Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-08-17

My political history IS moWnto most
persons here. | was raised in La
noble county, and was for a long time
a member of the Democratic party,
though | was always known as an
anti-slavery man. I was called an
Abolitionist, and never could get the
nomination for States Attorney just |
because | was an Ablitionist Laugh
ter
When General Cass came out with
his Nicholson letter | refused to sup
port him. | was the candidate of the |
Free-soil party in l848 for Lieuten-
ant Governor Of this State and from
that day to this I have never cast a |
a single vote with the Democratic
party! From that time forward |
have identified myself with, and have
steadily adhered to the principles of
the Republican party, took no
active part in politics on the bench,
but on entering Congress at the com
mencement Of the late session | was
called upon to act politically. You
have all watched, with some degree
of care, the course of all your Repre-
sentatives in Congress. | am not
ashamed to have any one point, or
any single act, or vote, or speech of
mine during the last Congress in
quired into. | assisted actively in
the preparation of the Freedmens
Bureau and Civil Rights Bills. The
Bills were, in a considerable part, the
production of my own hand. | voted
for them both in the Senate upon their
passage and voted for them both sub
Sequent to the vetoes of the President,
and in every instance | have acted
willingly and wholly with the Repub-
lican party in the Senate How it
comes about that any distrust of me
or my course exists is more than |
know, and yet certain individuals
have endeavored to falsify my opinions
in the Senatorial Canvass.
A day or two ago gentleman told
me that a prominent man in Orleans
County had been in constant commu
, nication with WashintOn, and learned
that had been closeted with Presi
, dent Johnson every day during the
! entire winter. The fact is that
- have spoken to President johnson
= four times since | went to Washington
and the whole time | have converseC
with him would not sum up more thar
q twenty minutes. The first time
! saw him | went with Senator Foot
n who introduced me to him-then
- saw the President. When Mr.. Ban
croft came to Washington to delive
his eulogy upon President Lincoln
;, Senator Foot, who was Chairman 0
that Committee, was i'll and unable t.
:, 90 and complete the arrangements
=, | went for him and | then saw tn
y President. General Roberts, VIII
went out from this State, wanted t
o be breveted-I went with him and say
=, the President. | went to ask tn
y President to appoint your one arme
% General Stannard to the Collector
q 8hip-and then | saw the Presiden
4 and that was the last time | saw him
u | never had any manner Of politica
70 conversation with the President.
/, In reference to the President all
;, his course, | think when Presider
4 Johnson adopted his policy" that
,r thought he was getting up good on
:, The difficulty is, it has proved an u
= ter and miserable failure, and instea
a of honestly owning the fact, he is S
20 wilful and obstinate that he will NJ
% abandon it. | have never entertaine
a the slightest doubt upon the questiO
of reconstruction of SoutheI
States. They went out, and were d
clared in state of Instruction.
They divided aud severed the Unto
le Can anybody ask who it belOnges
H. to reunite them? 1t is to the Peep
le through their Representatives-not
le the President. He is not the man
le make the reunion. Upon that que
f. ton have never had any doubt.
,h have avowedly declared the doctriI
to from the first to the last that witho
xt the slightest doubt the power OF reco
~ struction belonged to Congress al
tie it alone. | do not apprehend that
It. feel any sympathy for President job
;e- son, his course, or his policy" and
tie don't believe there is any man wi
ge has any information that have bet
ar closeted with the President. IL IS
a sheer LIE and the men Who hare e.
he said 1t know 1t 10 be so! But | ha
N already detained you longer than
N. intended when | assembled this plf
form. You must already know t
er. political sentiments | entertain.
nv have not been a stranger to the pc
ad pie of Y ermont during the past TWEEN
ar years, nor have | entertained t.
ay slightest doubt but that you kne
We what my political standing was.
ut VOICE :-"Didn't you vote with t
IN. Democratic party when you voted
aw admit Mr.. Stockton into the Senate
er, OTHER voICEs-(addressed to t
en- person putting the above question:
his aDon't make a fool of yourself now
ar -"Shaw-that's nonsense ;"-"dr
the that kind of talk, etc, etc, etc.
Ike Mr.. POLAND Very much oblig
we to you for asking me that questit
eel Mr.. Stockton was elected-or clai
ed to be-from New Jersey. In
en-, Senate we have no COMMITTEE
red Elections" but we have a Judicia
has Committee which is composed ofsev
nd members, five Republicans and t
zee, Democrats. That Committee aft
by examining the case thoroughly We
md unanimous that he was legally elect
yes He was elected in this way. 7
l Constitution says, q. S. Senators sh