Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-22
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The Legislature.

Two weeks from to-day the legislature
will convene for its biennial revision of state
affairs 1t will be an exceptional legislative
body in its political constitution, and this
unusual feature will devolve upon the Re-
publicans grave and peculiar response
bility. Practically the Legislature will be
unanimously Republican. The opposition
in the house is so infnitessimal as to deprive
it of all significance as well as to relieve it
of all responsibility for the results Of the
session. The Republicans will therefore be
held accountable for what is done or left
undone, and will be equally entitled to all
the honor they can win by an earnest, faith
full and efficient discharge of their political
stewardship.
Grateful under all the circumstances as
Republicans must feel for their splendid
triumph in Vermont, there are very few, we
venture to say, who would not prefer to see
their political opponents fully represented
in the legislature by their ablest and most
intelligent men. But the recent election in
this state was one of conscience to great
majority of voters, and unfortunately the
attitude assumed by the Democracy on state
and national affairs was such that no re-
course was left the honest rejecting voter
but to vote the Republican ticket throughout
its entire length and breadth. The duty of
this class was made still more imperative
by the total lack of any assurance in the
personnel of the Democratic party leadership
in the state that our civil affairs could
wisely be intrusted to their guidance The
state Democracy by their irresponsible and
INSCRIPTIONS leadership are thus largely re-
sponsible for solidifying the legislature in
the hands of the Republicans, and the lat
ter now have presented to them an opportu-
nifty to prove by their action in the APP
preaching session that to body Of intel
ligent and conscientious men the wholesome
restraint of a powerful opposition is not
needed to hold the dominant party up to an
honest and faithful administration of the
government.
While it is beyond dispute that the affairs
of the state under Republican rule have
been managed with wisdom, prudence and
economy, it is not true that we have reached
point in that direction where no further
improvement is possible. 1t will be the
foremost duty of the legislature to examine
carefully into the questions which underlie
our material prosperity-questions of taxa
ton and revenue. 1t is the general COM
plant that taxes are not levied equally, aud
that all the legitimate sources Of revenue
are not fully utilized. Laws are demanded
that will place the support of the state gov
eminent in fair and just proportion on the
shoulders of each citizen, that will defeat
all those devices by which, from avarice or
other interested motives, any citizen shirks
the payment of his just share of the reve-
nues of the state. Our listing law is con-
coded to be exceedingly defective. 1t is
susceptible of changes that will render it eff
fective, either by amendment or by the en-
actment of new law, and measures for the
reformation Of the evils growing out of the
ineffciency of the existing law should be
promptly and fearlessly undertaken and
carried through in the interest of all the
people without distinction of any class.
Vermont is, and always will be, an agricul-
tural state. 1t is the general complaint,
and with evident justice, that the acres of
the farmer feel, with weight greatly dis
proportioned TO that borne by other prop
erty, the burden of taxation. To equalize
taxation on a just and equitable basis, or to
tighten the burden of general taxation by a
revenue raised from sources which now
either pay no revenue or a revenue dispro-
portioned to their value, will be the para
mount duty of the Republican legislators,
and they must make up their minds to meet
it wisely, fearlessly and honestly. The task
must be taken up at the commencement of
the session and pushed forward with honest
zeal and energy to its early conclusion, aud
not left till the closing days or the final
hours of the session. If nothing else is &C.
complished, and these matters of taxation
and revenue are met with mature and we'll.
considered action, the coming legislature
will earn an enviable distinction over its
predecessors.