Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-03

The REPRESENTATIVE OF VERMONT IN Cox
GREss.-Gen. John W Phelps of Bra tile
boro' whose honesty of purpose nobody
questions but whose capttous spirit some
times binders his influence and usefulness,
writes to the Rutland Independent in qucru-
Ious criticism of the Vermont delegation in
the National Legislature. lie discovers in
them drifting disposition, ill-suited to the
character of a Vermont representation.
He says:
While our soldiers have been foremost on almost
every important field of battle, and quite 1t III
Grant purpose than serving partisan interests or
leaders, our Congressional delegation have Senef,
ally been drifting behind. and have represented
Delaw are, or MARYLAND, or Tennessee as well as
they have heir own State.
la evidence of this - drifting disposition
Gen. Phelps Instances the course OF our Yer
mont delegation in reference to San Domingo
which lie strangely supPoses to have been IN
support of annexation. 1t Is true that at
the date of Gen. Phelps cOmmunica ton, Mr..
Morrll's great speech on San Domingo had
not been given to the public. But at no
time has the position of the delegation been
oauivocal, or indicated any want OF independ-
ence Senator Edmunds early took dis
tinct ground in opposition 20 the treaty OF
annexation, and in the debate on Mr. Sum
ner and the Encouragement OF the Senate
committees, he took occasion 10 relterate his
opposition to the acquisition Of San DOmin-
go. Senator Morrill, was one of the few
who were not even willing to send out the
commission ami his speech IN opposition to
annexation, as independent in tone rs II was
exhaustive IN it, facts, has added largely to
a reputation already high in the estimation
of the country. There has been less Ucca-
sion for the members of the House of Repre-
sentatives to make speeches on the subject ;
but Mr.. Willard, certainly, has been an out
spoken opponent OF annexation from first to
last.
We know of no great question in regard
to which our Vermont representatives are
cha-geable with indecisiOn. want Of indePend-
ence. or - dr1tiug," whatever that word
may indicate. Their position on the ku-
klux bill was a prominent and influential
one The House bill, which, with modih
catIons,) became q law, was a substitute for
the Shellabarger bill, drawn, rs was stated
a the time, by Mr.. Willard, and embodying
the legal conclusions OF Judge Poland and
himself. Mr.. Edmunds had charge of the
bill IN the Senate, and managed 1t with an
ability which won high praise from friend
and foe. lie was also member of the
committee of conference on the bill, On the
part Of the Senate, a. Mr.. Poland was on the
part Of the House, and the vote of Mr.. Smith
wa, recorded in favor If The bill. as il com
monty Is Oh the right side OF important qucs-
tIons 1t would not be in good taste Tor us
10 20 into general laudatiUn of our Yer
mont representatives at Washington but
we may say. since they are attacked in a
body. that our State, which has been wont
to be ably and induentially represented in
Congress. has not lost its influence Of late
We think it would puzzle Gen. Phelps to
point out IA delegation from any state
jhat in proportion to It's numbers excel~ that
sc Vermont, in ability, independence, aud
purity Of character We Go not know but
we could 20 further, and say that it woulc
be hard to select five men, representing any
other State in Congress, whose staudn.
there is higher than that OF the five VIII,
compose the Vermont delegation Free Press