Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-07-22

t cal subjects" as g one of the best writer
e in the State" and as clear, sound ano
. sensible; besides having big and homes
5 heart" With such reputation the Reg
7 lSter came to be the largest paper and ont
of the most widely circulated weeklles IL
t the State. Its columns were kept clear
, from demoralizing or sensational para
graphs, Its editorials were high-toned, Its
selections were taken from the best con-
temporary literature, and the letters " from
the ever -iourneying editor" were fresh and
lively. Politically it was Wing, with de-
, cided anti-slavery proclivities.
He sustained the nomination of General
Taylor to the Presidency in an editorial
which is largely applicable to the General
whose name heads the ticket on which his
is second. He wrote then, of the former
I" He will 90 there Ito the Presidency a
> man of the people, desirous only to ad-
minister their affairs as judiciously in the
cabinet as he has led their armies in the
field, conscious that the measure of his
fame is full, and only anxious that no act
of his as President may mar his honor or
impair the confidence of his countrymen."
/ By his pen and as a member Of the
National Convention Mr.. Colfax supported
General Taylor, and thus began his con-
nection with national politics
In 1919 he became a member OF a con-
yention to revise the Constitution of In
diana, the necessity for which he had long
urged in his paper In this convention he
took an honorable and useful part. Says
Mr. Moore Previous to his election ne
had advocated a general banking law tor
the state, in opposition to exclusive char
tered monopolies; general banking law
however, which should provide the amplest
guarantees for the security of the bill hold
er a general law, too, which should not in
its turn become a monopoly, but which
should be open to such improvements as
experience, a great teacher IN political as
well as social life, might point out as safer
and better. In the Convention the bank
question was one Of its most exciting
questions. Mr.. Cofax was the author Of
a compromise section authorizing general
banking law that harmOnized conflicting
views To have been the pacifcator Of
this important measure said the Indian
apolis State Journai Of that date, is GER
tainly creditable to Mr.. Colfax, and IS 7
evidence of his high standing and influence
in the convention" He also took decided
ground against the section in the old Con- +
stitution which prohibited the further i'm
migration of negroes and mulattoes, and
prohibited those who were III the state from
buying real estate The effort was vain
one, but showed the sincerity OF Mr.. Col
tax's anti-slayery views, which were held
and advocated by him against an over
majority Of the voters Of Ia
diana.
In 1881, when but three years past the
age required by the Constitution, he was
the wing candidate for representative Of
his district in Congress. His opponent
was Dr. Graham y Fitch, then a Demo
cratic member Of Congress- an able poll
tician, popular stump-speakcr. and since
then | nitcd States Senator. The old and
the young politician stupped" the dis
riot together, lnvotis.-s .oVenty appoint
mentS Tor Speaking. The first ~'''I'cr
was in 4 part of the district where DR..
Fitch was well known and Mr.. ColtaX
The former made the opening
speech and tried to ovcrwhclm his young
with ridicule, advising him,
. instead Of attempting to get seat IN
Congress- to tarry at Jericho until his
beard was grown = an allusion which
raised 4 roar Of laughter Before,
saws Mr.. Moore. that dcrisive laughter
had died away. he was called upon to come
forward and begin his first speech in his
first canvass for Congress. Stepping tor
ward quckly. and glancing around with
MS keen, searching eyes. he took the hearts
Of his audience captive, as with the readi-
4. i /,
that made his words sound like
the twang Of bow that had sent forth
arrow, he said i was not
aware, my tellow-citizcns, that brass and
beard were the necessary qualifications OF
, Congressman. IT, in your Judgment, it
is so, [ must renounce all hope of your
votes a. | confess, what you cannot but
see, that my competitor has a superabund-
lncc of both :" The cries Of g Good,
good, and the ringing cheers that greeted
his opening told the Doctor that if he was
4 Goliath, he had, in the STRIPPING before
aim, a David to contend with.
In the same canvass DR.. Fitch sought
to take advantage of Mr.. Colfax's oppo-
sition to the clause Of the State Constitu-
ion prohibiting the immigration of free
.olored persons. The people of Indiana
1t that time were almost unanimously in
avor Of this clause, and it required both :
and courage to run against the ;
prevailing prejudice, but Mr.. Colfax met '
he issue, stated his convictions, and said {
o those whose support he asked, g" If you I
lsk me to sacrifice them (his convictions)
or a seat in Congress, | tell you frankly I
cannot do it. | would not act counter I
o my convictions of duty, if you could ;
rive me fifty terms in Congress-" He lost
lis election by only two hundred votes in +
/ district that had before been strongly I
Democratic. l
In 1852 he was a delegate to the Wing
National Convention at Baltimore, of
which he was elected one of the Secre- 5
aries. When the Nebraska bill was in
reduced by Senator Douglas, in 1884, he {
opposed it ably in his paper, and in the
same year he was nominated by Peo- :
1les Convention" made up of all the ;
. Anti-N ebraska" elements, for represcn- {
ative to Congress. He was elected by ;
of seventeen hundred and seven {
y-six, in district which two years before
lad given his competitor nearly twelve {
hundred majority.
In the memorable contest for the Speak :
srship at the opening Of the winter session
If 1855, he prevented the success of Mr.. {
Campbell's motion that Mr.. Orr should 8
preside temporarily, by proposing as an
amendment to put the three parties on an
equality, by allowing each to select tenn
.lo,, Il ntatr