St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-09

return to the principles and practices
of the founders of the government.
They neither expected nor desired from
public officers any partisan service.
They meant that public officers should
owe their whole service to the govern
ment and to the people. They meant
that the officer should be secure in his
tenure as long as his personal character
remained untarnished, and the per-
Torrance of his duties satisfactory
They held that appointments to office
were not to be made nor expected mere
ly as rewards for partisan services, nor
merely on the nomination of members
of Congress as being entitled in any re-
spect to the control of such appoint
ments.
The fact that both the great political
parties of the country, in declaring their
principles prior to the election, gave a
prominent place to the subject of re-
form of our civil service, recognizing
and strongly urging its necessity in
terms almost identical in their specific
import with those 1 have here employ
ed, must be accepted as conclusive
argument in behalf of these measures
1t must be regarded as the expression
of the united voice and will of the
whole country upon this subject, and
both political parties are virtually
pledged to give it their unreserved sup
port. The president OF the United
States of necessity owes his election to
Office to the suffrages and jealous labors
of political party, the members of
which cherish with ardOr, and regard
as of essential importance, the princi-
pies of their party organization. But
he should strive to be always mindful
of the fact that he serves his party best
who serves the country best.
In furtherance of the reform we seek,
and as in other important respects a
change of great Importance, l recon-
mend an amendment to the constitu-
ton, prescribing term of six years for
the presidential Office, and forbidding a
reelection.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT.
FellOw-citizens We have reached
the close of a political contest marked
by the excitement which usually at
tends the contests between great politi-
cal parties whose members espOuse
and advocate, with earnest faith, their
respective creeds. The circumstances
were, perhaps, in no respect extraordi-
nary, save in the clOseness and the con-
sequent uncertainty of the result. For
the first time in the history of the coun-
try, it has been deemed best. in view
of the peculiar circumstances of the
no oh
in dispute with reference to the count
ing of the electoral votes should be re-
ferred to the decision of a tribunal ap-
pointed for this purpose. That tribu-
nal, established by law for this sole
purpose, its members, all of them, men
of long established reputation for integ-
rity and intelligence, and, with the ex-
ceptiOn of those who are also members
OF the supreme judiciary, chosen equal
ly from both political parties, its DELHI
eratiOns enlightened by the research
and the arguments of able counsel, was
entitled to the fullest confidence of the
American people. Its decisions have
been patiently waited for, and accepted
as legally conclusive by the general
judgment of the public.
For the present, opinions will widely
vary as to the wisdom of the several
conclusions announced by that tribu-
nal. This is to be anticipated in every
instance where matters of dispute are
made the subject of arbitration under
the forms of law. Human Judgment is
never unerring, and is rarely regarded
as otherwise than wrong by the unsuc-
cessful party in the contest. The fact
no tvxo h.
this way settled dispute in regard to
which good men differ as to the facts
and the law, no less than as to the
proper course to be pursued in solving
the question in controversy, is an occa-
sion for general rejoicing. Upon one
point there is entire unanimity in pub
lie sentiment, that conflicting claims to
the presidency must be amicably and
peaceably adjusted, and that, when so
adjusted, the general acquiescence of
the nation ought surely to follow. 1t
has been reserved for government of
the people, where the right of suffrage
is universal, to give to the world the
first example in history of a great ma
ton, in the midst of struggle of OPP
posing parties for power, hushing its
party tumults, to yield the issue of the
contest to adjustment according to the
forms of law.
Looking for the guidance of that Di-
vine Hand by which the destinies of
nations and individuals are shaped, l
call upon you, senators, representa-
tives, judges, citizens, here and
everywhere, to unite with me in an
earnest effort to secure to our country
the blessing, not only of material pros
perity, but of justice, peace and union
"a union depending not upon the con-
straint of force, but upon the loving de-
vOtiOn of free people; and that all
things may be so ordered and settled
upon the best and surest foundations
that peace and happiness, truth and
justice, religion and piety, may be es-
tablished among us for all generations.
Town Officers for 1877.