The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-09

ton of Mr.. Villas as President pro tenn. of tbs
Senate, we feel it to be our duty 70 speak bolts
from our acquaintance with the facts. and
from the alluson made to us by the Voice
The charge and inference are that Nh, Hodoea
procured the election of Mr.. Villas as Re.
ward for the latter Senator's hostility otbe
Brandon Bank A more gross and abusive
attack upon both the gentlemen named copld
not be imagined! II is within our own per-
sonal knowledge that there is not the reno
test foundation for it. We can inform the
Voice that Mr.. Hodges had not received the
slightest intimation that it was proposed to
elect MIR. Villas until he took his seat in the
Senate Chamber not fire minutes before the e.
lection took place! He was not apprised I'M
til that moment, of the temporary illness of
the LIT. Governor, which made the election of
PRESIDENT pro tem' necessary Our own
recollection OF the matter was (untl it was
corrected by eXamination) that the n0apina-
ton even was not made by Mr.. Hodges, but
by Senator Of our own County. Certain it
is that we ourselves communicated TO Mr..
Hodges the suggestion of certain NVhig Scna-
! tors that this act Of courtesy should be extern
ded to prominent Senator of the small mi
nority, and we are happy to state that it re-
cclved his prompt and gentlemanly support.
That he made the nomination is circum-
stance that may easily have escaped his rec
objection, Gas it did ours) though it was enc in
all respects creditable both to himself and to
| the Senate
And now few words as to the election it.
self, and we leave the unpleasant discussion.
During the whole period Of our connection
with the Senate we take special pleasure in
saying it has been the manifest, uniform and
honorable desire Of Senators, while maintain
ing IN decided yet courteous manner the
distinctive views and principles Of their re-
spectlye parties, to encourage and cultivate
those relations ofperSoaal harmony and re-
spect which are, among gentlemen, quite COM
patible with political differences. The cleo
ton of Mr.. Villas was not, by any means,the
first outward manifestation Of this admirable
spirit among Senators. In 1915, on the oc.
casion of the retirement of Gov. Eaton from
the Presidency Of the Senate, a committee
was appointed (of whom the Hon. Mr. Moves,
a democratic Senator, was Chairman,) to
devise some unusual form in which the re-
spect and esteem Of Senators-for their Pre-
siding Officer should be conveyed to him. A
paper warmly expressing thlsrespect and es-
TEEN for the character and services Of Gov.
Eaton was prepared by this committee, unan
imousiy accepted, SIGNED BY EVERY MEM
, BIER OF THE SENATE, Wings and Democrats,
l and on motion ofthis cery Mr.. Villas, ORDER
: ED TO BE ENTERED on THE JOURNAL, where
it now stands record honorable to the Sen.
f ate of Vermont! 1t was the pleasant re-
menbrance Of THIS act of high-minded and
gentlemanly courtesy, aud not the mouSinq
and contemplate motive unworthily imputed
by the Voice, that led Mr.. Hodges to nomi-
: nate, and the Senate UNANIMOUSLY to elect
5 prominent member oftlc Minority to them
c porary honor of the Presidency When
o such acts Of generous and ligh-toned kind.
n ness and Cancellation are cited as blameUor-
It hy it may not be too early toinquire to what
extent the partisan is to be required 10 sink
F.. the gentleman,