Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-05-21
The Congressional Question.


Editors Rptlind Hora'd' GENT1rME>
Your announcement that " in the pres
cnt juucturc," you feel 10 lee your duty
10 support Mr., Woodbridge Tor reuomin,
alton rs the Republican candidate ior
Congress from this district, and the space
you have given to the opinions Of others
induce 10 the belief that your view, were
presented 10 the frank consideration and
irec criticism Of the people, aud that ii
you have fallen into errors your columns
nc open 10 trcir correction.
Your conclusion, as TO What You believe
to be "thc public sentiment OF the masses
4 the people, was, necessarily in your
view of the ease, presented as though
there could bc no other conclusion. But
there is some doubt il, I'm the present
condition OF the canvass, any one can
say what Is the public sentiment Of the
masses, seeing that the masses have not yet
discussed the question in public, much
less indicated their choice.
The fact that $50 many good men have
been presented" indicates that the pub
lie expect change, Friends If such men
,llrr not sfaEt-ai illm in onc.sidCd
political canvass.
That the return of Mr. Woodbridge i,
" demanded by, public consideration"
may be true, but the masses Of the people
have not as yet had those considerations
brought TO their attention through the
public journals Granted that the gen
tloman has served the district faithfully,
You do not show how he stands ont pre-
eminently the choice of the people, by
reason of extraordinary and invaluable
service. 50 that he should he honorcd be-
yond custom or usage, thatl the office
seeks him.. rather than he the office.
be sure, that It is not your right to
choose candidate, or the candidate him
self, that | would criticisc,. but your
claims t., knew the choice Of the masses
and your imperfect estimate Of what is
demanded 10y public considerations, And
had the expression of your choice been
simply such, and had you confined your
effort in Mr. Woodbridge's behalf TO the
the statements referred to, comment
would he unnecessary and perhaps un,
just
You express the belief. that it would
be unjust to discriminate among our fell
low-citilcns in the present condition Of
the canvass" II is useless to so discrimin-
ate, if the public sentiment is for the re-
turn Of Mr.. Woodbridge ; and it is diff
cult to understand why you did discri-
inmate against the candidate who was SO
ably presented by your correspondent d.
In that article, the name Of Col Neazev
was submitted to the candid consideration
Of the people, and upon the highest
grounds. II the masses are for Mr. Wood
bridge, ii was not necessary that you
should question Col. Veazey's fitness for
the office, although it was yonr right SO 10
do, and his friends do not fear frank aud
manly discussion Of such an issue.
1t was not necessary that You SHOULD
find in that article an elimination tina
the "civilian IS less loyal" than the sol
der, seeing that the article intimate
nothing Of the kind. This injustice t,
the article and to the candidate it sup
ports, must do You the justice 10 believe
was not intentional, and suggest that yol
read ii again, so as to correct your to-
hasty impression.
Be sure again, that your right TO con
strue, in your own way, all your CORES
pondents may say, and to comment on tn
same is unqutstioned but the connec
ton between the denomination Of Nh
Woodbridge. as forcgono conclusion
and the necessity for remarks agains
a harmless candidate, is not apparent
If you are correct rs to " the publ
sentiment Of the masses Of the people,
your vision should be clear. not obscure,
by thickcning Clouds and the "pros
pect MoHH be " Of harmony while tn
"cnsying> and jealousics " of those VIII,
have the empty honor of being talked
Of as candidates should excite no alarm.
This public sentiment Of the masso,
of the people is good thing to get at
good thing, not an cHy There ar
some who hope it isn't visionary to tall
about getting at it-some time-but i
must be palpable hjD3 not simply
WORKOUT common place phrase, before i
will be rui. Seek it in the sunlight, i
you would find it, and when You hay,
found it. hold fast to ii in any Juno,
ture"
If / understand the friends Of Col
Neazoy, they mean earnest and solid worl
in this canvass. They know that hi
namc is received with favor and cnthusi
assn in this and the other counties Of tn
district, not only rs reprcsentatiyeofth
soldiers, but as representative Q
brains have faith in him, because the,
know him to bc true He cannot he pu
out Of the way by slur- and misrcprescnta
tions, such as "ohc of thcreople" desccnde'
to in your issue Of to-day In ansrticle az
parently designed to show that Mr. Dor
made political mistake III his letter t
the HERALD, this writer says that Go
Ncazcy is urged On the ground of "th
ianeied superiority and loyalty Of the Ii,
roes Of the late war" This, because h
could say nothing manly. Will some on
have the courage TO meet Ds article i
the spirit in which il was written, an
answer it, if it is designed to answer it
Rutland, May 10, ls6S.