Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-08-17
SPEECH or JUDGE ]. p. POLAND,
AT The SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT CONVEN ZION.

| made no suitable provision for the change
Of latitude between Washington and Vermont
and have taken severe cold which renders
it almost impossible for me to make myself
understood. In the next place, gentlemen,
have heard my name announced here as can
didate for representative from this district.
You already understand was selected by
the Governor OF the State to take the place Of
the late Judge Collamer in the Senate. You
already understand, likewise, that have been
a candidate for the succession to the position
held by that lsmen'ed gentleman, in opposi-
ton to the Hon. Justin y. Morrill, Of the
House
The canvass was excited and bitter. There
was very great danger, as many people sup
posed, 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 dissgreeabe results, accept the posi-
ton now occupied by the Hon. Justin S.
Morrill,, and thus Withdraw from the senate
rial canvass altogether, and have 6naly said
to some gentlemen that If it was the desire Of
this District that the matter should be har-
monizsd 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 a class from
which Vermont has been wont to 8 lect her
Senators, and | had hoped, in me humble
degree, to attain to the distinction gained b,
my predecessor in the Senate, and to emulate
the examples Of Judges Phelps, Prenti.s, and
Collamer. | did not desire TO set up my own
personal ambition against the wishes or choice
Of the people. If they desire me TO serve
them in ano her and different capacity, it was
a business Of theirs-nOt business Of mine.
have another word to 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 la
bored and studied attempt to dtfame my pub
lie chai scter. Gentlemen, | was porn in Vt
/ have lived in Vermont every day Of my life
when not casually away. | claim to have in
herited all that spirit OF liberty that swells in
the heart Of every true Vetmonter. believe
that liberty should prevail throughout this
country and it's blessings be EXTENDED alike
20 the high or low, the rich or poor, the white
or biuck-and | believe it as much as any
man in he State of Vermont cloud cheers J
My political history il known to most per-
sons here. ! was raised in Lamoile County
and was for "a long time member Of the
Democratic party, though was always known
as an anti-slavery man. | was called an abo-
liuonist and never could get the nomination
for States Attorny just because | was an A DO
litionst (Laughter.)*
When General Cass came out with his
Nicholson letter refused to support hun. |
was the candidate of the Free-soil party in
ls4S for Lieutenant Governor Of this State
and from that day 20 this have never cast a
single vote with the D. mocratic party From
that time forward l have identified mlsell
with and have steadily adhered to the prin-
ciples Of the Republican party. l took no
active part in politics on the bench, but on
entering Congress ct the CONNIE ncement OF
the late session was called upon to act po-
liticslly. You have all watched, with some
degree of care, the course Of all your Repre-
sentatyes in Congress. l am not ashamed
10 have any one point or any single a /, or
vote, OF speech Of mine during the last Com
gress il quired into. | assisted actively in
the preparation of the Freedmt MS Burt au and
Civil Rights Bills. The Bills were, in CON
siderable part, the production of my own hand,
| voted for them both in the Senate upon
their passage aud voted for them both subse-
quent to the vetoes of the President in every
instance ! have acted willingly and wholly
with the Republican party in the Senate
How it c. mes about that any distrust Of me
or my course exists is more than know, and
yet certain individuals We underworld to
falsify my opinions in the Senatorial Canvass.
day or two ago gentleman told rue that
q prominent man in Orleans County had been
in constant communication with Washington,
and learned that | had been closeted with
President johnson every day during the en-
tire winter
The fact is hat have spoken to President
Johnson four times since went to Washing
ton, and tie whole ime | have conversed
with him would not sum up more than TWEEN.
y minutes. The first time | saw him wen
with Senator Foot who introduced me tt
him-then | saw the President. When W.
Bancroft came to Washington TO deliver his
eulogy upon President Lincoln, Senator Foot
who was Chairman Of that Committee, wa,
i'll and unable to go and complete the arrange
ments. | went for HIM and | then saw tn,
President. Gen. Roberts, VINO went ou
from this State, wanted to be breveted-l
went with him and saw the President.
went to ask the Presipent to appoint your
one armed Gen. S'annard TO the Collectors biz
and then | saw the President, aud thai
was the las. lime ! saw him never had
any manner Of political conversation with the
1 President
In reference to the President aud hit
course. | think when President johnson
adopted his policy" that he thought he wa,
getting up good one. The difficulty is, il
has proved an utter and miserable failure
and instead Of honestly owning the fact, ht
is 20 wilful and obstinate that be will moi
abandon it, | have never entertained th,
slightest doubt upon the question Of recon
struction Of the southern States. They wen
out, and were declared in a ATE Of insurrec
ton. They divided and severed The Union
Can any body ask who it belongs to to feu
mite them 1t is to the people through theii
Representatives-not to the President. II,
is not the man to make the reunion. UpoI
that question / have never had any doubt
have avowedly declared the doctrine f,on
the first to the last that without the slight
est doubt the power ofrecjnstructon belong
ed to Congress and it alone.
do not appfebend that | feel any sympa,
thy for President Johnson, his cu urse, or his
"policy," aud | don't believe there is an,
man who has any Information that have beer
closeted With the President. II Is a sheer LIE
and the men iUhj haze ,ver sal Il kneto It T.
b sol but have already detained you lon
ger than | intended when | asct nded tn,
platform. You must already know the polit