Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-13
From The Frco Press and Time
Remarks Of Hon. G.. W. Willard,
At rnr REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.

At r1E REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
Mr.. Willard said it was both agreeable and
useful to any representative Of the Republf.
can party to meet his constituents face Ia
face, on occasions like this Under our the.
DRY Of government, the representative is not
the sovereign but the servant Of the pcoulc
II is his duty TO seek his instructions from
the people, who are the true soyereigns. and
to render to them due account Of the manner
aud degree Of fidelity with with which he ha.
fulfilled his trust The concise aud correct
sketch just given by the able and distinguish.
ed Senator Mr. Edmunjsl of the way i'm
which the servants of the people in Congrcs.
had strlyen to perform their duties, also
showed q fact which it is wise to keen Ia
mnd-viz: that the chief danger to our
country and party is not from without but
from within The danger is that we may
lose sight Of the great principles on which
our party is based and divide on minor u.s..
sues, instead Of battling unitedly as hereto.
fore for the good cause Of human rights and
freedom. The Republican party has thus far
kept clearly in sight among the people the
cardinal principles of Liberty and Equal
Rights. But as We move away from the
sharp contest Of the war, and the new issue.
Of tariff, taxation and the public debt become
more prominent the principle Of cohesion
becomes weakened amid the stries of warrur
factions 1t is good in such times to come
back to a State like this, la which solid prin.
ciplc aad intelligent understanding Of the is.
sues prevail and shape the action aud good
to feel assured that here in Vermont, ifuo
where else, Republican principles are sure Of
perpctuatiou They are sure to endure here.
because our party IN this State is organized
not fer power only, but upon an intelligent
perception Of the principles which lic at Che
foundation Of our government.
Even here, let me say, il is well 10 bear 20
mind that these fundamental principle.
should have the first place. \ tariff mas Doe
important. but tariff Is nothing 20 us. If our
freedom Boz not maintained The sustaining
of the national credit 3. important, but public
credit is nothing unless liberty IS safe. So
while ON minor issues SOME may take 900.
ground aud others another lct all keep STD
bright that bond Of perpetual union Whose
foundation and essence 3, Individual Free.
dom and Equal Rights for all
Senator EpuJSr. was cllci out and spoke a.
follows
Mr. Edmund, said that hc was not isnor.
ant that the citizens OF Vermont are accu.
toned 20 observe iutelIirantly aud closely ihs
course ofpubic Affairs lie should There.
fore not undertake to render au account o..
what he had done; hui would rather congrli.
ulate them upon the progress which the Iar.
ty they represented had made. IL seemed
almost ike a miracle that only ten years ago
the Republican party came inlo power. Then
over onc-third of the States Of the niou
cherished a system Of labor which the people
Of Nermont de,ested When hc said the peo-
pie he meant the whole people Of the State
without distinction Of party, and if il were
with distinction Il would amount TO about the
same thing. Ten years ago the government
was carried on by ar.tocracy. No govern.
ment on the globe was more so Since then
you-or the republican party. Of whose work
you have as much right as any to claim
share-hayc waged to final victory n war
begun and carried on to overthrow the gov.
+ ernment You have given liberty to four
{ millions Of slaves; you have carried so every
State liberty and equal rights. At the clos.
of the war you again found yourselves in Che
hand, Of trcacherou, administrations But
you carried ON the government ia spite of Do,
head You elected boo due time prcsideu.
Grant The first year Of his administration
illustrates his career He has reduced the
debt By over one hundred and twenty million.
with reduced taxation He has maintained
the government with increased efficiency and
economy.
Our work is the manly task of carrying GU
with patient iortitude the burdens of tho
government. And while relieving the weight
of taxation, We may hope TO raise the credit
Of the government so that within twelve.
month the old fashioned dollar shall be dol.
lar again. Such has been the policy of the
government at home, and realizing that 90
country can prosper without maintaining
good feeling with other nations, the foreign
policy Of the admins tration has been peace.