Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-05
The One Term Principle.
WAITSFIELI

| EDITORS OF THE FREEMAN In your re-
marks in the Freeman of Jan. 22i, oD
| biennial sessions and the one term rule, you
say, " the people by their votes spoke in
favor of the one term rule" How far the
towns were governed by the one term rule
we are hot able TO say; but the choice of an
unprecedt nted number of new members at
the last session of the Legislature may be
more seeming than real, after all, in favor Of
the one term policy We sent a new men,
her from our town, but the one term rule
WAS not thought of to my knowledge, and
we greatly undo rrate the good sense of our
town if it ever adopts the one term policy.
The next election will give us better data to
judge Of the settled policy of the State. In
the meantime, the sober second thought OF
tie people will, with an increased living
fqiih IN you, which | am sorry to learn you
arc disposed to measure Ly our stinted char
ity for the county conventions, set all to
rights Our temperament is such that
really believe we are a little lacking thai
charity which " belitveth all things"
However deficient we may be in this heavenly
gilt, ttill We dislike a low suspicious spirit
" forever watching unto fraud" But alter
all charity must have legs to stand upon.
The great Teacher, the embodiment Of faith,
hope and charity. did not hesitate to call
things by their right Dames-as instanced,
id generation of vipers-Woe unto you
Scr!bes and Phalisees, hypocrites, for you
devour widows houses &C. With the
same ability for discrim natlon, we might
mete out exact justice to all. But an errlng
Judgment will sometimes be too charitable,
and then again not lenient enough. If We
have said anything untrue about our county
conventions we take all back. When we
said the action of the conventions was
breach of common sense, we of course spoke
from our standpoint of view, knowing We
were liable to the same charge. And when
we ascrlbed the motive power of the conven-
tions to Offce-seeking We knew there were
vast many smart men in the State whose
bosoms were swelling with laudable ambi-
ton for public notorlety; whose chances to
d spay their disinterested patriotism and
trapscendent abilities would be doubled by
the one term policy. Now we ask in all
humility what other reasonable motive could
be ascr bed to the action of the conventions.
1t will hardly do to plead the Democratic
doctrine OF rotation in Office, for the members
are scarcely initiated before they are dropped
Tor new recruits Ii We could cure this itch
for public distinction by conIering civic hon.
ors by t,eret, as they do in the military, We
might ha: e governors and brigadier- generals
to cur heart content, and crafty all the
grades OF Cficc-seekers down to street-sweep-
ers.
Now Dir. Editor, if you don't think this
cow has been MIXED clean dry, just tell US
,ohy we cannot have the experience of our
legislators under the biennial rule as well as
under the annual policy. As you, with US,
hope for 1t, we trust YOU will be willing to
cork for it, and thereby give a good reason
for the hope that is within you. B.R.
REMARKs-The want OF civic titles by
/ bTeyet leaves the itch for public distinction
unsatisfed; and in too many cases the result
will be that the people Will not See to 1t thai
mtn are chosen because Of ability Instead OF
because of desire to hold public trust
seekers for Office are more viz liant and much
more eager under the present system, since
III If opportunities are lever. Eternal
vigilance seems to be their MOTIF; hence
they are free and hold office.