Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-30

mont meets al the oalltal on W eunesuaN,
the seventh of October. The biennial ses-
sion Of the legislature has convinced us that
the annual assembly Of that august body is
quite rs well, II not a little better, for the
state. The present system has made a great
change in the personnel of the Legislature.
It is now largely composed Of new men, des-
titute Of legislative experience. Such men
may be very worthy and excellent, but they
are apt to make mistakes, do bungling work,
and protract the session. Experience, ac-
quaintance with the forms and history Of
legislation, with its precedents and limita-
tons, is quite essential to a successful legis-
lator.
In a Republican state, where the people
are the source Of power, and their elected
representatives are the recipients and users
Of this sovereign power for the time being, it
is absolutely essential TO the purity and
strength Of the state that the people should
befamiliar with political affairs, and educated
into a wide understanding Of all matters per
tanning to the best administration of public
matters Ignorance may be bliss in he church,
but it is the fountain Of all evil in the state.
We have always looked upon the annual
session Of the legislature as the political
normal school of the state educating the
best and most noted men in every town, sue
cessiyely, in legislative and administrative
forms, knowledge and duties. II kept
our people familiar with political admins
tration, with the metes and bounds Of legis-
lation; with the cares of state; with the re-
sponsibilties Of official action, with the gen
eral history and welfare Of the common
wealth, and with all the local, social and spe-
cifc interests Of the people. No violent
changes, no needless reforms, no political
revolutions are possible, so long as the peo-
pie are intimately conversant with the his
tory and duties Of legislation, as they were
in the days Of that grand political curriculum,
the annual session Of the Legislature.
We think we can see the growing disad-
vantages of the new system, in the larger in
huence of inexperienced men, and in decreas-
ing knowledge of the best elements and
principles of political administration. The
register of political ability has shown a con
siderable depression in the average temper
ature. Our great normal school, which gave
such complete instruction in civil admins
tration, and furnished an annual course Of dis
cipline and training to one man from every
town in the state only keeps half the time
now, and is opened but once in two years
Consequently there is falling off in politica
knowledge and administrative ability.
We hear good deal of what the legisla
ture is going to do. The new blood in it i.
going TO have a little livelier time than
usual. There are going to be investigations
and reforms and changes and overturning'
and revolutions, ri ID omne genus. The char
lot Of the sun is going to be driven for Q
month at break-neck speed. Pheton ha,
got hold of the reins, and we may look Out
for novel and brilliant race The prophets
of these changes and revolutions are telling
us in the Springfield Republican,, and in
papers of that ill1 nearer home, that Vermont
is feeling the impulse of the new order, and
that we shall see some notable things in the
approaching session.
OF course this talk is all " stuff and non
sense" The state is in good condition
Our officers are well enough Our treasury
is hourishing, and our treasurer is honest
faithful and efficient as treasurer ever was
Our auditor is capital balance wheel, ant
does his duties unexceptionably. Our judge
are learned and upright. Our senators an'
representatives are men after our own heart
Our governor is the man Of our choice. Their
is not a sweeper in the capitol but earns hi
small wages faithfully. The state machiner
was never in better condition. Our indu
tries are good. Our manufacturers al
struggling slowly up hill to the SUNNI
onr railroads are the greatest blessings thr
ever people srawled at. Our populatio
are orderly, sober, church-going, decen
with comparatively little crime or drunkei
ness or vice or deviltry in our borders, and III
less our incoming legislature should tai
hold of the business of radical reform, an
devise measures to regenerate the hearts
the people, and introduce the millennium |
special enactment, we do not see how it
going to fulfill the hopes of the enthusiasts
and reformers, who are wild over the chang
and reforms ii is going to effect.
The probability is that reform and revol
tionism viii blow the corks out of their bottl
and effervesce like small beer for a few da,
at the outset of the session, and then Il
sober assembly will settle down into Il
well worn groove of legislative duties, di
tract itself for few weeks over incons
quential bills, have some serious deliber
tons and some earnest discussions on fe
exceedingly trihing matters, pass the usu
appropriations, elect the customary officer
add a few fish ponds to the protective tart
raise the tax ON dogs and other animals, tai
look into the states prison and the lunat
asylum, and in the very height of untran
acted business come plump against thank
giving, and run home 10 roast turkey an
pumpkin pies A few Solons will emer,
from the crowd Of inexperienced member
as material for future governors, senators an
representatives in Congress, and the sta
will settle down to two years course Of /
usual prosperity. And once again we sha
welcome the coming and speed the partir
guest.