Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-10-05
essex County Atrald.
ISLAND PoND. IT, OCTOBER ;.
The Legislature.

In the coming session OF the
legislature there will probably
be less and less spirited contrO-
versies over local matters, and in
the election of officers by the leg
islature, than usual. 1t ought
to be, and probably will be, Il
working session. The import
ant work will be on the revision
OF the laws, in which Barber in
the Senate, having been on the
committee of revision. and Reed
in the House, being one Of the
best all round lawyers IN the
State, and who will probably be
chairman of the judiciary COM
mittee in the House, will bear an
important part. The work thus
far appears to have been care
fully done, and when the leSisla-
ton of each year is arranged
and harmonized with reference
to that of other years great fac
ilitv and convenience must fol-
low in executing the laws. 1t is
to be hoped that effort will be
made so that the statutes, espe-
cially those relating to highways
and schools, will not only con-
tain wise provisions, but that
they will be stated so clearly and
specifically that the common
people can understand them, and
that the duties of each man call
ed upon to execute them will be
specifically pointed out and liml-
ted. The benefits coming from a
statute consists as well i'll a clear
statement of the manner in which
it is to be worked asin a learned,
accurate and technical statement
ofits provisions.
OF course the subject of the bal
lot lazy will again be the topic of
much discussion. 1t seems to be
the impression that when a few
Inconsistencies are corrected in
the machinery of the present law,
which crept in in the confusion Of
the last night of the last session
by amendments being made,
without changing other parts of
the bill so as to make it cores
pond with the amendments, that
the lay will be as workable as
the ballot law of any other
State. 1t is also conceded that
this system is the best safeguard
against election frauds that has
yet been devised. The only argu-
ment against its continuance
seems to be that a compliance
with it is beyond the capacity OF
our people, and that very intel
ligent men are DISTINGUISHED
because they honestly fail to
comply with its provisions. They
are not thus DISTINGUISHED, for
carelessness and a want of in.
dustry in learning its provisions
can hardly be said to be honesty
in an intelligent voter. 1t is in,
deed humiliating to admit that
the capacity of our voters is SO
limited as to render them incapa.
bic of complying with this law
The people should be educated
up to it. 1t is disgraceful to say
that the voters are incapable o.
forming strict, accurate and hon
est habits in reference to the
most important duties they have
to perform. May the day be far
off in which it will be said the
State of Vermont had to throw
down its greatest safeguard tc
the liberties of the people, and
return to the wild, reckless, un
controlled actions of a mob be
cause of a want of capacity and
mental and moral discipline in
her people! Or, to be plain III
saying no more than is already
said, that the people of Vermont
are incapable Of a wise, regular
systematic self-government.
The HERALD will endeavor tc
keep its readers thoroughly con
versant with the work of the
session.