Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-12
The Congressional Canvass.

If that which seems to drift rather than
10 develop any special activity in any given
direction can be said to exhibit spirit, what
ever of aggressive energy the tendency OF
sentiment in the second congressional dis
trict has thus far disclosed may be reckoned
as decidedly in favor OF choosing that man
who will in the most eminent degree repre-
sent the district, WELD an influence in the
national legislature and do honor to his
state. And this should be the key note TO
the action of the caucuses soon to be held
and to the deliberations of the delegates
when they assemble in convention. Frag-
ments of the first and third districts will
meet in new association with the old sec
ond to form the new or east-side district.
They will meet to make acquaintance and
TO form new alliances in q common cause.
They should be animated by no feelings of
personal craftsmanship, and personal ambi-
lions relating to the present or any future
congressional election should be placed in
subsection to the single purpose to do the
best for the district, the state and the nation,
which, from full consideration of all the
circumstances, may be found desirable and
possible. The choice of representative
should be patriotic duty. The reasons
which decide that choice should be based
exclusively on principle. The circumstances
in which Vermont finds herself placed with
reference to her next congressional delega'
ton makes the choice of her future repre-
sentatives both patriotic duty and matter
of stern principle. To disregard the situa-
ton is to wantonly trhe with scanty oppor-
tunities. The large and ropulous states
with delegations numerically strong may
afford sea room for the strife Of personal
ambitions, and, if now and then weak man
by mechanical means is hoisted into large
congressional delegation it does not necessa-
rily cripple the states power in the law
making branch Of the government. Yer
mont's power in the lower house is not
measured by the physical force Of scores
of votes, or by tens, or by fives. Her
ratio will be just two to three hundred and
twenty-five and no Vermonter need be told
that in this proportion there is no margin
for weak men, or to waste on false courtesies,
or to fatter local ambitions, or to heed
precedents which apparently exist only in
the minds of individuals who may selfshly
desire to run this campaign with reference
to the next Under any circumstances, and
certainly under the numerical conditions
which will exist in the next Vermont dele.
cation, the men in all the state who will
best fill the bill of eminent fitness in all its
difficult and exacting equirements,-these,
and only these, should be considered by the
voters of the state in the choice of their
brace of representatives The people of the
west side have performed this patriotic duty
well and faithfully and nominated the man
in that district who fills the bill of eminent |
fitness in all its particulars. We believe the
people of the second district are determined |
to take the matter of the choice of their |
candidate out of the hands of any cliques |
or rings into their own. We believe they |
are not disposed to allow any fictitious |
claims upon their free suffrage, but to exer
else independently their right to choose only |
the best from among the able men in the
district We know that this feeling exists
and that it is expressed with fervor that
leaves no room to doubt the interest and
loyalty of the people But good intentions
are not votes. Votes at the caucus for del.
egates and votes at the convention by the |
delegates are what give decisive voice to
popular feeling. The people have it in their
power to choose representative, but they
must go to the caucus and their delegates
must go to the convention, or few individ.
uals will make the choice for them. And at
the convention no other considerations than
good government and the honor and glory of
the state should control their preference for
a candidate.