The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-30
A New Doctrine.

According to the Argus ethics, Judge
Royce, Senators Morrill, and Edmunds,
having made out their tax inventories for
1888, are now "rect,is in curia." If this
view of things prevails in this state,
Charles Francis Adams ideas respecting
the study of the dead languages will need
to be modified with respect to Latin and
Vermont youth. This new dogma in
the law and morality of tithing will in
volve the necessity of sufficient instruction
in the language of the ancient Romans, in
the common schools of the state, to enable
her future citizens, particularly those who
may be ambitious of official preferment,
to comprehend this new incident of citi.
zenship and this new device for purging
office-holders, DESTROYS of continuing in
the public service, of any disqualifying
indiscretions. "Rectus in curia," being
interpreted in its application to the
distinguished citizens mentioned above,
means, it is supposed, that these men have,
by their act of April LIST, 1883, obtained
civil absolution for previous offenses under
the tax laws, and, when the day of their
reelection comes round, that act will be
a bar to any opposition on the score of
former exhibitions of disrespect for the
statutes of the legislature, at whose hands
they have received many honors and to
which they are still looking for more. A
practical application of the new doctrine
in non.political life would seem to be
something like the following: A bank
cashier has been stealing the funds of the
stockholders of the institution. He is re-
minded that this practice is in conflict
with the constitution and bylaws of the
organization, as we'll as with the laws of
the land, and, if persisted in, will endanger
his tenure of the Office of cashier. He in
dicates his contemplate opinion of a
bank that makes such a mighty illiheral
rule, but, rather than be fred out of his Of
fee, he concludes to conform to it. By this
act he is " rect,s in curia," and when the
annual stockholders meeting comes round
he is able to exhibit pair of clean hands
and disarms opposition to his reelection,
on that score. If Mr.. Billings were a citi.
zen of this state, of which the Argus says
it has proof to the contrary, and should
on the first day of the coming April make
out and swear to his inventory of taxable
property, he would be "rectus in curia,"
and all our contemporaries objections to
him on the score of past disregard of tax
laws would vanish in thin air. This
"rectus in curid dodge of our esteemed
contemporary seems to be another instance
of very bad give-away. Judges and
senators, solicitous for the future, under
duress of public opinion, make out inven
tories of their taxable property. A citizen
itching for Office, but previously neglect
full of his duty under the tax law, actu-
ated by the same praiseworthy motive, as
matter of policy makes out his inven-
tory. Each is "rectus in curia as to the
past, according to this new doctrine.
There is no end to the absurdities to
which this plea may be reduced. AS a
matter of fact, neither judges nor senators
have gained in genuine popular regard by
their tardy compliance. Nor, should
Frederick Billings next April find it pos.
sible, or convenient as matter of policy,
to make out his inventory, would he, un.
der existing circumstances, strengthen his
candidacy for the governorship in the
estimation of men whose good opinion is
worth having.