Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-07-12
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1866.
For the Herald.l
The Senatorial Question.

asaIu, Oi OOth OF her SenatorSt-an &C.
currance unexampled in the history of
any tate in The Union. They were the
most able anC distinguished of all her
citizens, and were foremost among the
eminent and useful and influential men
in the legislative branch of the national
councils. While JACOB CoLLAMER and
SOLOMON FooT occupied their high sta
ton, the escutcheon of Vermont small
though she is in territory, and compare
lively insignificant in the numbers Of her
population, was borne in the front and
held aloft in all contests of Senatorial
emulation. No State exerted greater in
fuence in that august body. She was
power seen and felt and honored of all,
in the person Of her Senators. Her ut
terances through the lips of those two
massive men, upon all great questions of
national polity and welfare, commanded
the attentive and reverential ear of the
whole land. In the midst of the ma
tional struggle for national existence
and perpetuity, no State of the Union
accomplished more in the national Coun-
. ellis, in welding the national will, and
throwing its whole force with we'll di-
Tected and concentrated energy, into the
contest. Therefore it was that the death
of her distinguished Senators was felt
to be scarcely less loss to the nation at
+bor 70 +ba lirtla 10 IA rubDoo ,nnn
pie sent them forth and who were
proud to own them as their immediate
representatives.
And more especially was the loss felt
to be calamity, great and irreparable,
in view Of the crisis Of the national af-
fairs impending at their decease,-a cri-
sis only equalled in Importance and in
danger by that involved in the issue OF
the unparalleled conflict of arms which
preceded ii, and ushered it in; out of
which bristled questions involving the
reconstruction Of the Union upon a SOL
i'd and enduring basis of impartial free
dom and national brotherhood.
The death OF Judge CoLLAMER occur
red last November, on the eve of the adj
journment of the Legislature, too late
for the representatives of the people of
the State to fill the vacancy thereby &C.
casioned, by an election. The duty of
supplying the vacancy, therefore, was
devolved upon Gov. DILLINGHAM;. The
orauitu Of -ho+ 6utv xpoo faI+ b1y oro,x,
man, woman and child in the State, and
by no one was its weight and Importance
more anxlously and conscientiously felt
and'considered, than by the Governor
himself. 1t was indeed vast and COM
prehensive trust. The whole question
of the readiustment of the Union was
about to be grappled with by the Gov
eminent. Had Judge CoLLAMER been
spared, who could put measure upon,
and limit by line, the influence for
good he would have exerted in the set
Element of the great questions of the
age, in the application Of his vast store
of judicial knowledge, experience and
wisdom to the science of higher states
manship than has ever been required
since the foundation of the government?
A Congress was soon to assemble whose
special mission and solemn duty it
would be, under Divine Providence, to
settle, perhaps for the whole future of
the country, the most important ques-
tiOns that have ever involved her we'll
being, her prosperity, her happiness and
glory. At such time, in such q pro-
found crisis, when anxiety and doubt
struggling with hope, were brooding
over the whole land, the unmistakable
voice of the people Of Vermont, by an
expression so unanimous and clear that
there could be no doubt in respect to it,
demanded that the Governor should Sc
lect for the vacancy the ablest and most
influential citizen Of the State; the man
whose talents and requirements, and
known devotion to the radical senti- !
ment OF New England upon questions |
of freedom and unity, and unity found |
ed upon freedom, would secure the near
est approach to the ability and patriot
ism and influence of the distinguished |
Senator whose loss the State and Nation |
were called to mourn.
Were there no impending contest for |
the successorship to the late Judge COL
LAMER's seat in the Senate, would there
be doubt or a question whispered in
the ear of anybody, that Gov. D1LL1NG-
HAM, in appointing the Chief Justice of
The State, to use plain and homely
phrase, "put his best foot forward 2" /
Though our State has many able and
,mi,, ent citizens, of none is she more
ust,v 'roud, and no one of them is
more deser, ing of her honors, than this
listinpuisbod on of her own loins the
rchitect of his o., N fortunes who from
eing an obscure ano penniless boy, by
is own unaided industry anu superior
Its of mind and heart, won No way ny
opular approval and acclaim, W 1n0