Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-07-09
The Congregational Question.


yergennes yermonter, and is fair and
candid reply 10 the evidently malicious
attacks that are made upon Mr.. Wood.
bridge by his political opponents. We do
not claim that our candidate Is perfect,
nor do we believe that any of his compet-
itors are any more than human beings,
although the gloriication that is heard
in some quarters might lead stranger
to suppose that the very perfection Of
wisdom and purity had been found to rep
resent this district in Congress, While
We have no disposition to palliate any OF
the errors Of Mr.. Woodbridge, yet that he
is daily and hourly being basely SANDER.
ed by his opponents, is apparent to all OBJ
servers, and it is quito as certain also
that these ISLANDERS are making sure his
denomination, and the over laudation Of
other candidates in contrast is but an
ally towards The same result:
Etigtor IF he IcIm0Ht,J - Der.
ccive the Register of the 23d of June is
again filled with inuondoes and slang, on
the Congressional question, both from the
meek and amiable editor, and from a dis
appointed and sourcd politician signing
himself Radical Republican" Tho
editor is all at once sensitive to what he
calls "low personal attacks" lie seems
not 10 comprehend the fact that his paper,
for the past sew weeks has been filed
with gibos and personalities which have
not only been made the subject of com
ment in political circles oven among his
own friends, but have really added to the
strength Of Mr.. Woodbridge in every di-
rcction, for the people are not accustomed
10 read and stand idly by and see their
servants publicly misreprcScntcd in such
4 manner, and will rally la the defense
of the candidate who is thus wilfully and
for purpose maligned. There is no ef-
fort or disposition manifested, either by
you or any other party in Addison coun-
ty, to choke down discussion or a fair can
yass of the merits or claims of candidates
for office. when conducted in an honor
able and frank manner, without attempt
by insinuation and scandal to blacken
the services or character of an opponent
The friends of Mr.. " oodbridge are not
afraid of the discussion of the merits or
public record of their candidate, and feel
that the attacks on him, as they are put
forth in the Register, are doing more to-
wards the denomination Of the presentrcp-
r6sentative than any personal cxertions
they can put forth The editor very
,,f ! 10 s,ll., - r.
intended to oppose Mr.. Woodbridge as II
candidate for reelection to represent the
First District of Vermont in Congress.
except in expressing preference for an
other man, which he has a perfect right
to do, in common with every other citizen
Of the District. We do not deny the
right of the editor to the expression of
his choice for another man, but when he
not only does show his preference, but
follows up that choice by filing his
columns with vtuperative personal and
political slang of a citizen of bis own
county, and also lends himself as a subtle
tool to the partizan purposes of those
who Willy and scandalize him, then the
people of Addison county, hare "A right to
express their Indignation at bis course,
and defend one of their own citizens, who
has been so frequently honored by them,
from these malicious and premeditated
attacks, to say nothing stronger
The letter Of " Radical Republican in
the last issie of the Register, Isuppose
is intended only for the high-minded pur-
pose "of expressing a preference for an
other man This is a very strange
method Of only making opposition to Mr.
Woodbridge, i'll expressing choice for
another man. and most certainly. is "a
disgrace 10 journalism unparalleled at
least III Vermont. '' Radical Republican"
which a correspondent breaches and that
because several gentlemen in Congress
are serving long terms, therefore Mr..
Woodbridge should be returned. In the
irst place no perpetuatlon theory was
advanced by your correspondent, but
special and sufficient reasons were assign
cd why the present representative should
be returned to look after the immediate
and direct interests of the people Of this
District which are vitality important, and
such interests ds no ether member IF Com
gress, from, miptecsr section he may come,
does represent. They are special subjects
that demand the supervision and care of
one acquainted and experienced in the
routine of Congressional legislation,
which no man. though he has the best
Intellect in the nation. can superintend NO
well as one who has had them in charge
+" Radical Republican knows this AS well
as any other gentlemen in the District,
but he cares nothing for the interests of
the mass OF the people that are represent
ed 10y Nr. Woodbridge, if he can only
compass his defeat, to crafty a soured
ambition. These are simply the .ficts,
and the people interested are not to be
misled by bis >pecions and lawyer-like
cry of "perpetuation theory"
Radical Republican says that II re-
election never should be urged, save upon
proofs Of superior ability and usefulness.
Laying aside all questions Of superior
ahility-thc usefulness of the present rep
rc~ontative TO the special material inter-
ests of his constituents in the past, and
his position TO serve them better than any
he'r man in coming emergency upon
I the tariff, is sufficient reason for his
return, and this is fully understood by
the ngriculturists of this State, and
eIiques, rings and combinations, cannot
lead them astray upon this point as they
have sacrificed already too MUCH by in
experience to lose sight Of the qualifca.
tions OF II representative to look after their
immediate interest
The friends of Mr.. WoodLridrs have
not only given their tgde mOattted gene.
ralities about public considerations hut
heve made specific statement OF the special
considerations that deInand his return
and ask whom does he represent, The
mass of his constituents are the farmers o.
the First Congressional District, and no
the politicians-and it is the interests Of