The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-07-21


wooSahSaags took hia ssas d Congress
a. lhs RspsessAlalirs q this pssarirt.
he ossamanly araeFsd upon - ConRrsa.
siosaas career With the best wishes a
bic coussstsensA Gennrous habits had
VOC him many dsYo4ed personal irisnds,
and = somsvhzt brilliant iuAnna a
I publie speaking had produced favor
sbla inFrossion upon the people II
Deere wers any enemies 70 question bis
ability or inGnuass aught against he
character, shsy wep iaet sight Of IL the
multitnds q friends Nearly all wers
diEposod 10 Overlook hia faults, and
ready 70 do fun justice 70 bis inertia
Mr. Woodbridge has hsd time enough
in which 10 met the expectations Of
hts fricnda A Representative who il
serving bic third term cannot deny that
bis constituents have giYsn him . fair
trial and have seen enough Of bis pub
lie life 70 enable them 10 judge correctly
Of bis merits as q public servant --
He has bad sufficient time in which 10
become acquainted with the duties Of
his position, and establish bis character
In The body 10 which be belongs. II he
has not proved his fitness during that
length Of services there is no excuse for
suffering him to remain.
Almost nom the commencement Of
bis service in the House, the actions of
our representative hare more frequent
y called for the explanations Of his
friehas than for their unqualified praise
During the latter portion OF the time
referred TO. he has been guilty Of con-
duet which neither be nor his friends
could justify or explain. Instead Of in
ereasing his honest influence as legis-
lator, he has managed 10 sink in the
estimation Of his own constituents
Occasionally some evidence Of infu-
enee with the johnson administration
or Of connection with the work OF the
lobby, has unpleasanuy called their at
tention 10 career which they had
hoped 10 contemplate with honest
pride. He received his third term on
" because the claims OF no other per-
son were pressed in the Convention;
and such good fame as he then had the
history Of that third term has taken
away. 1t cannot be denied that AIx.
Woodbridge's Congressional career has
been complete disappointment TO his
friends.
1t often happens that man is con-
tinued in his official life because the
people are not properly enlightened as
TO the real character OF his public SER
vice. Those whose duty IL is to fur
nish such information as the general
interest may require, are often dispos-
cd to evade the unpleasant task OF ex-
posing the faults OF their own represen-
tative. The papers OF this District
which are opposed to the re-nomina-
ton Of Mr.. Woodbridge, have been so
lenient in their treatment of his con-
duet, that they are considered some
what recreant TO their trust by the
journalists Of other Districts, who are
interested as vermonters in the repu-
tation Of every representative Of the
State.
The people should remember that
mere denial o. the charges brought
against Mr.. Woodbridge does not clear
his reputation. A man who has had
the disposal OF government patronage
viii seldom be without enough friends
TO make great deal OF noise about his
purity and virtue Mr.. Woodbridge
has been directly charged with conduct
unbecoming his position and disgrace
ful TO tho District he represents; and
the charges have only been answered
by the repeated assertion of his friends
that ono Of the best and purest men of
Vermont is being foully slandered by
his political enemies. It may be very
natural for the people Of the District to
desire 10 believe in the innocence OF
their representative; but they should
remember that the private reputation
II Mr.. Woodbridge should not be
at the expense Of the good
lame Of the State, and should give his
public conduct careful and impartial
investigation.
There is not much in the legitimate
action Of Mr.. Woodbridge in the House
o offset against these charges Of his
opponents. A little bnncombe about
glorious Vermont, 8 few Soppornic
paragraphs, and sundry quotations
rom Webesters speeches. these con-
titute nearly oil Of Mr. Woodbridge
career which bis eonstit-
tents can look upon without absolute
hame, An abundance of State pride,
md readiness 10 express Il ON al oc-
'asions. are qualifications which are
haired By Mr.. Woodbridge with most
a L.. ...A.a - a -. -.