The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-08
BUNCOMBE RESOLUTIONS.

When we speak of a "buncombe" reso-
luton we generally mean a resolution so
drawn as to tickle the fancy of the coun-
try, without proposing, or, at least, with
out effecting, any practical legislation. In
order, however, to produce its desired re-
suit, it must enunciate some principle, or
must declare some policy which will COM
mand the assent of the people They are,
however, dangerous playthngs. They,
sometimes, plague the inventor. OF this
character was Springer's anti-third term
resolution. The father of the resolution
was a democratic enuncated sound prin-
ciple, but its design wac to catch the re-
publicans and make political capital against
them. A similar resolution had been in
troduced in the last congress, but the re-
publicans dared not touch it; they fled
from it with alright somewhat as an old
hen does when she sees her ducklings co
into the water. But now the democrats
found the situation changed. There was
new material in the house all were fresh
from their constituents and knew their
temper and convictions on the subject
and, moreover, the personal application of
the resolution, if any it had, no longer pos
sessed any terrors for them, so they, almost
to a man, faced the music, took the bull by
the horns, and voted for the resolution
much to the satisfaction of the republican
masses of the country. Only the demo-
cratic leaders were dissatisfied unless we
may except handful of others of such OK
traordinary erudition as to be alone able to
see the point-because the republicans had
stolen a march on them and stolen their
thunder too. The resolution, indeed, was a
buncombo one, but it was sound in princi-
pie, accomplished good work, and only
plagued its inventors.
Another buncombe resolution, similar in
its character and object, was one intro
duced, Wednesday, by Mr.. Cason, republi.
can, Of Indiana, declaring that in all cases
Of public employment, other things being
equal, the soldier shall have preference to
the civilian. The doctrine was good, but
the object was to make political capital
and, for n time. it seemed rs if the demo.
Gratis had stolen the republican thunder, fol
the house adopted the resolution with only
nine dssentent votes-and so the republi
cans seemed to take nothing by their mo
ton But the democrats were not to bt
allowed to come off with flying colors, fo
there vas a personal application to thu
resolution, and the republicans made ready
to spring the trap and turn the tables OF
the democracy. II is well known that thu
democratic officers of the house have beer
exceedingly busy in changing the personne
of the several employees of the house, ant
have made clean work of removing all O
The soldiers therein and supplying thei
places, for the most part, with ex-confede
rates, aud 80 the personal application wa
made. Mr.. Fort, republican, OF Illinois
did this, by introducing Il resolution de
claripg that the doctrine contained in tn,
former resolution WAS " so wise and Just
that it should be followed by the officers o
the house, and instructing them, in film,
subordinate positions, to "give to wei
qualified Union soldiers preference,
" over soldiers OF the late confede
- rate army This argument al no