Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-15
The Signs of the Times.

away, it has been apparent it was an open
question whether the republicans would elect
the next president. They bad lost ground, but
it was not impossible that by an uncommon
circumspection 10 their carriage thot loss
might be retrieved When the president
made the blundcr Of using the federal troops
to seat the usurping legislature Of Louisiana,
fraudulontly recognized by the republican
returning board who had been chosen for the
purpose of giving the republicans the power,
that action might have been repudiated by
the republican members of Congress. But
they had not the manliness to commit them
selves as against the administration, and we
have the spectacle Of the representatives of
this free people divided upon the question,
the republicans as body unfolding and the
democrats disclaiming against the subverson
of the rights OF one of the states in our union
and the usurpation Of the state government
by men who are not the choice of the people,
the usurpers being supported in their false
claims--not by the votes of free people
but by the troops of the United States.
When rebellion was talked of freely
throughout the South, and the several states
were gathering troops and supplies for armed
resistance against the national government,
it was not until actual hostiIities had COM
menced, by the firing upon fort Sumpter on
the 18th of April, 1861, that the national
troops were called into use. Bat now, the
South lies PROSTATE from the effects of the
war and the pluuderings of the carpet-bag-
gers since that time. There is no danger of
another civil war, and consequently no re.
straint but that of the law upon the admin
istration, even if that administration over
steps the bounds fixed for it by the constitu-
ton, and in question between the two old
political parties, we are ashamed to confess,
the law counts for nothing so long as its ad-
ministration is in the hands of a party for
whose interest it is to violate the law. That
kellogg was never legally elected we do not
doubt but he has been placed and held in
Office by the use of the United States troops.
In the election last fall few people doubt that
majority of the legal votes cast were for
the conservative candidates, and if the vote
had been duly returned it would have given
the conservatives a majority in the legisla-
ture. The returning board was appointed
h,y oil I,,k
tive member, and that one soon resigned, on
account of the manifest unfairness Of the
others. This board took it upon themselves
to doctor the election returns so as to give
the republicans majority IN the legislature,
and they found it difficult task---so diff
cult as to necessitate several months work,
and, if reports are correct, the printing, af
ter election, Of quantity of republican bal
lots But republican majority having
been declared elected by the legal tribunal,
it is plain that those conservatives who had
been counted out were wrong in attempting
to capture the legislature as they did. There
were faults on both sides. Excuses had
been committed, negroes and others had been
inundated by the democrats, and we pre-
sumo by the republicans also, though proba-
bly, not as extensively. Matters were truly
in a deplorable state. But allowing all this,
what business had federal troops or federal
officials to interfere? Louisiana is a sover-
eign state. 1t is her right to settle all mat
tiers relating to the state government, with
out the Intervention of the national govern.
ment. No actual acts of violence had been
committed for months, no blood shed, and
not even were life or personal safety threat
ened. Under these circumstances the Uni
ted States troops were, illegally, marched in
to a state capitol to arrest aud drag out per-
sons who claimed right to be there. 1t
matters not whether their claim was right or
wrong. The fact which we are to consider
relates to the action of the troops. That ac-
ton we claim was unjust and illegal. That
such an outrage should be committed by our
armies, aud sanctioned by our president, is |
bad enough, but when some of the ablest |
and best republican members of both branch
es Of Congress, recognized leaders of the
party, stand in the legislative halls and up
hold the outrage this seems "tho most un.
kindest cut Of all !" it is what it seems must
break the camels back, as it is something lar
ger than a straw.
Such load as the republican party has
shouldered is morally certain to carry it un.
der in the next presidential election, and our
only regret at the prospect is that the
equally corrupt democratic party is quite
likely temporarily TO succeed it. We say
temporarily, for our faith is strong that with
the new public issues now and to come before |
the people Of the United States it is impossi-
BILE for the two present parties to hold sway.
An independent party is already in the field, |
and is drawing to its ranks brave aud true
men from both the old parties. The salary
grabbers and other public thieves and rob-
bers will await their time and come over af-
ter the success Of the new party is assured,
which we believe will be within the next
decade. While struggling for existence, it
will not be troubled by them. So it is that
as any party grows in power it grows in cor
ruption, until its downfall is the direct re-
suit Of its own success There is much truth
in the saying that "tho strongest majority is
a majority of one"
We have sent registers to all, we think,
who are entitled to them. If any others |