Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-06

Not many days since scene occurred in the ,
United States Senate gilmore than ordinary sig
nifcancc. Mr.. Seward announced his intention
to vote for an increase of the Army whercupon
Mr.. Hale animadverted upon such course
destructive to the interests and integrity of the
Republican party. The reply of the distinguish
ed Senator was worthy of himself and the occa-
sion He placed the interests of the country
above those of party, and designed both by his
speeches and his votes to furnish no future his
torian with any clue to his party affnitics. For
this manifestation of independence many of the
Republican papers are disposed to read Mr. Sew
ard out of the party. They quote the instances
of courtesy shown him by Southern Senators,
and the numerous concentrations of his ability
from Southern presses, as many proofs of his
detection. Some of them have gone so far as to
charge him with the most sinister motives in all
his political conduct.
Ex-Governor Walker stands in similar plight
Because he has not been in situation to attend
anti-Lecompton meetings and make anti-Lc-
compton speeches since his letter resigning the
Office of Governor of Kansas, Washington let
ter writer's and enthusiastic Republican papers
charge him with having been bought up by the
administration that in consideration of the
promise Of office after the memory of his Kan
sas exploits shall have become little stale, he
has consented to remain silent upon the Lecomp-
ton swindle.
Neither of these charges has probably any
foundation except in the fertile imaSinations of
those persons who are ready to cry out against
any man who does not, in all things, come up
TO their measure of party creeds and party dis
cipline. Most individuals in the Republican
party differ from Mr.. Seward in their opinions
concerning the propriety voting for an increase
of the Army at the present time. But why that
is any reason that he should be condemned is
more than we can see. Mr.. Seward is confess
eddy the abest of our living statesmen. His
whole political life is closely identified with OPP
position to slavery extension, and his services
in behalf of Freedom are incomparaby ahead
of those who so freely denounce him. Gov.
Walker has recently written letter re-iterat-
ing in even more forcible language, the opinions
expressed in his letter of resignation.
This same prescription is much too frequent
in social as well as in political life How often
it is that we hear individuals reproached for re-
fusing to hearken to Mrs Grundy, when decid-
ing upon their line of conduct. Because they
have the independence to make their own con-
vctons of duty and of right their standard OF
action, to the neglect of the arbitrary demands
of fashions, custom and cliques, they are voted
out of all "healthy organizations" Individual
ity of character must he merged and lost in large
associations or be the subject of SCOTS, sneers
or Jest. To us this seems neither right nor pol
itic.
As we commend Mr.. Seward for his political
independence, and, however much we may diff
fer from him in opinion, admire his readiness
to assume the entire responsibility for his polit-
zeal action, so we admire and commend thost
who are not so hampcred by party letters thai
they cannot do what seemeth to them both mee
and proper for fear of being crushed beneath tn,
tyranny of association, but who dare openly t
act their convictions, and express their honestl,
formed opinions under full sense of the respon
sibility they, by so doing, assume. fparty ant
custom are to stihe mems opinions, and create
the boundary lines of their conduct on all occa
sions and under all circumstances, the soone
parties and customs are trampled under foot tn
better. Dogmas, creeds and platforms are wei
in their way, but when they fetter mems mind
and control their conduct their day of usefulness
is at an end.