The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-06-09

risen above the painful consciousness of
the presence of constituents. Frothy
cloqucncc may win the applause of an
ignorant rabble, but it goes but little
way toward convincing an intelligent
jury. Mr.. Woodbridge, in this case,
wasted an opportunity to display his
power for dignlied argument, TO expose
the weakness and absurdity oftcstimony
which was, at least, conflicting and inn
probable, to point out the sophistrics in
his superintendent, and, perhaps,
to clear his client from the network Of
a possible conspiracy.
This wasted opportunity was nobly
seized by Gov. Dillingham;. His argu-
mcnt was the best possible presentation
of his side of the case. If the fabric of
testimony raised by the prosecution,
sustains, unbrollcn, the weight of his
ponderous blows, it must be regarded as
invinciblc The argument seems to be
made with the full consciousness of the
importance of the issues involved. The
plaintiff is treated with the respect to
| which he is entitled The most charit-
| able construction is put upon inconsis-
| tencies in the evidence. so far rs is pos
| sible with his view of the case The
hearers and jury are led along the line
| of testimony with consummate skill
| and before they are aware of it, the
| whole story appears to he dilleren
one from that they had before heard
Throughout his whole argument there
| was an earnestuess, "a pathos, a cleaTness
nh apparent rairuess, which made on
forget his occasional slips in the use o
language.
But with all lis strength and beauty, a
an argument it was, we are sorry To sa.
| open to the criticism of vulgarity am
| irrevcrcucc.
Mr.. Phelps commenced his argumeu
yesterday AFTERNOON and proceeded ia
enough to convince everyone that h
is master of the situation. No sophistr.
or weakness in his opponents areumen
will escape him.
i 1t is thought that the case will b
given to the jury this afternoon.
THE LOUISIANA ELECTION.-Gcn
| Buchanan's official order for the cleo
ton was issued on Wednesday. 1t an
| nounces the State, Parish and Judicia
Elections, but Municipal Elections ar
not a. yet provided for The orde
| states:
"Thc civil Government hereby pro
| vidcd for is provisional in its characte
until after the fourteenth article shal
have become part of the Constitution
of the United States. The officer
elected will enter upon their duties oi
the first Monday in November, i'm ac
| cordancc with articles one and fifty
eight of the new Constitution, hut il
the event of q vacancy occurring in al
Office in the meantime it will be file,
preferably by the person who has bcel
| elected to il.
| ANY officer elected who il found to ~
disqualified to hold office mt the dat
named is to hold over until his disabil
ity shall be removed or new election
held. Cases of contested elections M,
to be decided by the proper tribunal il
accordance with the existing State Con
stitution and laws
The following is the paragraph rcla
tive to the assembling of the Lcgisla
turc: "The General Assembly will no
convene untI the Commanding Gene
raj shall have been officially notified G
the acceptance by Congress of the neN
State Constitutions Immediately aftc
General Assembly TO take action nol
the amendment To the Constitution O
the United States, known rs articl
fourteenth, and to define by law TIN
powers and duties pertaining to the of
flee newly created by this Constitution