The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-21
THE VERMONT SENATORS.

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truly democratic state a. any in the Union. |
Her people are neither fanatics nor fools, |
and her statesmen have not been inferior to |
any in the United States. Vermont has |
left the production Of fanatics and fools to
and New Hampshire from
which states hare come set of men who have
given New England bad name, wh,le Yer
mont has produced race of giant statesmen
whose names are imperishable. Her Aliens,
and Warmers, and. Chittendens, and Galush-
Is, and Chipmans, and Robinsons, and Brad.
legs, and Halls, and Everetts, and Marshs,
and Phelpses, and Prentices, and Redfslds,
and Pecks, and Collamers, and Foots, and Pc.
lands, andmany others. too numerous to men
tion now, have given her a name which will be
honored and revered while republican liberty
shall last. They were of various political
parties, but the honor, and welfare, and
prosperity Of their country and their state
was ever first in their thoughts and acts
And now, while we recall the names of the
honored dead, it affords US peculiar pride, as
Vermonter, to notice the course of the two
newly appointed senators from Vermont
They are nobly maintaining The ancient
fame of our native state, and showing the
nation that principle is their guiding star.-
Upon party questions we do not expect their
votes, but upon questions of stase-questions
calling for an exhibition of high legal abili-
ty; questions where honor and duty and
principle are remembered before partizan
politics, Msssrs. Poland and Edmunds have
proven themselves worthy successors of the
great patriots and statesman who have gone
before them.
The country will not soon forget the noble
stand taken by Senator Edmunds, when the
Habess Corpus bill was before the senate
This was bill to screen lswless officers who,
during the late war, had committed wanton
and unjussifsbls seizures of property or ar
rests of persons, and Senator Edmunds moy-
cd to amend it by excepting from the pro-
visions of the bill acts done in states repre-
sented in congress and where martial law did
not prevail.
Mr. Edmunds said that while he was willing to
protect all officers of tie government who acted
honestly in the discharge of their duties, he dld
not think it just to extend comipete amnesty tor
acts done in the loyal states and where martial
law did not prevail. He did not think it right
that men who had been really wronged should be
debarred from seeking redress. In the time of
that king who was called the first gentleman of
Europe, and who was the worst monarch, the
British Parliament passed Law somewhat SINH
lar to this but the British courts refused to exc
cute it. He said that passionate legislation al
WAYS returned to plague those who enacted it.
In hasty zeal to protect one class OF the com
munity, let not injure another class. Let Us
protect them by indemnity, not by an arbitrary
edict- He was as anxious as any one to protect
the loyal men of the country, but did no. think
any true friend of our gallant soldiers would
wish such bill as this TO pass.
Here spoke a statesman, and his voice
should have been heard-but it was not
Mr.. Edmunds viii not be forgotten, however,
for having asserted g prinoipl e-one that
should have prevailed.
Senator Poland, though the monster be
grappled was no more hideous than that at
tackled by Senator Edmunds, was more suo-
cessful in his efforts. He brought the senate
back to its senses, and compelled it to sus-
tain its Evolutionary reputation as the con-
SENTATIVE branch of the Federal Governments,
by striking from the postal appropriation bill
mischievous amendment, svowedly placed
g there with the intention of hampering the
of1clal action of the president of the United
States.
"Well," says the National latelligencer,
Ibid that able jurist, Senator Poland, of Yer
mont, in introducing the proceedings which
brought about the reconsideration and the
rejection of this amendment, style it wholly
indefsnsible, wrong in principle, and posi-
ton upon which no political party could
stand. Unterriisd by the abuse haaped up
on him by some of his radical associates .Ssna-
tor Poland demanded the rejection of doc.
tzine that was really revolutionary, and the
conservatives of the country will be gra,if sd
to learn that he has been sustained bv i.
majority OF those senators permitted to oeou.
py seats In the upper house, who-to use his
words-have taken higher and nobler ground
than mere political sxpediency, and stand
upon the great doctrines of liberty and ms
tice. To those senators who have TINS d;..
dained political quackery, and risen above
the action of political adventurous. the
thanks of ell true-hearsed men are dueu
We append to this article that portion O,
Judge Poland's speech relating to the legal
question of executive power as to removal,
from Office:
The pending question being on the motion
Of Mr.. Poland to reconsider the vote by
which the senate adopted the following
amendment offered by Mr.. Trumbull:
And be 1t further enacted, That NO person exer.
cising or performing, undertaking to exercise OF
perform, the duties OF any Office required by law
10 Dc hiied by the advice and consent of the SEN
ate shal, before confirmation by the senate, re-
ceive any salary or compensation for his services
unless such person be commissioned by the ore.i-
dent to MI up vacancy which has happened dur
: tournament, by death, resignat,on. e.nr.,;on y,
term or removal for acts done or on;,,ad a. o; VI
ton Of the duties3of his office, the css N 'ioia
of removal to be reported to the senate =, -. case
session.
Mn. PoLAND.-I voted for the ameudm.,.
10 this bill, and for the bill ITSELF with srs..
bas;.ation and with the design. if could no.
hscome better satisfied with il, to move e
have il reconsidered. Subsequent reflection
..t;sf;ed me that the amendment ought not t
he adopted, and therefore made the motor