Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-08-17
Speech of Judge Poland.
AT the DIST. CONVENTION AUG. Z, l8G


We copy the speech of Judge Poland
at White River junction, as reported in
the Bratlleboro Record.
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
convention--I labor under various embar-
easements upon this occasion, the first of
which is that made no suitable provision
for the change of latitude between Wash
ington and Vermont and have taken Sc
we're cold which renders it almost impossi-
BILE for me TO make myself understood
In the next place, gentlemen, i have
heard my name announced here as a can
didaie for Representative from this dis
trict.
You already understand / was selected
by the Governor of the State to take the
place of the late Judge Colamer in the
Senate. You already understand, like
wise, that have been a candidate for the
succession TO the position held by that la
mented gentleman, in opposition to the
Hon. Justin S. Morrill, of the House.
The canvass was excited and bitter
There was very great danger, as many
people supposed, that it would lead to
some permanent division in the party, and
| was appealed to to say whether / would
not in order to save further disagreeable
results, accept the position now occupied
by the Hon. Justin S. Morrill,, and thus
withdraw from the senatorial canvass alto
gether, and have finally said 10 some
gentlemen that if it was the desire of this
Di trict tha the matter should be harmo-
n:zed in that way. and that the worthy
Representative should take the place in the
Senate which have lately occupied,
should hardly feel at liberty to withhold
my sanction.
may be allowed to say, gentlemen,
that had supposed that belonged to
class from which Vermont has been wont
to select her Senator'S and | had hoped,
in some humble degree, to attain to the
distinction gained by my predecessors in
the Senate, and to emulate the examples
of Judges Phelps, Prem tiss and Collamer.
| did not desire TO set up my own person
al ambition against the wishes or choice of
the people. If they desiIe me to serve
them in another and different capacity, it
was business of theirs NOT business
of mine.
have another word 10 say, gentlemen.
Those of you who have been in the habit
of reading the public prints of late, must
| have noticed that in certain ones there
was labored and studied attempt TO de-
fame my public character. Gentlemen, |
was born in Vermont. | have lived in
Vermont every day of my life when not
casually away. ] claim to have inherited
all that spirit of liberty that swells in the
heart of every true Yermonter. / be-
lieve that liberty should prevail through
out this country and its blessings be ex-
tended alike to the high or low, the rich
or poor, the white or back-and believe
it as much as any man in this State of
Vermont! cloud cheers.)
My political history is known to most
persons here. / was raised in Lamoie
Co. and was for long time a member of
the Democratic party though was always
known as an anti-slavery man.
was called an Abolitionist and never
could get the nomination for States At
torney because | was an Abo!iiionist =
(Laughter)
t When General Cass came out with his
Nicholson letter refused TO support him.
( was the candidate Of the Free-soil par
ty in 1S48 for Lieutenant Governor of
r this State and from that day to this have
never cast a single vote with the Demo-
n cratic party! From that time forward /
e have identified myself sith and have
Il steadily adhered to the principles Of the
!" Republican party. / took no active part
a in politics on the bench, but on entering
g Congress at the commencement of the
late session was called upon to act pc,
d litically. You have all watched, with
d some degree of care, the course of al
/ your Representatives in Congress. l an
n not ashamed to have any one point, oil
: any single act, or vote, or speech of min'
during the last Congress inquired into.
If assisted actively in the preparation of the
IS Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Right
d Bills. The Bills were, in considerable
n part, the production of my own hand.
st voted for them both in the Senate upol
d their passage and voted for them bot
ne subsequent TO the vetoes of The President
ID and in every instance / have acted will
x ingly and wholly with the Republica
,e party in the Senate. How it comes abou
ne that any distrust of me or my course es
lg lists is more than know, and yet certai
ed individuals have endeavored TO falsify m
opinions 10 the Senatorial Canvass.
or a day or two ago gentleman told m