50
'nVenience or demands. Bankrupt itself. Iii
ld having never pail dividend, it has p'
Immensely increased the value of the pro- al
erty OF the State and especially of the m
WINS along Its route. Stockholders and &c
editors may have reason enough to COM o!
lam bat the public as such has had W
Try little cause for complaint. And the st
'esseig'r will find that it cannot mako m
nyihing, here in Vermont, by taking up al
le cutlery of opposition to the railroads AZ
hich IN the West, where the roads make fat be
ydends while the farmers burn their corn ar
# iuel' seems to he the issue of the dav. IN
'oush' as We believe, only for dav. even OF
lere. n,
Maine Republican Convention. -,
HE Maine Republican State Contention of
ct IN Bangor, Thursday, over 200 dele
ites beng present, while the galleries We're nj
ieked with visitors. The convention or u
'nized by the choice of Congressman m
agene Hale as Chairman, who made a W
net speech, the most significant thing in Ct