Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-08-14

men In that party, being in Saratoga at the
time of the recent state Convention OF his
party, sent letter to b. Il. Smalley, Esq,
of Burlington, which hasasince been pub
lished in the Montpelier Argus q Patriot,
with comments of dissent. Amer stating
that he failed to go with his party In sup
porting Greeley, he says;-
1t is too plain for controversy that there
is now no recognized dividing limo between
the two parties calling themselves Repub-
Leans and Democrats. The issues growing
out of slavery and the rebellion have coas-
ed to DO party issues. There Is no bond of
Union in the republican party, save fealty
TO its presidential head and love for the pot
tagethat comes of that fealty. There Is no
common tie uniting the democratic oppo-
sition, save the desire TO get places of those
now feasting on that pottage. There Is
quite as much contrarlety OF opinion upon
questions of tariff, currency and State
rights in one party as the other. Edmunds
and Morrill, find themselves quite as often
in accord with Thurbcr and Bayard as with
Carpenter and Morton. Both parties have
their thieves and jobbors. The reason why
the republicans have the most of them Is
because they hold the keys Of the treasury,
and 1t is more profitable to DO loyal thief
in the ranks of the majority than TO toll
empty handed in tho service of the minor
ity.
He then goes on 10 find fault with his
party for having permitted Grant and
Jones 10 steal Democratic thunder by lead
ing in return to specie payment and says,
also that his party should long ago have TAX
en- high ground against the National Bank
monopoly aud the Pacific Railroad subsid-
les. From this he comes down to State
politics, aud says there never was a more
golden opportunity for the party to lead in
political revolution than now, for the
masses have repudiated the Republican
leaders by nominating Judge Peck, while
the Republican platform adopted at Bur-
lington contains but one living idea-that
in relation to the currency--and says mot
one word about those important Issues
which are being discussed whenever two
intelligent citizens meet" He therefore
lays down platform upon which he would
like to stand, and which is as follows:
l. Economy in the State and National
Administration. Innexlble opposition to
any increase OF salaries. The salaries OF
nearly all officials, legislative, executive,
and judicial, are already too high. Office
seeking for the sake of the emoluments Is
one great vice Of the times. Destroy the
vice by removing the temptation.
2. An entire remodeling of our state
system OF taxation. The most serious
drawback upon our prosperity as a state is
the high rate of taxation resting upon our
agricultural population. Unless this evil
is mitigated, and the burdens of govern
| nent equalized, our small farms will be
abandonded, aud the best part OF our pop
ulaton Ego west," or engage in occupations
| less promOtive of those virtues for which
| our people have always been justly cele-
brated. The remedy for this Is to be found
in the complete recognition of the princi-
pie that all property which the law pro-
tects should Lear its share Of the expense
of that protection. Hence, l would SO
| modify our laws relative to taxation as tC
make all property taxable. There Is nc
| good reason why our railroads, churches
| manufactures, and all other property
which the law protects, should not be tax
cd. The legislation which exempts manu-
factories from taxation is not only uncon.
stltulional, but unjust and impolitlc. 1t /,
| equally unjust that the amount of property
owned by railroad corporations and churct
organizations should bear no share OF the
public burdens. More than half OF thu
wealth of Vermont pays no taxes. Tn,
burdens of government fall upon the iarm
err, mechanic and laborer Let the Demo
cratic party of Vermont show its regarC
for those classes, by demanding equal tax
alton OF all property.
The third plank favors the repeal of thu
prohibltory law, which he regards ny fail
ure and its administration as a demoraliza
ton and disgrace, aud the enactment OF 6
stringent license law, which will proven
sales to minors and habitual drunkards
and hold the seller responsible for person
al damages in all cases. Those who will
recur to the resolutions OF the Convention
will see that this plank, the only shaky
one in his platform, Is the only ono which
they adopted.
4. The party should put itself squarely
upon the record in denunclation of the cor
ruption and mismanagement of the rail
roads now operated under the authority o
our courts. 1t should also demand th,
passage Of such laws as will prevent AM
railroad corporation from giving, or any
legislative, executive, or judicial officer o
the State from receiving free pass. 1t i
high time that the railroads of Vernon
1 4 =. hi.
ers. We cannot much longer endure tn
scandal and disgrace connected with thei
operation by the Court of Chancery TO
Franklin County. The Legislators cal
easily furnish remedy. If the Democra
cy of Vermont will lake the lead in this no
form, 1t cannot be accomplished. l trus
that the party will not be found eithe
championing these wrongs or turning
deaf ear TO the public demand that the,
should be righted. These seem TO me i'm
portant questions of interest 10 the Poop,
of this day and generation. !, for one, an
tired of threshing straw. 1t is all wei
enough for harmless amusement to NEE
in convention, passing resolutions express
ing our disl ike of the way the rascally Re
publicans are mismanaging the govern
ment, and our willingness TO take thei
places; bat what does 1t all amount TOT
A word in regard to candidates. III ha
my way, Asahel Peck should be the Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor; BinghaL
for Lieut.. Governor and Williams 70
Treasurer. That is ticket which cannC
be improved upon in Vermont. 1t is N
objection that Judge Peck is the candidat
of the Administration party. He is a
good Democrat as the best of us. He
honest, incorruptble, and owns himse
by a title absolutely indeleaslble. No raj
road, party, clique, or person has any lie
upon him. l want the opportunity OF vol