National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-07-13
" HIGH.

Judge Poland's superior IN every |
quality of craftsmanship. We be
licvc him to be SO, from his habit of
thought, his culture, his scholarship, |
his mental discipline, his familiarity /.
with both the fora and substance of
legislation. his acquaintance and
influence with the statesmen of the
country. his readiness and tact III
the conduct of business, his t-niSci-
cntious industry. and his success as
a legislator. The people know Mr..
Morrill,. Twelve years of public ser
vice have given him a character as
a legislator which few of the repre-
scntativeS of the people have been
so fortunate as to gain. This has
not been the result of his brilliancy
or ilucncy as dcbaler, bat of the
Soundncss of hiSreaSOning Facilities.
the clearncss of his apprehension of
the wants of the country, the iidcl-
ity and zeal of his labor, the per
slstcRcy of his indomitable purpose,
and the genial courtesy of his man
ncrs which has left him without
personal enemy in Congress. What
Mr.. Merrill has undertaken he has
accomplished. He pushed the Ag
ricultural College bill against all
sorts of opposition, until he saw it
triumph. The Morrill, tariff is the
fruit of his labors. The law for the
punishment Of polygamy in Utah
should be credited to him. The
. abrogation of the Reciprocity treaty
was almost wholly his work. For
the last three years the tariff and
the revenue laws of the country
have been shaped more by his hand
than by any other member of either
branch of Congress. In short, we
do not think that any other member
of Congress has been the author of
so much legislation, which has now
Il permanent place in 0Ir statute
books, as Mr.. Morrill,. 1t is not too
much to say that he is the author of
more sections of the federal laws.
than Judge Poland in his position as
Judge ever had occasion to read,
much less to judici;llly consider.
But Judge Poland's friends tell us
that Mr.. Morrill, "ncvcr figured in
debates upon great legal and con
stitntional questions If they mean
by this that he is not competent to
discuss such questions, and dOcsn not
ably discuss them whenever there
is occasion for such discussion, the
statement is contiadictcd by the
proof. Two years ago, a Committee,
Of which Mr.. Pendlcton, of Ohio,
was chairman, and of which Mr.
Morrill, was a member, reported Il
resolution that members Of the cab
met be entitled to seats on the floor
of the House, with the right par
ticipatc in the debates, something
after the manner of the practice in
the English House of Commons
This was, in the language of the
Herald, great legal and conStitu
tiOnal question:
The resolution was urged by Mr.
PcndletOn with the graceful rhctori,
and the abundant learning whicl
characterized all the efforts of tina
leader of the Democratic side of TIN,
House. The measure had the heart,
support also of many strong Re
publicans. Mr.. Morrill, made full
and elaborate speech against it, il
Which he discussed the question il
all its phases, legal, constitutions
and practical. In that speech h,
showed a familiarity with the Eng
liSh constitution and practice, an'
with our own, as they affected TIN
question before the House, whic
would have added to the reputation
of any State Judge; and his gcncl;
reasoning and his argument irol
the early practice of the nation wcr
so conclusive, that Mr.. Pcndlcto
attributed the defeat of the me;
sure to Mr.. Morrill's speech. Thi
was no question of finance or II
Venue, of facts and dctails,' bl
" constitutional law as well {:
practical Sagaciiy and Statesman
ship, and Mr.. Morrill, proved himsc
ut home there, as well as in his fact
and details.
While there is no need that W
should conccdc that such Il c0nstitl
tiOnal and legal questions as con
before the United States Senate CA
not I've as wisely considered and Il
cidcd by Mr.. Morrill, as by ,Iud.
Poland,-and aside from mere que
tons of details and construction
statutes, we think they can bc,-l
us meet Judge Poland's friends &,
their own ground for Il moment.
it not evident that for the next $
or ten or twenty years, questions
finance and revenue are to he I
questions of all others which "
test the wisdom and statcsmanSl
of Congress-. Revenues, tariffs, q
material resources and dcvelopmc
of the country, the best, surcst III
spccdicst way of paying our
mcnsc debt these arc the qucSiio
of the future, and he will dcscr
best of his country who shall sh,
this people how, while faithful
Liberty, they can multiply TIN
wealth and ut the same time pm
tually and honestly redeem eve
promise which the Government II
made TO it's creditors and to its p,
pie. Had we better close the do,
OF the Senate against statcsmansl
Of this sort. Or will Vermont :
that as all these questions come
ultimately knfnro IA, S.,ntn Al,