Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-08-31
Letter from Judge Poland.

prefnt time, as people are anxious to know
, dillItely the political opinions of those for
whdn they arc expected to vote. We have
no doubts as to the political soundness OF
jude Poland, and no fears that he will not
reppscnt the principles of Vermont Repub-
licaiism.
Mn EDITOR In the last number Of your paper
| read communication signed 7. S. II. / infer from
the initials that the writer the Rev. I. S. Hubbard,
a gentleman with whom | had the pleasure of q
| seight acquaintance some years ago, and whose ILL
| opinion | should be very sorry to incur. He pro-
fesses, and | presume with sincerity, to doubt my
soundness as n republican.
Now hold that man who allows himself to be a
candidate for Office protesting to believe in and up
hold the principles of the party which nominacd
him. but who does not believe in them, and does not
design to support them when elected, is not an honest
man. would not vote for such man myself, and
should not expect Mr. H. or any other honest man to
do so.
do not regard it very important to me whether
people vote for me, or whether am elected repre-
sentative in Congress. But having lived all my life
in Vermont, and having for nearly twenty years by
the generous favor of its people, held scat upon the
bench of It's highest tribunal, and for several years
at its head, do feel some anxiety at my time of life
not to lose the reputation trust have hitherto
tanned of being honest and truthful man. I'll for
this reason that am prompted to some answer and
explanation of the matter of Mr.. HIS article.
| In referring to my political course only my votes
on the stockton case" and the "Trumbull amend
mcnt' are named as mourning suspicion of my princ-
| pies. The question in the Stockton was in no
sense political question it was purely question
of law. | voted upon it according to my judgment
of the law. If | was wrong it might prove me poor
lawyer, but not an unsound republican, But several
Of the stnunchest and most reliable republican Sem
tors, and those most eminent for legal and constitu-
tionali learning voted with me. That not act
ing on any party bias in favor Of Mr.. Stockton will
Je seen in tho fact, that when the question had been
| in Inv xvhn r1pd
"a improper vote moved n reconsideration to bring
the matter again before the Senate.
The "rrumbu amendment was in no sense q
patty measure It was moved by Mr.. Trumbull
without consideration or consultation with other
members of the pirty in caucus elsewhere. | re-
garded it wrong in principle, and exceedingly nm
wise prry measure, as it was raising an issue be-
tween Congress ind the President, upon which we
could not stand bdore the people, and pe1gng us to
n measure which We could not pass over his veto,
! do not chose to go over the argument OF the
question. My vcws OF the subject were stated in
short speech, which was published believe in most
of the Vermont 'apers. Those views sufficient
" satisfactory the Senate, that there quite
large majority against the amendment, and that toe
in a body NOR than twOhrds of which were repub-
leans Not olehalfof the republican members voted
for it. In that same speech declared my desire tc
vote for direct law to limit executive patronage, tc
the fullest extent we could under the constitution
Such law was drafted by the judiciary committee
of which was a member, and presented in the Sen
ate but it was decided in a caucus of the republican
Senators that it not advisable TO attempt topass IT.
| lam not aware of any other measure that savored
of political character that my vote was not in nc
cordance with tic great majority of the republican;
IN the Senate. No strictly party measure was votec
upon in the Senate while was there that my vote i
not found recorded on the republican side.
| No other republican Senator who voted as did Oh
the two measures referred to had ever been censureC
or doubted so far know, on account OF his votes
that has all been reserved for me. feel no heslta
ton in asserting that no member OF the Senate mas
more uniformly consistently and firmly, adhered to
the principles OF the party than myself. No act or
word, or vote, in the Senate or out is at variance
| with it. At the same time am fully aware that
most persistent and labore1 attempt has been mau'
land ii seems with some success) to produce the be
lief that | was not true to the principles and policy
of the party, but favored the policy OF the PRESIDENT
/ know very well how and why that idea mas peer
promulgated. From the time that was APPOINTED
Senator, it was understood that Mr.. Morrill, the rep
resentatve from this district would be candidate
against me. OF this had no right to complain
supposed too that Mr. Portus Baxter, the member io
the northern district would support Mr. Morrill,
had no right to complain Of this, and never did' M
Baxter and every other man who chose, had as muSl
right, and perhaps better reasons Tor supporting M
Morrill, than my friends had for supporting me, ana
never felt the slightest unkindness towards any MAJ
for supporting Mr.. Morrill, who did it in ialr ant
Int for some reason Mr. Baxter deemed it adys
able to commence and prosecute systematic elior
to malign my political character ana standing. Oer
tain newspaper correspondents under MS lhlueIc,
| la
week reiterated Institutions that was soon going t.
