Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-08-07
For tie Pheaix.

Unwilling as | am to engage in any con.
trovetsy, with any party or set of men, fhav.
ing seldom, II at all, written a %poliiica! para.
graph for publication for several years. vet,
finding myself repeatedly assaulted for exer.
cising a common right in all free govern
ments. Of expressing my honest sentiments
In relation to political men and measures and
that in Il spirit Of candor and good feeling,
lconsidei it duty to my friends and the
party with whom [ act, to make a few re-
marks in reference 10 those attacks and cen
rures upon my addresses al Guilford and
S,ratton. at the late Harrison meetings.
And first, as TO the threats and illusions in
the last Democr rat. Speaking Of my address
at Stratton, and TO prove that I had a%postati.
zed from republicanism, AMI was inimical
to my country's interests-allusion is made
to an Grafton delivered at Brauleboro' in
1914, (t should be 1887 and also to a vote,
as member from Brattleboro, on Muzzy's
amendment 10 a Resolution in the Le2isla-
tuie Of 1918.
Protesting that a solitary vote Of the kind,
or an Grafton spoken in far back heated times,
(27 years ago) is no fair test OF a mans &C.
neral political feelings or character, and ge.
nerally Speaking. is an unfair and awkward
way of meeting his arguments. still | am
willing 10 scan any part Of my political life,
and to leave it with the public to Judge pro
md con on its merits or dement's. But, re-
ally, this way Of testing character, would
place many se,y respectable public men IN
a peculiar situation. BY this rule how would
Mr.. Van Buren, appear i--opposing Mr.. Ma.
dison's War, eulogizing Mr.. Clay, ST.. p
And how would Gov. Chiltenden, Gov. Van
Ness, and hundreds Of other cool Jackson
mems political consistency appear? And
might name several decided iedsralisis OF
those days, both in and out Of "oid Wind.
ham," now among the warm adherenls OF
Van Bnren's administration and others.
now bold and determined on the Wing side,
who then stood high in the ranks Of demo
cracy and Jefersonisn.
The two years OF lSl3.l4, were years Of
much political wa rnth-our State was near
ly equally divided, and probably much trans
pired in both parties that wns harsh and re.
prehensibie. The Resolution alluded TO
came down from the Council Room. recon-
mending a special thanksgiving by the Leg.
i~slA,ure, on account OF the glorious victory
a. the river Thames, over Proctor and Te.
cumseh. achieved by Gen. HARRISON; and
VII Iuu[LI = uttlGuNtIChh VIC e'S'S'Na ~
far to modify it, as not, by its adoption, TO ad-
mi. The justice or policy Of the war. 1t did
not 60 10 prevent the thanksgiving-bui to
say that The victory did no: sanction the war,
and also 10 urge the speedy restoration oil
peace.
Well, on this motion, the yeas and nays
were taken. and they show that 1t was mol
strictly a party question several decided
federalis,s voted against the amendment. |
could name three or four from Windham
county and the amendment was lost In a
federal House. Among those who voted
with me in favor Of the amendment. was
Judge Haight, now a good Van Buren, man.
enjoying a lucrative place, under the admin
i~stralion. doubted the proprieiy OF hold
ing a Legislative day of Thanksgiving on
that or any other single victory, on account
of the example and expense 10 the Stale
A resolution Of thanks by the Legislature
would have answered every purposes ant
was advocated by myself and others And
really, my good democratic reprover, !
Harrison was that COWARD. now charged
by you and your party, even a vote OF appro
baton and praise would have been withheld
As 10 the Grafton. it merely shows my de
eided disapprobation Of the war, and oil tht
bad Of il at, and previous to
that time. II, las the case was our two de
mocratie. Madisonian Senators in Congress
Gen, Bradley. anil Mr.. Israel Smith, both
opposed il by their votes and decided declar
ATOMS. If Mr.. Van Buren,, Gov. Chiten
den, and n host Of others. were with me or
that subject. ought not, in fairness, some al
lowance and charity to be bestowed upor
me. for considering the war as iniiuesced D,
Napoleon, and highly injurious to our coun
Try. 1 opposed certain measures oil MT
jefferson and Mr.. Madison, ms now d.
some of the present administration, because
Thought them wrong. If | differed iron
others in relation to Mr.. Jefferson's Non.in
tercourse and Gun.boat system, ana the re
sulting war of 1912; and now dlnef' II
like manner, from the present adininlstra'io'
in respect TO the Currency and 1 reasu
~ experiments, it only proves a difference
or opinion, but does not demonstrate OF
which side lie the wisdom and true policy
unless we, admit that perfection dwells VIII
one party. And, l might ask, what wa
gained by that War; To be sure. Amer
can heroism by sea and land. was again ex
hibited, but the world was already awar
ofthis. 1t afforded Jackson and Harrison
an opportunity of achieving the most glorl
Gus victories, which have placed the one
and probably soon will the other, 10 the Pre-
sidsncy. And il gave Monroe and John q
Adams nm onnortunity. by a wise and pru