News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-04-12


will always stand as grand monu-
ment to his noble achievements.
Peter Cooper occupied peculiar
niche in the temple of our national
fabric, and with his departure there Is
none to fill his place. His memory.
however, will be perpetuated to tbs
end of time through the record Of his
good deeds and the example of 6
stainless and unselfsh life. -
Letter from observer"
-HeSSrS. Editors -
Under the signature of "Obseryer'
| regret that in the word unwilling
ly," l did not cross the two IS, then
it would have read unwittingly, as !
intended. UnwilIingly would imply
some sort Of coercion. Before pur-
suing the subject further, l wish to
make some quotations from our con-
stitution, for | shall confne myself
pretty much to taxation, and as | I'M
derstand the constitution and the law.
| charge that the two last Legislatures
committed gross infections upon the
organic law, and that it was entirely
unnecessary, for the whole thing
could be reached without making the
law unnecessarily inquisitOrial, arbi-
trary or odious, for if possible, a re-
public law should have the respect of
the governed. 1t may be called au-
dacious for one to criticise that intel
ligent body called the Legislature, but
turn to article 10, of the Constitution
1.-The people have a right to freedom
of speech, and of writing and pub
fishing their sentiments concerning
the transactions of government" and
therefore the freedom of the press
ought not to be restrained. All power
being originally inherent in, and con-
sequentIy derived from the people,
therefore all officers of government,
whether legislative or executive, are
their trustees and servants, and at all
times, in legal way, accountable to
them.
We seldom have any editorials on
the doings Of the Legislature, and it is
to be regretted. If we turn to his
tory, we find that other people have
tried the experiment as republics, but
have long since disappeared, and when
we look for the cause we think it will
be found in the fact that they depart
ed from their organic law, though they
may have long held on to the shadow
after the substance had gone. There
are but two principles upon which a
public can be based and perpetuated
intelligence and industry. Where
these are wanting it must be of short
duration. Rome furnishes all the
proof we need. think any one who
will carefully study the Constitution
of Vermont will be impressed with the
idea that the trainers of that instru-
ment well knew that it was possible
for maiOrities to be as Overbearing and
as the individual despot,
and that it was their intent to secure
the rights of the individual and minor
tiles, against arbitrary majorities.
That oft repeated phrase, 1.-The
greatest good the greatest number"
will not bear investigation if taken IN
an unlimited sense. The greatest
number has not the right when i ig-
nores the rights of the lesser number.
The phrase is fine for the demagogue,
but is not to be found in the declara-
ton or Constitution. If you will turn
to it | think you will find where the
Supreme court Of the United States
administered a pretty severe rebHke
to Vermont Legislature, but Yer
mont was then as extremely Demo
cratic as now Republican. | admit
that now hold some opinions adverse
to those | once firmly believed in.
For instance, [ used to think that it
was glorious that in Vermont we could
elect a Senate without a Democrat in
it, but now think it is a misfortune.
If we had but small Republican ma
jority, that would at once put us upon
our good and intelligent behaviour,
and we would have a better assurance
of just legislation. Neither do l
think that there is the danger to the
republic that the partisan papers
would have us think there is. Should
the administration once in a while
shift parties, for observation alone
shows that in time parties become cor
rupt, then comes the CRY to get up a
party of reform. But the trouble is, |
that the party of reform, too soon
needs reforming. Far better would it
be for the people to point at the
wrongs and demand their correction.
L have already given preIiminaries
enough, and will now give what looks |
TO me like reasonable objections to
some of the provisions Of the new
AK laws, Sec. 10, of Act No. /. In
3urance among farmers is an associa-
ion to help each other in their misfOr-
unes and losses by fire, for the most
If us have not the means, if our
buildings are swept off by fire, to re-
,lace them, and hence this benevolent
The premium paid and
he assessments are not money gained
,ut money lost by misfortune. Pos
IDLY it might be explained so that |
Ould see it in different light, but
low it looks as unreasonable rs it would
re for the government to demand $50 |
# the individual who should pay
thousand dollar debt. There are more
rticles in the law that | wish to take
Up, for it would seem that the last
legislature made, if possible, ''confu-
ion worse confOundel." OBSERVER.
4 law has been passed by the Ten