Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-24
Our Congressional Election.

Our Congressional Election.
The prospcc; that Mr.. Willard will be
his own successor as representative to Con-
grcss from the first district of the State is
very good We have always advocated the
reelection Of able and faithful members Of
Congress. The Office is not lucrative nor
merely honorary 1t has responsibilities
and duties Of great magnitude A new
and inexperienced member is utterly unable
to command the influence needful to their
mos. successful performance. 1t takes
quite four years for capable man to learn
the routine Of proceedings 10 Congress so
as to handle himself with any degree Of
case, or to enter upon its debates with any
degree Of confidence and success II is
absolutely impossible that a representative
shall be able to WELD anything like the
power to which his State is entitled, or Of
which he is capable, until he has become
familiar with all the rules aud arts Of par.
liamentary proceedings,
1t is a great pity, therefore, for State
to send its representatives to Congress, and
just as soon as they come to be qualified to
act their parts well in that formidable arena,
withdraw them, in order to give the places
they occupy to inexperienced and untaught
learners 1t is not in that way sensible
people do their ordinary business. A cor
poratou never discharges its superintendent
when he has come to know how best to con-
duct its affairs. A farmer never dismisses
a dairy maid just when she has learned to
make the best butter in the county, to
substitute in her place raw, unframed
girl. And we imagine the position of Con-
gresham is quite as difficult and response
bic, and requires as much the exercise Of
trained and experienced ability.
liza corporation or farmer should conduct
their business on the principle that so many
are anxious to conduct politics, they would
come TO the end Of their finances pretty
soon. If the railroad president should re-
ward a meritorious conductor by making
him the treasurer Of the corporation, or the
farmer should give Bridget the charge of
the dairy, because she had for long time
been capital hand at washing dishes, the
treasury in the one case aud the dairy in
the other would soon come to grief And
we are at loss to comprehend the wisdom
of the people who would deprive the State
Of the services Of competent and trained
and intelligent representative just when he
has reached the needful conditions Of the
highest usefulness and power, 10 order to
reward political aspirant for party services
in some other field. 1t is a singular policy
that would exclude trained workman that
his place might be taken, and not filled, by
tyro. 1t is by this method Of politics
that the influence OF State is altogether
lost or weakened in Congress.
II VIC found that the representative we
had employed was not efficient and capable,
we would gil his place with another at the
first election. But we would hardly be
willing to cast him aside as unworthy Of
our sufrages, because some ambitious as
pirant desired his place as reward for
political service Such Offices ought not to
be the spoils and plumber Of partisanship.
Any pretentious seeking after them is prima
facie evidence Of want Of fitness The best
men never blow their own trumpets, moi
hire others to blow for them. And il
ought to be disqualification for any mar
to be found with such horn in his hand
Office ought to seek the best man. Office.
hunters are the last men that should be put
into places Of trust, And when a public
officer has demonstrated his capacity, anC
reached the conditions of usefulness anC
power, by long experience aud diligent de
votion to his duties, we would retain hi
services for the sake of the people
We know of no reason why Mr.. Willar'
should not receive the reward Of faithful
honest and intelligent servant of the publ
interests. He has been true to the trust
committed to him. He has been an indie
pendent, fearless and able representative
lie has just come to the full comprehension
Of the best means and methods of parlia
mentary life. His abilities are no onge
hampered by inexperence, but are supple
mented and enforced by his knowledge o
Congressional proceedings 1t would b
possible for a rival to crticise him, but i
would be difiiult to equal him. We regre
that the question of another man to succeed
him should have been raised, but we trust i
will be disposed of in such a way as viii
show that the people Of the FIRST district ap
preciato and honor the Independence, tn
ability and the. integrity of their presen
representative, Hon. G. W. Willard.