Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-05-07
THE RUTLAND HER AID,
FRIDAY, MAY Ltos
senator Yates q, ul,neis,

atar la,c. II Illinois There can h. little
doubt that these asleg,iuus were IA de-
gree merited, though as the senator HIM
self quotes in his adires, % the people "l
Illinois. which yc publish below, while m
his own ease b. does ~, ask such oon>'d'
Grafton, il isa Divine ruling, l.si him
that is without siu east the t,rsi stone,
and II our Democratic friends would look
hack To- the history ot oven their 'o1d,r'
in both houses oi Cmgrvs,, they cannot
hu, remember more drunkenness, than
has ever been exhibited ~ Senator Yates
Salisbury ~ Delaware, i . living IN
stance of our charges, while the dead We
prefer 10 hiring no counts agains, His
tory places them in their true position,
II is not our province 10 uphold intcm-
perancc; but if il,erc Is truth in the adagc
that what is confessed is hall ncdrcs>cd,
there i, something in the manly and
moumiul apology Of the distinguished
senator from Illinois. which must 90 far
10 repair and restore the brillian, repu,a-
ton and popularity which has only one
unfortunate onoumhranoe. None have
felt kccncr regret for his failing, than
those WHO best know him. and have been
aware Of his earnest struggles against the
habit which has been his hane
But, as is the contrary in the case, Of
other public men addicted 10 intempcr-
ancc. Senator Yates record has never been
dimmed 10y a departure from the line Of
public duty and fidelity to the cause Of
freedom, OF which he has been a steadfaS,
champion lie has earned much forbcar-
ancc in the services he has in the pas,
rendered to his State and the nation, He ,
has never ialtercs in the fight against OPP
preston. His opinions and actions. as
Governor OF the Prairie State, led the
marshalling Of her troops in the great
ouipouring against treason which filled a I,
loyal North with enthusiasm. His course
then was not passing sentiment, the .
mere fervor Of moment or day but
the embodiment of lifelong struggle in
behalf Of human freedom and Justice.
There is really no more true and
knightly soul in the land than that Of
Dick Yates, and il is sad 10 turn to the
spots in his career, darkened by the vice
that has ruined the ablest and best Of all
nations But in his letter to the people
of his State he has promised different
career in future than that which has dis
graced, for the past few years, his hithcr-
10 fair escutcheon. and as Ito err is hu.
man and to forgive divine" why should
patience and hopefulness be refused to
champion of truth, who has never soiled
his colors, and who, knowing his errors,
seeks 10 east them away
The following is the letter Of senator
Yates to the people of his State:
WASHINGTON, d. C., April u, 1868.
To The People Of WinoiS
! have seen various articles in Illinois
papers rejecting on my conduct. Their
criticisms are in some respects Just and
deserved. Such exaggerations Of nv
faults as they contain, result, | am sure,
not wholly from ill-will toward me. but
from justifiable anxiety that our State
shall be properly representated in the
United States Senate.
| could show by the records that have
been absent from the impeachment trial
but small portion of the time. 1t com
menced in March, just fifty DAYS ago to- .
day l was absent from the trial only six
of those fifty days. l was present ON
every other day, and voted ON every ques-
ton submitted to the Senate. could
show that ! have not been a constant
drinker; and prove that my Welding to
temptation TO use stimulants has been
periodical, and after long and exhaustive
labors could show that have never
appeared in the Senate except when sober.
and that notwithstanding occasional de-
partures since ! have been in the Senate.
! have for most of the time performed nv
duty; but ] waive all mere technical adj
vantage which might haYc in contro-
versy as to my conduct.
write you, not to Justify, but 10 wuiye
all defense, and frankly confess to y0n
the weakness which, at times. has borne
me down, and which was calculated to
bring discredit upon my State and myself
II is my nature to be frank, and especially
do owe it to you who have showercd
fayors and honors upon lhe to be- 20 now
VIII not attempt Justification or excuse.
especially when have SO often publicly
said that men holding public trusts should
be sober men
During twenty-seven years of political 4
service - with the exception of ten Of
those years, when ] totally abstaiued-I
nave often yielded to temptation, and a
oiten have suffered the pangs of unutter-
able remorse can say that. in a certain
sense, my SIN has been my punishment.
To lose your respect might seem punish
ment enought, but you can scarce imagine
bow proud man feels when he has rea
son to dread the loss Of all that renders
his nature noble; aud when il would
seem thvt Heaven had Withdrawn its
favor from him ON account Of sclf-inaicted
wrongs
1t has been said, with what seems 10
me unnecessary cruelty: 1T is perfectly
useless TO exact new pledges from one who
has broken so many old ones" To this
allow me to reply that hare reformed:
and that | will compel your confidence,
not by course Of conduct scrupulously
correct. l comprehend the situation per-
fectly The happiness of my family the
respect and confidence of my friends: the
success OF my party, which to me is the
triumph OF liberty and good government
the honor OF my State, the good opinion
OF mankind; my oyR hfe. and, the las,
and most important, the nntriea future
which approaches with startling rapid
ity-all these have been seriously eonsid.
cred.
To those whose affection for me has
hitherto survived the shock Of repeated
disappoints, | say do not conceal from
yourselves, or longer sttemn, 70 sb;,,a - .