Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-03-25

unfnteresting. Here are perhaps eight
(! hundred men. who give undagging at
tenton toai the proceedings Every
! man present knows something of every
| question presented, and very few would
! shrink from giving expression to an
| opinion if needed. The town is wealthy
and the subjects discussed sometimes in.
| yolve an outlay of hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars. Under these .circum-
stances, the character and tone of the
discussions are most admirable, and the
amount of business done, and well done,
is really wonderful, compared with
the experience of other legislative
bodies. The speeches are straightfor-
ward, pointed, short, and are generally
positive contributions to the debates.
Very few speeches are made for show.
Buncombe is deadly sin. We were
present once (the question referring to
the election eff a town surveyor, many
wishing to return to a former system OF
district supervision, when a speaker be-
gan with, ct has been said, sir, that
revolutions never go backward )" but In
extenuation of this unusual declama-
ton it should be explained that the
speaker was lawyer and ex member OF
Congress. Not only are the subjects OF
universal personal interest, and the
speeches more liable, therefore, to be di-
rect expressions of opinions, but the
economical New Highlander always
wishes to finish town business in one day
if possible. He is willing to give this
amount of time from his customary oc-
equations. but more than this he be-
grudges hence another reason for his
useless rhetoric. The attention given to
all proceedings is almost church-like
there is no writing or wandering about
the hall, and very little private CONVEX
sation In consequence of this atten-
ton, every slip which a speaker may
make in statement of fact is taken adj
vantage of Immediately, and attempts to
screen personal interest in any subject
are exposed in manner which to tender
sensibilities must seem positively cruel.
Notwithstanding the business-like tone
of most of the proceedings, there is al
ways keen enjoyment of sharp replies
and of those personal hits made so easy
by the intimate acquaintanship of long
time neighbors There is little real hu-
NOR, though always some, and the wit is
severe rather than delicate. A man for
instance, begins rambling, querulous
talk about certain road near his house
which is not in good order. After wait
ing long enough to ascertain that this
complaint is all he really has to say, he
is interrupted by the question, "Why
didn't you tell the surveyor and have
the thing fixed, instead of waiting until
town meeting and coming here to COM
plain?" The laugh which follows this
question effectually ends his complaint
Again, the town clock is out of order.
For generations this clock has been in
the steeple of the old town'church, the
preacher of which has lately been sus-
pected of heresy. Immediately a num-
Der of suggestions are offered, all of
which connect the Irregularities of the
old clock with the supposed Irregular
ties in the theology taught below. These
hits are evidently intensely enjoyed, but
to an outsider, it must be confessed, they
are somewhat dreary. While the speak
ing, as at all large public meetings, is
mostly done by few, yet these few APP
pear to be recognized as only convenient
mouthpieces, for they are vigorously crit
icised, and are piled with questions from
all parts of the hall. These questions are
usually put in parliamentary form, and
parliamentary rules are strictly adhered
to throughout, the moderator being
knowledge of them, and his ability to
enforce them. National politics do not
enter at all into the discussions, nor do
they seem in any way to influence opin-
ions upon town matters, and State poll
tics are recognized only in the election
of representative to the Legislature
One of the most striking characteristics
of these meetings Is the unfailing good
temper manifested by every one
who takes part. In this respect we
know of few other legislative bodies
which can compare with them We
have been present when exciting subjects
were debated, and when personal feeling
ran very high indeed; but we have never
seen a speaker give way TO passion, or
indulge in that yituperative blackguard-
ism so common in other places. In view
of the frequent occurrence of ''tumult"
In the French Assembly, or ''row" in
our own Congress, the genuine decorum
of these townsmen is doubly admirable.
1t is with regret tempered, however,
by some things TO be explained hereafter)
that we announce the approaching end
of these long-continued meetings. The
town, doubtless, will soon apply for
city charter, and the old hall will give
place to building BETTING a more pre-
tentious form of government. Already
Patrick Mallory is getting ready to run
for the common council, and the specula-
tor is marking street lines and laying ont
lots. Whatever advantages may be gain
ed by the change from town to city gov
eminent, no old resident at least, and we
think few others, will deny that the bright
side of town meeting is very bright in
deed. A consideration of the dark side
we shall reserve for another portion of
our article Y. Nation