Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
Letter from John N. Stearns.


sumed to read any profound theories unless per-
son be professional expert for professional
fee. So in reviving my seemingly forgotten ac-
quantance with your readers fall into the habit
Of the times and content myself with the gossip
OF the hour. The sympathy of thecare-worn pub
Unexpectedly in cities-with amusement, rather
than with labored thought, is illustrated here
every week
DE ooRDovA
our noted humorous lecturer, amused our people
during last week with the rise and growth Of the
Ripley family and their excursion TO Europe.
These parUenus Of Snobville succeeded to the
fortunes Of Mrs. Pipley's father and started out
for a fashionable tour across the Atlantic Their
domestic discussions and consultations with their
parson and their doctor, their ludicrous bunders
In and around New York. the imposition of hack
man in taking them to the ship just as the plank
was being withdrawn from the wharf and charg-
ing them twelve dollars when they had neither
time nor opportunity to demonstrate, the sea sick
ness on the voyage, their perpetual blunders
in manners and knowledge while rambling in
Europe, and their inflated pretensions on their
turn to Snobvie, were amusing pictures pre-
scented In quaint sang froid Engshman's style,
that brought down the house. The crowd gath
cred to hear this nonsense recalled to my mind
course Of lectures given here some ten or fifteen
years ago by Ralph Waldo Emerson, then
teemed the profoundest thinker in America
About hundred persons attended. Though the
compensation paid was quite moderate, the man
agement suffered considerable loss. Such a
development OF intellectual status OF the people
may be peculiar to cities where the profoundesf
and most energetic mental labor is in constant
demand by the emergencies of business specua-
tons and enterprise, and the great needs OF the
people are relaxation, rest or amusement. Our
citizens do not lack brains, but these are over
taxed and overworked in their various caings
THE BEEcHER SCANDAL
seems to be dead, and on the old contest men seem
to be without opinions. Beecher breaches on
from Sabbath to Sabbath to the same old crowd
though without theology OF ecclesiastical rela-
tons, while a majority of our Christian people
believe the great preacher less chargeable with
moral obligations than with theological aberra-
tons. Still there is no doubt but the influence of
Plymouth church elected the Democratic mayor Of
our city last month Franklin Woodruff was the
Republican candidate, and 1t was generally sup
posed he had furnished money to Francis B
| Moulton to prosecute his suit against Beecher
1t was alleged in Democratic meeting and 1t
is believed that the influence of Plymouth church,
Republican though it usually is, made five thou
sand votes for Howell, the Democratic candidate,
and elected him.
REV. DIR. BURLINGTON,
though dead, is still the light of grateful memories
in the hearts of his late people. For his exalted
views Of the Christian life, and the responsible
tiles Of the Christian ministry, for his noble phil
anthropy and his energy and zeal in his life work,
he will remain as an honored character in the re-
ligious history of the country.
REV DIR. TALMApGE.
The living religious sensation OF the hour il the
case of Rev. DIR. Talmadge and his presbytery
There is feeling in public sentiment that hi.
accusers when defeated on the trial in the first
instance should have been satisfied and that
anything but Christian charity is illustrated by
their appeal to the synod. They certainly had
relieved themselves from any responsibility OF
reproach for the Irregularities with which he i,
charged. If they succeed, there being twenty
three appellants in carrying the synod against
Talmadge, the general assembly will find fatal.
| ity in their under presbyterian law. This
law requires all prosecutions for offences to be
commenced within one year after the offences
occur. In this case the chief offence charged &C.
CURED more than three years before the prosecu-
ton was commenced. The prosecutors came Il
the tribunal with the reproach Of their own law,
of having neglected their duty more than two
full years. Those who seek equity must d.
equity" But Talmadge plead to these old charges
and consented to the jurisdiction of the court.
| But it is a well settled principle in civil jurspru-
dence that the consent OF parties cannot enlarge
the jurisdiction of the court as fixed by law and
that all quasi judicial acts beyond the prescribed
jurisdiction are extra judicial and without
authority
POLITICAL
As to our state politics the quiinuncs are al
sea for their conundrums, since the Republican
ticket has been declared elected in the state. The
chief sensation just now is the attempt OF the
| governor and council of Maine to disranchise the
people of that state by false counting Of election
| returns, and ultimately to deprive the people o
their right to vote for presidential electors The
legislature, being counted in Democratic, may ate
| the law and vest in the Legislature the right t
choose the electors The Tribune threatens il
this is done that every Republican legislature il
the country will do the same thing and virtually
settle the question of the next presidency within
|
tons of local frauds in Presidential elections is
be denied under the constitution guaranteeing t
each state a republican form of government, ther
the questions arising as to such local frauds may
rs well be RENTED to the several state legisla
lures de fdcto and their action be accepted in de
termnng the choice OF president. 1t would be a
matter Of regret, shaking public confidence in on
Institutions II to meet an emergency imposed by
partisan rascality a general change should tax,
place vestng the choice Of electors of president il
the legislatures of the several states But II sucl
we're the law by common consent OF the country
the choice of president would be exposed to les.
excitement and fewer frauds than now True
frauds and usurpers might obtrude into state leg
satures, but their disposition for villainies woulC
sooner come to affect their local constituencies,
and procure their exclusion from public life thar
il they were charged with a single act OF voting
for president and vice-president of the United
States But il the right of congress to correct re-
turns of popular elections affecting the choice o
president is conceded, the time in which such in
vestgaton must be had to affect the result is toe
short to hope for any practical correction.
|