Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-08-24
REMARKS OF Hon. +. r. WOODBRIDGE,

At the Republican Convehhon IN the LIST Con-
grossionoi District.
Mr. President and FELLOW itizens. &C..
knowledge with pride and satisfaction the
honor now thrice conferred upon me by my
nomination to one Of the most honorable, re-
sponsble and laborious official positions in
the eift Of the people | thank you for your
renewed assurance Of your confidence. My
past Congressional career must be in some
measure an earnest of the future. For three
years have been your Representative and
often in weakness, sometimes in fear and
trembling, but never with dishonest or I'M
manly purpose, have attempted to do my
duty. Applause. | love Vermont, and
must ever be true IN her. Here | was born
and here thank God hope to die and be
buried.
Questions have agitated the country and
we're before Congress for its consideration
and determination, which the most enlight-
ened statesmen approached with hesitation
and doubt. How well they have been deter
mined is for The people to judge Many
questions Of great moment are sill before
Congress, and the keenest foresight, the
most enlightened and deliberate judgment,
the frmest faith, and incortuptible integrity
are demanded Of your Representatives.
for one have faith and hope. believe
that he same kind Providence which has
protected Us as a nation hitherto, will still
bear w. onward aud upward until complete
and happy restoration of the Union is cured,
upon grounds Of equol freedom and equal
rights to all, without distinction Of race or
caste Applause.
When | voted TO knock the shackes from
four million of bondmen, intended that they
should become Fteemen in fact as we'll as in
name and that by force Of Iaw every nation
al right ehould be secured to them; and
will say farther that | am in favor OF Univer-
sal Suffrage and shall do whatever constitu-
tonally can do to secure that result. APP
planse.
No other theory is absolutely consistent
with a Republican form Of Government. 1t
is the foundationstone TO Republcanism,
and must sooner or later prevail. But, gen
tlemen, will not make a speech There If a
gentleman present from Washington the
Hon. Stoddard B. Colby, former resident
Of the District, who would doubtless be
leased to address you.
We understand that when Mr. Colby eu-
Logged President Johnson, Mr.. Woodbridge
was mortified by it, and explained, privately
that be introduced Mr.. Colby at his request
WHO WENT TO PHILADELPHIA.
II is well to look closely to the elements Of
which the Philadelphia Convention consisted.
The motives OF men must be determined by
their pr cedng acts. Judged by this stand
ard, very large portion OF that body are Of
those Of whom the people shouted stand clear,
and excluded forever from he administration
Of national affairs.
The Philadelphia Convention contained
Men who did all they could to embarrass
the Government, and bring he war for the
suppression of the rebellion to an inglorius
end:
Men who mourned over Union victories,
and ri iced when rebels trumphed
Men who have no regrets for the New
Orleans Massacre, and would go further to
Kick negro than John Randolph expressed
> Willingness to do to kick sheep-lo mani.
fest his aired for New England:
Men who tnd, ayoled to prevent enlist
ments, shielded bounty Jumpers and other
deserters, nd expressed the hope that those
Nho went forth in the armies Of the Republic
m GIT never return alive:
nouncng aib ittary power, are the epologists
# President whose ufutpaions, in a SINGLE
year, exceed those Of ali his predecessors
Men who put th,ir hands to the throat OF
the Union; who would, if they could, AVE
strangled the Republic. and made Slavery the
ruling power in the land:
Men who took delight in the bloody riots
Of July, 1868, in Boston ard New York, and,
I'D Al I'll 4 4
nanced uprisings against he draft in all the
populous towns ot the loyal States:
Men who winked at the assassin aiion OF
President Lincoln, and may have been in the
conspiracy to kill him four years earlier than
the fu,filment Of the diabolical purpose:
Men WHO wish TO reforge the manacles Of
slavery, and render void all that has been
done to make this ple-eminenily "ihe land
of the free and the home of he brave:'
Men who read, without Struggling tbeii
sho llders, accounts Of rebel atrocities upor
Union prisoners.-the agoI izing death, b,
famine and other horrors, of thousands whose
only offence was that they loved the Union
and fought for It's rescue;
Men who desire that the rebel debt be pait
3 by all the States, and rebel slave holders b,
Reimbursed for all those liberated from slave
ry oy the chances OF warfare; together will
men who, in NatonalConvention, pronounced
the war failure desired theGovernment tC
recall its troops, and make the best term,
possible with "cur misguided Southern
/ brethren"
There will, it is true, be exceptional cases
men who sustained fair reputation as sup
porters ( the Government, although many ol
them only TO degree sufficient to barely save
them from being suspected of lukewarmness
but the ruling forces of the Phiadelp hia Con.
! vention consisted Of men who would, if they
! could, reverse to-day all the advance that has
been made in the last five years, restore Slave.
| ~ to its ancient founda ion and give the
Democratic party the power to make it per.
petual.-M H. Statesman.
A SIGNIFICANT PREDIoTIoN-The Lou.
isville Journai--whose wishes certainly run
counter to its predictions-says:
80 Tho shouta for JeR navis To- a.,