Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-27
wAsnlsoroS, D. C., Dee. 95, 1871

iournment for the holidays, has been spent almost
entirely in preparations for the coming Prcsiden-
tial contest
| What may appear at distance as great meas
urcs Of reform, are in reality but strategic maneu-
yers for the advantage Of position, and the skill
ful Arrangement of the pieces upon the political
chess board.
The New Departure" movement, and the
subsequent " Passive Policy" advocated by the
/ Democratic leaders, announced the fact that the
old party Of pro-sayery and Anti-progress could
make no further organized opposition to the pro-
| grcssiye principles Of RepublicaniSm. This left
the field open to the unopposed advance Of the
/ Republican party and almost every expression
/ from the people indicated that Gen. Grant would
/ be again chosen as the leader To uphold aud ad-
vance the Republican standard This shaping Of
| the elements, not hy the manipulation Of polti-
clans, bat hy general law Of political gryit-
| ton, did not suit the plans and purposes Of two
classes existing within the body Of the republi-
can party. The first were large number Of un
successful and disappointed applicants for high
official position under the present administration,
several Of whom control nominally republican
| papers Of wide circulation. The second were
number Of prominent republican politicians who
had failed to control the official action OF Gen.
Grant, and consequently whose ambitious schemes
would be defeated BY his reelection
10 defeat the denomination Of Gen. Grant,
crusade against his administration was organized
many months ago by the parties spoken Of. under
I the leadership of such men as Senators Tumbull.
Schurz, Sumner, and "a few Others, aud under the
advocacy Of " The New York Tribune, " The
Springfield republican" "Wilkc- Spirit of The
riIues, "The Capitol" (of Wnshngton,) The
/ Chicago Tribune" and two or three other west
ern papers As some reason must be assigned
for the result, and some issue provided for the
contest, the recalcitrants raised the standard of
reform and Immediately commenced the manu-.
lactuie Of public opinion by resolutions and
speeches in Congress, and letters and editorials
/ in the papers under their control,
/ Notwithstanding the fact, that from the day OF
is Inauguration the present administration bad
excricd every eiJrt towards faithful collection
OF the revenue, and an honest and economical
disbursement of the public funds, with results
which had rendered possible vast reductions Of tax
alton. and rapid and steady decrease Of the pub.
lie debt every effort was made to deprive Gen
Grant Of due credit therefor, and to convey the
impression that he was opposed to rotrenchment
and reform. Every case Of official misconduct
and dishonesty was wlfully magniGed, or com
mentcd on as though the President was directly
responsible therefor. Several eases Of recent de-
lacation have been pandcd before the country
as Illustrating the faults Of the administration.
with the fact that the deaultng officers were APP
pointed long before the present administration
came into power carefully suppressed, and the
further fact, that they were promptly arrested
and convicted not reported
That the raid now being made in the Senate
upon the administration is the result Of a DELHI
crate, and carefully planned conspiracy, is evil
denced hy the fact, that the programme was exut-
antly announced in several of the opposition re-
publican papers before the meeting Of Congress,
and thus lar the Senatorial performers have
acted strictly by the bill. This feature of the
"Retronchment aud Reform play of Senator
Trumbul was thus hcetously touched Oh by
Senator Edmunds in his recent admirable reply
to Senator Trumbull's onslaught upon the admin.
lstration.
"What does it all mean, Mr.. President? It
was advertised in advance, rs all circuses are
/ some Of the New York papers-one OF them, GER
1 tainly-gaye US notice in advance of exactly what
| sort Of a menagere we were to have, precisely
what sort of elephants and other animals were to
be trotted out into the ring 10 perform and exact
ly the uitglate objects OF the performance. The
millennium, "a whatever YOU may call it, say the
Presidency cal 1t the millennium, because when
the millennium comes ge shall all be Presidents
we were told was tho object Of the performance
know that my good friend from Illinois had no
such object by any means but he was like one
Of the innocent boys that paste up the pos
! ters for a menagere or circus that is coming
around, and did not understand the deep signih-
cameo Of the thing lie carries the brush and the
n paste, and the programme, or whatever they call
IT, and wherever he can find post, ON 1t goes
= and he believes us Paul did when he went down
n to certain city, that he is performing great ser
vice 10 save this great country from an lmpeud-
ing disaster. lie Ina. a right to his belief | d,
y not question it at all. do not undertake t,
read him out Of my party, or out Of his own party
. whichever that may be. or whichever mine
c may be,) for his opinions. lie has right t,
Fl, them and to his actions.
During the discussion Senator Trumbul among
= other evidences Of his endorsement by the people
lourished letter which he had Just received iruu
/, friend of retrenchment in Canaan, VI, show
ing great necessity for its operation there, bu
which he declined to read Upon senator Ed
munds desiring to see it, Mr.. Trulnbull declined
= to show it, unless MIR. Edmunds would first pledge
himself that the writer should not be turned out
of Off e for having written it; to which Mr.. Ell
o munds replied, " That will depend on whether h,
has told the truth II he has lied, he shall bt
turned out If he has told the truth he shall
not he"
Mr. Edmunds gained possession Of the letter,
and in his reply to Mr.. Trumbull dissccted it as
follows, to the great amusement of the Senate
:, Mr. TRuMBuLL. | meant to say that the wr
| ting Of the letter should not expose him to being
T. turned out; that the Senator should protect him
from being turned out
] Mr. EDMUSDs. | will The only trouble about
il that is that he seems to have been turned ou
over three months ago, which may possibly ac
u count for his dissatisfaction at the state Of the
;. public service. laughter. | will not promist
to have him turned back again, but viii reac
his letter, leaving out the name, because perhap,
l. he would not like TO have his name mentioned
Nevertheless. will be guided as 70 that by ms
= friend from Illinois .
CANAAN, ESSEX COUNTY, VERMONT,
l. " Hon. LYMAN TRUMnuLL. U. s. Snafsr
DEAR SIR commend you very much -
T. So far agree with my constituent laugh
= teri
:. for your effort revive the Committee on Retronch
aud Reform, for know there great need Of ID
Y from my observation having had charge Of the Gus
y tomhOuse at this place from 1919 10 1853 -
- That was four years
- and then from 1851 to ls3i"--
g That was nine years more. Here is a publ,
;, officer OF thirteen years, deputy collector
- Mr. CoNKLiNG. Fourteen
" Mr.. EpMUNDs. 1t nay be fourteen | will no
e stand about year
My observation is that twenty per cont of the fore
employed In the customs department may be dispense,
- There two deputy collectors here at pay O
81 coo besides other expenses, when the entries
not average three por week, aud there Is smu
CLING this way, | had only $500 per annum and no a.
sstant until 1851 although Was needed AFTER the ta
II was put so high on liquors
4 Laughter.
!. trust, Mr.. President, the Senate will trea
my constituents and this subject with prope
= gravity. laughter insist upon that.
Is Some three years ago my salary raised 70 $500
and when went out la August my was giyei
zoe and furnished m Office und wood and lights an,
! stationery and postage, etc"
. suppose the " etc, " means liquor. Laugh