Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-10-26
to accomplish an entire pecuniary divorce be-
tween husband and wife, and establish, or rather
unsettle, marriage upon the French basis.
Correspondence of the Free Press.I
FROM MONTPELIER.
MoS1PsLIrR, Oct. 23d, 1866.

FROM MONTPELIER.
MoyrPEIIFR, Oct. 23d, 1866.
Dear Free Press:
The election Of u s. Senators today was
q very formal and prosac piece Of business As
the results we're foregone conclusions, all excite
ment in regard to them hsd ceased. Still quite
numerous gathering Of outsiders, gentlemen
and ladies, assembled in the House to see the
thing done. 1t commenced at two o'clock Cn-
der the law, each member SIS his name is called
rises in his seat and mentions the name Of the /
man Of his choice. OF course 1t was some
what monotonous preceding, the only variation |
being when some one of the scattering democrats, |
rGri nGHtes in gurgiie rast0, was reached and |
the only curiosity being as to who they would |
cast their votes for. They voted for Henry |
Reyes Of Newbury, against Mr.. Poland; for II. |
q. Smith Of Milton, against Mr.. Eimunds; and
for T P. Redfeld Of Montpelier, ogaidst Mr.
Morrill,. | have not seen the Montpelier cor
respondent OF the Boston Post, who informed
the public while since that Mr.. Red6eld wac
to cut prominent figure IN the Senatorial con-
test. and who predicted that he would come out
of it something more than SaIdine,' to in
quire how much more than "sardine," Mr..
Red6eld's sixteen votes have made him. The
other two democratic candidates received fifteen
votes apiece, and enc vote was thrown for II. G.
Smith, by luckless democrat who didn't know
the name Of his candidate. He wanted to cor
rect his blunder, after the vote vas declared.
but the Speaker decided that it va to late.
then, for any change Of votes.
This evening Hon. +. (. WOODBRIDGE sd
dressed the Legislature at their request. There
had been some misunderstanding sbOu; the time
fixed by Mr.. woodbEidge. for that purpose, and
j, was not unders,ood that he would speak to
night ill he arrived this afternoon. Then word
was hastily passed around, and the Representa-
ti,ss Hall was well filed with hearers.
NR. wooDBnGDGE's SPEECH.
PREDICTING his speech with IN explanation
of the misunderstanding as to the sp
| p intment Of time TOR him 10 ad-
/ dress the Legislature, and promising
/ q short speech - for as be said, be knew the
members would rather be down with the pretty
| girls at the Ladies' Far and so would he-h6
proceeded to allude to the last speeches of Sena-
tor, Collamer andl Foot in that Hall, to pay a
tribute Of respect and affection to then memory.
He passed to a consideration Of the Constitution
al Amendment. There are, he said, three differ
ent views OF the present position Of the late rebel
States. One is thst they are alien cnemies 4;
this is held by Mr.. Thad. Stevens and the piou-
GERS of his stamp. Another is that they are still
States in the Union and entitled 10 all the rights
Of the States that have been legal. This is the
opinion Of Mr.. johnson and Mr. Seward, whom
said Mr.. W. 81 used TO admire, hut DO not any
longer" Another is the view Of Congress that
the lately seeded States are in the Union SO far
as the jurisdiction Of the United States goes, and
bound to obey the laws Of the United States
but having suspended their relations to the
Government, they have nc right to representa-
ton until they come back as a loyal ople IN
der republican form Of government This was
not yet the case to admit them now to Con-
gress would be to allow them by corruption ani
intrigue to accomplish what they could not DO
by arms. As he had told cabinet officer, he
for one, would stand GU; in Congress thousand
years before he would vote to admit traitors to
seats. The President had undertaken to say to
the Southern States how they could elect Re-
presentatives and Senator's, as he had no right
to do. He had aid that Congress could keep
out traitors by passing on their credentials but
Congress chose TO 60 back of that and enquire il
there was loyal constituency which could elec;
loyal members.
Mr. Woodbridge proceeded to take up and
vindicsie The amendments in de'ail that in refer
ence to representation he considered a step
towards uniyeral suffrage and when that Is
achieved, Lord let thy servant depart in peace.
He did not think Congress had the right to H.
terfere with suffrage, that right the constitution
gives to the States but be was in favor q
universal suffrage He believed that equal suf-
frsge was proper element Of republican eiyili-
zation. He believed that the adoption Of the Coz
stitutional Amendment would induce the States
to adopt equal suffrage, and that the Southern
States would rstify the amendments Il it we're
not for the influence Of northern men. He had
no fear Of negro equality, God regulate these
things and the negro would find his level. lie
had co Ored nurseand slept with her till he
wa. fifteen and shc vas still in his family a
hundred years old. Lc; the blacks be educated
and take such petitions as they can secure IN
der equal laws.
As fof the treatment Of traitors, he would
have hung about hundred Of them if he had
had his way. He considered the prete1t that
JEFF. Davis could not be tried cor want Of jurs-
dicuOn. all humbug.
Mr.. Woodbridge further announced himself
as in favor Of the Monroe Doctrine. He would
say to France, hands of from Mexico, and to
England, make repsrstion for the damages to
our commerce By your pirates. He was also in
favor Of a tariff for revenue and for protection,
and believed the tariff bill. with increased pro.
lection for wool, would pass the Senate Final
ly he had been accused Of being &" johnson
man" what sort Of one he was they could see.
He was opposed to the policy of Mr. johnson,
opposed to his speeches, and he had no desire
for seat on the circle he was swinging round;
but he did not see it to abuse the President, but
rendered to him the respect due to the chief
magistrate Of the nation. Mr. Woodbridge
closed with 4 glowing picture of the grand fu-
ture Of our country, and was heartily applaud
ed. lie spoke about an hour and half.
holli like to all a word about the highly
successful fair given this evening by the ladies
Of Mr.. Lords church; but have no time
You're.
The SWITZERLAND OF AMERICA AND The
SWITZERLAND OF EuRoPE-"Carleton' writes