be n Johnson man. Mr. Baxter himself on every
favorable occasion gave currency to them. IN th'
| heat of political canvass, 1t was not singular Una
| active parti2ans should take up and repeat then
| without stopping to enquire whether there was any
lust foundation for them or not. In this way quite
general feeling of suspicion obtained that was not
republican to be trusted. feel entirely lustlhed Il
saving that there is not republican in the Senate
against whom such charges might not be as justly
made, and as much proof furnished, as myself.
1t is proper that should aude here to the circum
stances attending my nomination to the House io
this District. Some little time before returned
from Washington, | was applied to by some OF th'
leading supporters Of Mr.. Morrill, in the District, t'
know if the exciting senatorial quarrel conld not o'
| settled They urged that it was becoming persona
and bitter and threatened the future harmony ant
welfare of the party. 1t urged that the friend
of Mr.. Morrill, had no objections whatever to me- an'
would all gladly support me, but for the feeling ina
| Mr. Morrill, by his long and faithful service in ne
House, was entitled to it, They said that puoh'
opinion in the District had not settled with any una
nimity upon any candidate to succeed Mr.. NORTH II
the House, and that if would accept inc noinhaHU
they could assure me that, so far as Mr. Morriiii
friends were concerned, it would be rendered unani
mously. | consulted such friends as could at WASH
ington and finally replied, saying that would not o.
| n candidate, nor even signify to any OF my lrlenu
that would accept it, but if the nomination SHOULD
be thus voluntarily offered me would accept H. as
means of putting end to very disagreeabe STRIFE
This is all | know, and all had to do, about my
AT the convention which nominated me Mr. Portu
Baxter appeared and made himself very busy in de
claring that | was not a sound republicans was IN
most corrupt man in Congress politically, ana coul'
not be trusted at ALL etc. This conduct OF Mr.. BaX
ter at this time could not be regarded rs for tho pur
pose Of aiding Mr. Morrill,, but ms settled ana de
beratc attempt to injure me. No man knows bette
than Mr.. Baxter the utter and entire iaslty oil ~
these charges and insinuatons he has put in crcua
ton against me- and that there is not now and neYe
was the slightest foundation for them.
A day or two since saw an account OF tne receli
convention at lIydepark, signed "Iraxus' IN whicl
it was said Judge Poland was present as stump or
ator for Mr. Hoyt. Before came home from wash
ngton, and before was nominated for Congress-
had agreed to attend the District Convention n
; lIydepark. Since my return had been requisite.
to address my old neighbors ut Morrstown (my resi-
dence when lived in Iamole Coz the evening he
fore the convention. | made short speech ut tn
village of Mouisville the night before the convention
and before the convention organized at Hydepark,
was called out and spoke short time to the peopl
assembled there In both places spoke OF the grea
, effort which had been made to destroy my politica
character and in both places spoke OF Mr. Baxter a
its chief author and manufacturer as have here
said nothing about him as candidate nor about III
competitor Mr.. Hoyt | confined myself wholly {
my own defence that | felt that had not only tn
right, but it was my duty to make. Charges wer
made in that convention publicly, against Mr. Baxter
far more damaging than his ISLANDERS of me- II wa
alleged that he had taken money for recommending
persons to appointment under Mr.. Clapp, the late col
lector, and an offer made TO prove II before IN
convention. This was declined and prevented by MI
BAXter'e friends.
While was in Lamoile county the evidence to es
tabsh instance OF such action of Mr. Baxter wa
exhibited to me, and in my judgment Mr. Baxter an
his friends acted wisely in declining an investigation
am very free to say that Mr.. Baxter's treatmen
of me has been SUCH and my opino OF ms ehaiac'e
is such, that do not desire to associate with him Il
! Congress or elsewhere.
There is one other point in the article Of Mr.. il