Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-05
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1866.
CONGREGATIONAL Leadership.

W. Curtis, an accomplished scholar and
writer, and 8 decided radical" withal.
The article We copy entire, as follows:
Among the living statesmen of this
country there IS none who commands
profounder popular confidence than
william Pitt Fessenden, Senator from
Maine. Absolute integrity, a certain
antique severely of character making
aim sometimes impatient and almost
petulant in opposition 70 rhetoric and
sentimeutality, great sagaCity, catholic
comprehension, strict fidelity TO the fun
damental principles OF the government,
and a singularly clear and concise ora
tory, are qualities which are apparent TO
every man who watches his career. No
man surpasses him in that just estimate
of practicability which is the test Of
statesmanship. The duty OF a legislator
is to know what is possible and to do it.
It is to make six or eight, If you can
not score ten. 1t is to take the half
loaf rather than TO lose the whole.
In the Senate debates Mr.. Pessenden
is always conspicuous for an incisive
good sense, which is the rarest as it is
the most excellent quality OF Senator.
La opposition he is always reasonable,
speaking TO the merits of the special
case, and not planting himself upon alb
stractions. Quick TO defend and explain
the prerogative of the body in which he
sits, he neither traduces nor defles his
opponents. His advocacy of measures
is more effective because it is not ran
Corous in rhetoric nor discursive in ar
gument, quite firm, prudent, and pointed.
There is no man in Congress whose
Judgment is truer, whose discretion is
more absolute, or whose convection is
sincerer. If there were any conspicuous
and distinctive leader in the Senate he
would be the man and that, with his
peculiar powers he is not confessedly
the leader, is due rather to temperament
than to any other cause.
Unquestionably Mr.. Fessenden repre-
sents the patient common sense OF tho
Union party in this country, He knows
that the difficulties Of the situation are
TO be surmouuteQ not by vituperation
and crimiuap,n not by petty Jealousies
or Lofty mora. ialignation, but by tran
Oull fiTmnesS AM honest argument. lie
does not propose an ideal reconstruc-
ton which IS sure to be baiiied by
events, nor an unreasoning aud blind
submission TO chances which are CaiCU-
liable. Differing upon some points with
the President, he does not accuse his
sincerity; and convinced that certain
conditions o. reorganization are indis-
pensible. he neither eXasperates nor fiat
tiers the late rebel population. Had the
action Of Congress in both Houses been
inspired by such q spirit, much Of the
gravity o. the situation would have
been avoided. SOunder health, d more
cheerful temperament, and greater am
hition and selr-esteem would have made
Senator FesseDden a more conspicuous
chief, but chey could not make him a
more useful legislator,
A total contrast 10 Senator Fessenden
is Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens, who has been
permitted by the House of Representa-
tives TO take the position OF Il leader.
Mr.. Stevens mas no single quality Of a
statesman. except strong conviction and
fidelity to principle He is strictly d
revolutionary leader; reckless, unspar
ing vehement, vindictive, loud for the
right of conquerers, intolerant of Oppo-
sition, and as absolutely incapable Of
fine discrimination and generous judg-
ment as q locomotive of singing. OF q
pleasant humor and personal kindliness,
ne is no more fitted for the task Of re-
construction which devolves upon Con-
gress than iuvial blacksmith to repair
watch, or q butcher to take up hidden
arteries and sundered veins in the very
region OF the heart Yet Congress
which is undoubtedly one of the ablest
that was ever assembled has quietly al
lowed Itself 70 be almost puppet in the
hands OF such man and at such a
time. The consequence is that Mr.,
Stevens crude and rash talk is supposed
10 be the voice of Congress. legisa-
tor who undertakes to regulate the
price of gold by law is the tacitly ac-
knowledged chief of body of practical
business men. A representative who
sneers at the press lis a permitted leader
in party created and triumphant by
free discussion
The evident mischief of allowing Mr..
Stevens 70 be the exponent of the House
Is, that his words and ways are natural
~ supposed by the people Of the late
rebel States TO indicate the disposition
of the dominant party of the country.
Those people at once conceive that vim
dictive or unreasonable hostility is the
handspring OF the Union policy. They
inctinctively resist. Seeing the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Stevens at issue, they
strenuously support the President. That
support again puts the President in q
false position, of which he and all hon
est men are fully conscious, and he nat
Hrslly does not feel pleasant toward the
agencies which have placed him there.
We insist that Mr.. johnson has reason
to be hurt and indignant when he is
represented as the friend and ally of red
handed rebels. Has he given no proof
of fidelity to the government Because
he holds views of reorganization which
may appear to be very hazardous to the
welfare OF the Union, is he therefore to
be accused of treachery? Becaue the
President expresses his opinion, is he to
be charged with usurpation Yet Mr..
Stevens makes the charge, and the
House is silent.
It is one of the marvels OF the time
that no man known as radical has
indicated the party and the country
against Mr.. Stevens, The opposition of