Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-22
POLITICAL NOTES.

The voting power of the oranges in Iowa
is estimated at 1000.
The Boston Post says that General But
ler's letter on the salary grab only puts
fresh cork in the old bottle.
Harpers Weekly comes out strong in fa-
vor of the government assuming the con-
troll of the telegraph in this country.
The New York Times having inquired,
"If the Democratic party swallowed Hor-
ace Greeley and Gratz Brown, with the
ragged regiment at their tails, why on earth
should they turn up their noses at Ben
Butler9" The Boston Post replies, BE
cause one dose was enough"
a carefully prepared statement of the en-
tire debt of eleven Southern States makes
it amount to S1SO, O36, 1913 against $3.50, 100000
in 1865, the increase in five years being
about $50, 100000, the greater part of which
has been used for railroads and other inn
provements.
The State of Mississippi has rather Pc
cular law, passed by the last Legislature,
by which il is provided that every person
holding Office in the Stale who shall DO
found drunk shall, upon convection, be
deemed guilty of high misdemeanor, and
shall, by the judgment of the court and
sentence, be removed from office.
Gen. Butler, in the course of his seven
column defence of the salary grab, having
taken occasion to make an attack upon
Hon. Geo. f. Hoar that gentleman has re-
sponded in a most scathing review of But
ler's character and services. These he sums
In rai IL
ure." Could biography be more tersely
written?
The New York World, complaining with
good reason that the Democratic platforms
are barren of living issues, gives the fol-
lowing as the reason for it 1.-THE facts that
stand out prominently to impress the peo-
pie are that the debt has been reduced dur
ing the time Gen. Grant has held Office
nearly four hundred millions, and that the
country is at peace and prosperous"
The st. Louis Democrat would like to
see old Ben. Wade returned TO the United
States Senate from Ohio, from which he
was ousted by the Democratic successes of
1867. They sometimes say he is getting too
old, but we do not believe he will ever
consent to die while there is a Democratic
party to abuse. He is as hearty to-day as
he was twenty years ago, and he can still
do more loud and strong talking than any
man in Ohio.
Gen. Spinner writes a letter on the ma
tional debt. His main idea is that Congress
should pass law ordering the resumption
of specie payments on fixed day-"say
three years from the passage of such act"
He thinks that the paper currency would
at once become the equivalent of coin.
This is a sangune view TO take, but we
agree with Gen. Spinner thus far-that
Congress ought to make serious attempt
to deal with this great question Session
after session passes away and nothing is
done.
The renewal of the discussion upon the
subject Of capital punishment during the
past few months, has called public atten-
ton to the need of some restriction upon
the pardoning power which has heretofore
been placed in the hands OF the Governors
and often misused New Jersey vested the
pardoning power in Court of Pardons,
and the Pennsylvania Constitutional Con-
vention has adopted similar law. 1t is
eApccteu Thai SUCH PROVISION Will 40 away
with the present lax system of pardoning
which prevails in nearly all the States. I'm
der the new law every case has to be inves-
tigated by board consisting of several
members, instead of being decided by one
man whose sympathies have been, in all
probability, wrought upon to such an ex-
extent that unbiased judgment is impos-
sible.
The Hon. Amasa Walker has addressed
letter to the Hon. William S. Groesbeck
taking exception to some of the latter's
statements in his famous letters upon the
demand for new party. Mr. Walker thinks
it would inevitably destroy great part
of our manufactures to establish free trade
before specie payment has been restored
He is in favor of free trade, but does moi
want it with our present currency. II,
mentions the following as indispensable,
planks in the platform of the party which
is to control the future of the country
First and foremost, effective measures fol
the gradual but certain restoration of th,
currency; secondly, for regulating the in
ternal commerce Of the country by secur
ing equitable charges for transportation
thirdly, for establishing strictly revenue
tariff; that is, one that shall not interfere
with the industry of the country-in olhe
words, free trade tariff"