Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-15

O~SesSAS@Ay
bride of policy and act out human ma
ture, by discussing each other instead of
the "cold gander," as Hamlin did
when he called Summers speech "bun-
comb and proposed to sing Old Hun
bred, or as Sumner did when Sawyer
who represents a constituency of rebels
and negroes, and between the two ex-
tremes had struck an attitude so near
the golden mean as to be a friend to
both and strangely consistent, and fail
ing to see things through Summers spec
tacles, the eloquent Massachusetts sena-
tor proceeded to impale the poor South
Carolina Senator upon a lofty point of
diction before the Senate, the country
and the world, as being recreant to the
sacred trust repOsed in him as a legisla-
tor. But what wonder? 1t must be a
relief, relish, to turn from this cold
gander a moment, even though it be to
pick the bones of each other with all the
avidity of South Sea Islanders. Certain
natures seem constructed with a safety
valve which allows them to blow off
when charged beyond given pressure.
But our legislative bill of fare is not
complete without dessert and tAis body
takes its nuts and raisins in a short exec
utiye session at the end of all else.
Nuts for them indeed, but how about
the anxious nominees, whose heads they
drop into the basket as a mere pastnne?
The precise method of this little cere-
mony is imaginary with us, all Of which
we withhold as the imaginations of the
reader are as good as ours. If we even
get our just deserts this one may be in
cluded, but - What we really know
about this is less even than "What I
know about farming" We hear the
order from the Vice-President to ''clear
the galleries and close the doors. There
is rush of spectators, a general faXing
around of door-keepers, the ponderous
doors swing to, grating of rusty bolts,
that is all. Occasionally a door is open
ed sufficiently to admit a sheet of paper
and thin edged officer squcezes
through. He wears a look of immense
responsibility, sort of quiet yet oppres-
sed air. combining the solemn gravity
of the owl, with the dumb patience of
the lamb, and to all questions responds
with knowing shake of the head. But
We turn from our mutton TO the afore-
said amnesty. As the week wore on
and its end approached, efforts were in
creased upon both sides and interest in
tensifed. Galleries were packed and
there'was noticeable diminution of color
and a corresponding increase of the in
telligenCe of the Caucasian. All eyes
were upon Summers amendment. for to
adopt it would be to kill the bill. to re-
iect to pass the bill The amendment
could not count upon party support.
Some of the best republican principles
and intcllects of the Senate expressed an
awful apprehension Of the stride toward
usurpatios, which in their oppinion it
proposed to inaugurate, 1t is the old
question Of State Rights whitcwashcd
over. Not however upon reasonable
/ acts like secession. or acts tending direct
/ ly to menace the general government.
but upon questions of local policy
which previous to 1850 had always been
left to local governments The prrCis"
! line of dcmarcation between the pro
yinccs of the general and local govern
/ mcnts like that between two drops of
water, is sometimes difficult to find. in
/ the attempt to grasp it one often becomes
/ dizzy and long for Mary's little lamb or
/ something else tangible and innocent to
reassure ua. Extremists upon both ends
/ of this complex question have a faculty
of advancing splendid theories and
pointing to the much afflicted c0nstitu-
ton in support Of the premises. OF
course You say both cannot be right.
Well it may happen that neither he
right, and yet such people are a power
for good, for they show how iucon-
sistent and dangerous it is to follow cN-
tremists There is no more true re-
publican in the Senate than Ferry of
Connecticut. He always has a square
common sense side to his position and his
remarks upon the spirit of Summers
amendment are 50 pertinent and uniyer-
sal in their application that we will quote
a few of his ideas. He said: If the
views Of Sumner were to prevail.
the general government must take
charge of everything affecting the
life, liberty and prosperity of every
citizen of this country the prin.
ciples maintained by Sumner. Nor
ton and Carpenter were identical. it was
that the three last amendments to tho
constitution had changedth whole theo
ry and form of our Government Goo
help us if this thing, which is now pro
posed, is to be done it will strike from
under us the very props of civil liberty,
and we most assurcdly shall 90 down
We will not 90 down at once, for al
usurpati0ns are attempted under the pies
of being for the public good This l.
the entering wedge; next the Govern
ment will be called on to enter ints
every hamlet in the country and ITO pol
ice service He was equally anxious
with the Senator from Massachusetts
for the preservation of equal rights, bu
he wished to preserve the very fortress
of equal rights-local self government
F The SenatOr( Sumner complained because
a man i'll Massachusetts, had, at mid
night, been denied accommodation at ;