Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-02-09

OF another, as they can agree, so far as the pos
session of political power and patronage are
concerned, both gain for their own principles
without endorsing the principles of the other.
The supporters Of one party vote for the candi-
dates of the other, not for the purpose of assist
ing that party or its candidates, out of a lore
|. for them, but for the purpose of helping their
oon party, and their opa principles. Besides,
had the representatives of the people, because
they were so divided that neither party had the
CONTROL a right to be so unyielding as to prevent
the organization of the government and to per-
form the services for which they were elected
hold that they had not, and that to have left
the government substantially disorganized by
refusing to yield at all, would have been course
of conduct indelensible, and one which the peo-
pie would have condemned. The true course,
both of policy and Of principle, think, was
for some of the parties to unite, and while they
secured for themselves success and political in
illencc, to perform the duties which were as
signed them by the Constitution and laws.
The Free Soil party was the smallest Of the
three parties in the last Legislature If any
party was to YIELD it would be expected, Of
course, that the weakest party would be the one.
1t either party was to make propositions for an
arrangement with the other parties, that propo-
sition woald most appropriately come from the
smallest party. That there would be some I'M
ion between the Free Sellers and Wings, or Free
Sellers and Democrats, was expected by all, both
people and representatives, before the Legislature
assembled. 1t was {. matter of discourse, coniec-
turc and expectation among the people. Nobody
talked or thought about such a union as VIC
lation of principle or Of party fcalty. Every
Free Soiler in the State re,eiced that we had the
balance of power. And why! Because it gave
them the opportunity of securing political inlu-
ence in the turtherance Of the objects and sue
cess Of their party. You, yourself, Mr. Editor,
speak, in q recent number Of your paper, of this
control in the Legislature as the "most impor-
tant acquisition which the Free Soil party had
ever obtained in Vermont* But how it could
be 50 important, if the Free Soil representatives
were to assame the ground Of the unyielding
fifteen" and vote for nobody, and ask nobody
to vote for them, cannot perceive. 1t is quite
evident, from what the fifteen and their admir-
ers say, that they expected the Free Sellers would
form u coalition with one sf the other parties,
and that they looked upon 1t as Il matter of OK
pethency, and not rs any violation of principle.
What would the Free SSoilerS of the State have
said if their represen atiyes, after they arrived
at Montpelier, mad voted that they would have
no union with either OF the other parties, and
would vote for no candidates except those Of
their own party, and that there should be no
election Of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and
Treasurer, 50 iur as their votes were concerned,
unless the other parties vote for their candidates;
and IT'S 4 consequence Of such stand, all the
Offices, including Senator, had gone to one or
both Of the old parties! Would they not have
looked upon such conduct as the conduct of sim
rletons, especially if by using sheir power, they
could have obtained their fall share of the Off
ca influence and watronagGo OF the Government
When the people vote for the candidates Of their
respective parties, they do it to secure political
power in connection with their party principles
and when they send representatives, 10 Montpe-
lier, they expect them to do the same thing if
possible. | entertained these views before going
to Montpelier, and SO expressed myself in the
article sent to the Freeman, mentioned in my
last After arrived at Montpelier, which was
Tuesday evening before the session commenced,
] devoted myself to consulting with such men
us Lawrence Brainerd, 0. l.. ohafter, II. Need
ham, c. X, Field and others, as to what was
the best course of policy to pursue, and what
was the hest arrangement VIC could make. 1t
was agreed on all hands, as understood it, that
there was no violation Of principle in forming
coalition with either Of the other parties, and
the only inquiry was, what course would best
promote the interest Of cur own party, both
then and for the future. | was occupied in this
manner through the whole Of Wednesday, and
Notwithstanding my political enemies were and
had been, ever since my election, proclaiming
that was intriguing for the speakership, nei-
thcr solicited any member Of the House to vote
for me, or to use any influence for me, or to
+ r,,, 1,t,, nS a .,,,Iil,tn far that nfco In
the meantime, great efforts were making to place
/ Mr. Needham in nomination for that office, and
the men most foremost in urging him for that
station, were the leaders Of the :" immaculate
fifteen" They were the men, who, in connec-
ton with some Old Liners who were got into
our caucus by a prolesscd +. $. Senator began,
to USE oar own Language in the Telegraph of
Dec. 2, - the lp0rk back end FOREMOST and fixed
"t1eir first unimportaat po.nt or the Speaker
ship, oad ccen at that, failing care to select the
most objectionable mar 10 The Wigs there pas
m The House" laase yolr language, mot because
wish to throw any contempt upon Mr.. Need
ham, but to have yol understand that if there
was anything wrong in his being made q candi-
date, the wrong lies at the door of the ''Gftecn'
who mostly, ii not all, voted tor Mr. Necdham
becnAsa he was Il Name Lag man, and | was
not; and the Old Liners were got into oar eau
Gus to defeat me, because was deemed more
:. uyIv e.,a,onrr to :. Old [;noys ;, than Mr.
Need'.am. At least fire men voted in our eau
Gus for a candidate for Speaker who never yo-
ted Jaera afterwards, ana for the sole purpose
of defeating my nomination as Sneaker Tnis
fact of itself OUGHT to convince van that had
no understanding with the Old LINERS. and |
state it 10 show low the prejudice which has
been created in your mind, has caused YOU to
see every thing connected with the majority, and
especially with myself, in a false light. I look
now upon the intrusion Of those :. Old Iiners''
who never intended to act with us AS party.
into our caucus as piece Of political dishones-
ty, to which honorable men ought not to have
lent themselves; and afterwards, when Mr. Ju
daNne and MIR. Redlield the toumost of tba