Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-08-27
HlLAND HALL.

There has appeared, recently, highly
complimentary notice of the Republican can
ddate for Governor, from Ex-Governor
BRIGGs, of Massachusetts,, communicated to
the press, we venture to say, by Gov. FLETCH-
Err of Vermont. For those who remember
the faithful services of Mr. HALL in Congress,
this was entirely unnecessary; for those who
are too young to be acquainted with them
this honorable testimony is valuable. We
have observed occasionally an expression of a
suspicion that Mr.. HALL is to conservative
for the heightened sentiments OF the Rcpubli-
cans of the present day-just as if he is not
the true Vermonter that he is, dwelling be-
side the very altar of patriotism, and taught
and honored by those who were priests at the
altar. The men who doubt HILAND HALL do
not know him they have forgotten his posi-
ton in Congress where he did take an active
part, and forg ytten also that his more recent
public positions, ON the bench of the Supreme
Court at his bureau in Washington, and as
Commissioner in California, properly and
necessarily prevented him from any active
participation in the politics of the State.
The publication of the voluntary testimony
of Governor Briggs, in honor of his old friend
and associate, has reminded Us OF the position
and course of Mr.. Hall in Congress. At that
time, slavery was not the dividing line be-
tween the contending political parties, and
members Of Congress were not elected with
special reference to it. Hence, whenever
any question involving slavery did arise, it
was met by members of Congress according
to the spontaneous suggestions Of their own
sentiments, and their convictions as TO what
would be the sentiment of their constituents:
therefore we may be sure that their course,
whatever it was, is far better test of their
real principles and sentiments, than any
professions made at this day, or any present
course, dictated by the instructions or the
creed of tho party they serve. In short, pub
lie men then acted upon their own principles,
and they were more the originators of public
sentiment than the servants of it. Adams,
Giddings Briggs, Slade, Hall, and their as
sociates, in promptly resisting the pro-slayery
spirit that first began to show itself in their
day, We're more truly the founders of the
Republican party and the apostles of its faith
than any of those who have since followed
their lessons and given to their principles an
organized party support In their day,
the slavery question for the most part
arose only as an incident, not as the en-
crossing topic of the times it appeared in
questions relating to the District of Column
bia, the admission of new states [ Arkansas
particularly the right of petition, and the
freedom of debate, and of the press and on
every one Of these questions Mr.. Hall was
found side by side with those associates who
became illustrious as the leaders of the pco-
pie in the cause of freedom. His position
was not a subordinate one, but worthy of
the representative OF a free people-worthy Of
n genuine Green Mountain Boy. In 1856,
John C.. Calhoun presented and urged his
famous project for substituting the Post Office
Department for the exclusive benefit OF slavery,