Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-24
The Second District.

In an editorial article last winter, before
the matter of choosing representatives in
congress had actively engaged popular at
tention, the WATcHMAN recalled the fact
of Vermont's reduced representation in the
house, and urged the people, independently
of the aspirations of this or that man, or the
Vaccinations of any clique or section, to
think of selecting for this office only the
strongest from among the many exception
ally able citizens of the state, and thus by
the superior ability of her representatives
not only atone for the loss of numerical
strength, but assure to the state position
of superior influence in the lower house like
that which it has long held in the senate by
virtue of the unrivaled intellectual powers
and statesmanlike qualities Of its senators.
1t was gratifying to find that this sentiment
was generally echoed by the state press, and
far more reassuring to learn that it had
taken deep root in the minds of the people.
In the first district the canvass has reached
an advanced state of development, and a
nomination. hat will realize the high require
ments of the situation seems assured. De-
veopment in the second district has pro-
crossed, but the outcroppiDgs at present in
dictate the activity of partisans interested in
the writing up of a slate that shall inure to
the advantage of some individual ambitious
of congressional honors in some future cam
paign, rather than determined purpose on
the part of the people to choose the best OBJ
tainable representative in this present can
vass. The one thing which the people OF
this second Yer mont congressional district
must neither forget nor allow themselves to
be cheated out of by the legerdemain OF po-
litical management is that the choice OF
a representative is entirely their own affair.
In that choice they have free and sover-
eign agency. They owe no political debts
No man has mortgage or a lien even upon
their su ffrsges, but indications which bear
the plain stamp of political management be-
gin to appear in different quarters, of efforts
to place an attachment upon their free
choice in favor of certain alleged claims of
the present member from the old third dis
trict. 1t is plausibly put forth that prece-
dent requires General CIRCUITS return, that it
would be "shabby" not to re-elect him,
that he had hard time getting into con-
gress, and it would be really very. unkind to
irop him after only single term, and so on the
whole ave might as well send him again."
this once. There is no precedent in the pres
emit case in either district. The circumstances
are entirely new. Because there would be a
new departure at the coming election, prece-
dent was put aside and Joyce gothis last re-
nomination. 1t is on account of the redistrict-
ing of the state that new departure is
made easy, that it can be made without the
appearance even of injustice to any man,
and now it is of vital Importance that under
the new division and the reduction in the
states numerical strength the districts begin
their new career Alright, and that the best
men be chosen. If General Grout is the best
man in this district, let his nomination be
made on that ground and not on the score
Of precedents which do not exist or beggarly
reasons of courtesy or recompense for past
PoiliOdi III PSioon"i
ambition and not the voters of the secoud
district may have been responsible. To ask
nomination on any such puerile considera-
tons as are put forth in public and in pri-
vate, is an insult to General Grout and an
impeachment of the self-respecting mau-
hood of the voters of the district. There is
no necessity for taking General Grout sim
ply because he wants the nomination and
because the busy fugemen of possible future
candidates are shouting that it is the proper
thing to do. These are devices for forestall-
ing the choice of the people. There need be
no haste in coming to decision of this mat
ter. After the manner of judicial tribunals
in weighty cases, let the voters take the ques-
ton into consideration, be not influenced by
insidious efforts to give partisan turn to the
popular current, and, when they act, let them
courageously assert their right to the free and
independent choice of candidate.