Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-29
Delivered in the Senate, on Mon.
day, dug. IL, 1856.

'l' hboibtNI ne udlS OF lUiS
session are rapidly passing, Business
Of the highest importance presses up
on our consideration. Chairmen Of
lending Committees charged with
measures Of great public concern
crowd forward to obtain the car
of the Senate. While the Sen
ate is thus engaged in the per
formnnuo uf it's high duties to tho
country, the Senator from Pennsylva-
MIA (Mr. Bigler) lhursls before us
this petty, miserable proposition-a
proposition unworthy a moments at
tention OF honorable men in or out Of
the Senate. The Senator from
Pennsylvania, not content with
launching into the Senate this scheme
which must have originated with
some mousing politician eugaged ia
the pursuit Of petty ends by petty
means, but he presses its considera-
ton now in spite Of the earnest re-
monslranccs of the Chairman of the
COMMITTEE On Finance (Mr. Hunter)
who is charged with the care of the
Civil and Diplomatic bill, and the
Chairman Of the Committee on the
Pacific Railroad (Mr. Weller who
wishes TO call the Senate TO the con
sidelallon cf that great measure to
unite the Atlantic aud Pacific snores
Of the great Republic. But the Civil
and the Diplomatic bill, the Pacific
Railroad bill, and other measures
must be thust aside by the Senator
from Pennsylvania, that the Senate
may consider this proposition b,
which certain political schemers hope
to elicit something out of which the,
can manufacture ISLANDERS against tn,
brave man, who has served his coun
try with eminent ability in peace an,
IN war. The Senator from Pennsyl
wanna cannot suppose that this prop
osi,ion will pass this body without a
least a passing notice. He takes tn
responsibility, he chooses 10 press il
| and | shall take at least a few mo.
ments Of the time of the Senate to
characterize the proposition as think
1t deserves. Does the Senator from
Pennsylvania expect to win any Iau-
rels 10y lhrus;Ing this proposition into
the senate ? Does he suppose the
generous people of this country will
applaud this attempt TO wound the
seusibIIilies and defame the character
OF one who has won a brilliant name
in the history of the Republic-one
whose explorations and scientific la
bors have conferred upon our coun-
try honor and renOwn among all
civilized natlons2 Does he expect
to win support for his fuvorile candi-
date for the Presidency by lhursting
into the Senate this wretchcd propo-
sltlon Z Sir, this is small game. If
that Senator hopes 10 win popular
confidence and applause If he
hopes to turn back the tide of popu-
lar favor that is bearing John c.
Fremont to the Executive chair by
this resolution, which | here pro-
Dounce, which honorable men in or
out of the Senate will pronounce,
and which the country will pro-
nounce, small and mean-he " i'll find
himself sadly mistaken Wherever
this proposition goes, high-minded
men will treat il with dersion, scorn
and contempt; aud no little of that
derislon, scorn and contempt will be
visited upon the men who resort 10
such devices to effect political results
| would not stoOp TO such n warfare
as this. If II was aimed at James
Buchanan would spurn it from me.
This is not the first time Mr.. Presi-
dent, iha; the shafts of political
malIgnlly have been hurled al men
who have servrd the Republic, and It
is not the first time the Senate has
been called upon to grope among the
archives Of the Government TO dis
cover some account or The records of
some account between the govern
ment and men who have been in
trusted with public funds, out of
which something would be distorted
for partisan ends, Ia 1924, Andrew
Jackson was assailed for his military
deeds The people, unmindiul of
these assaults, bore him proudly TO
the Presidential chair, over one Of
the puresi, abest and most incoIrup-
lible patriots that ever graccd the
councils of the Republic. In 1910,
General Harrison was assailed by the
envenomed tongue OF SANDER, brand
ed as a coward, and denounced as
corrupt man, and the people took
him in their arms and bore him TO
The Executive chair over his expert
enced and accomplished competitor.
IL 1913, Zachary Taylor and the
venerable Senator from Michigan
(Gon. Cass) were both denounced in
the same manner-ther accounts
with the government through long
years of public service overhauled
ard audited over again 10y the poll
teal accountants and auditors. In
1852, Gen, Scott, a soldier who has
served the Republic for more than
forty yeurs in peace and war with
unsurpassed ability, was arralgned IN
the same manner and for a similar
object. What was gained by these
assaults upon Jackson, Harrison,
Taylor, Cass, Scott' venture to
say here today, that all those assaults
upon the distinguished men concern
ing their monetary transactions with
J the government, never lost them the