Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-15
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MONTPELIER, VT,
WEDNESDAY, " MAY 10, 1872.
Speech Of Hon. Frederick Billings
II TIE ". REPUBLICAN STATE CONGESTION.

tT THE Vt. REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
The Republican party of Vermont is not
atlIcted with the divisions which, In som
states, give to conventions conflicting dele
gates aud Troublesome preliminary gu, stiln>
and so compel tie selection Of skiIllul
presiding ofti:er. Indeed, so easy always IL
al g organlza ION OF a convention here that
when, IN addition the work to be done. a. il
-he present irs ance, is simple, any member
at the convention can perfectly well preside
over its deliberations. As l participate
however, in the dDings Of political conven
ton 81 my native State now for the first time
ior n. arlv quarter Of century, cannot
help treating my call to the chair as a toker
0f kiud r nlembrance ana beg leave to give
you, as do give you, my thanks for the com
pEment you pay me.
| have said that the work Of the conven-
tion j. simple, and 80 it is. To be sure this
j. the Presidential year-a year of conflicts
and inventions, of proposed now departures
and new organizations and with the con
sricIOu~ names heralded at times in connec-
tiJn with new movements, to one shutting
a1th eyes and listening with only one ear, it
may b serious question if the old founda-
tons are NOT all broken up, and, then, what
are we all t. do? THIS very day there as
s.n5ie in thc Garden Cry of the West two
.arveurlus, and with one are associated
la re name, high up on the roll Of the
#s.n other ctnyentIbns. There will be 9th
g-- -t.lI. But the Republicans Of Vermont.
Keeping eyes on all and praying that
ert. W4y e }me rom any, look To the con
r o. he held IN Philadelphia, on the
r.. aav June, Tor tile authoritative ex-
--E.H 81 ihe principles and policy of the
Ee .aa7 oi the nation, and the selection
Ht t..Ir ellIidates for the Presidential
-.tH.-
Alrey d9 so because they arc honestly
au8 rla.i.-satIy convinced thas the highest
FH..I welfare of the nation demands the
so1 p .el cndancy Of the party that
t..za. rae a4r Tor the salvation oI the ma
taa. e.r5-I il successfully through, and
-..a. zr Ing with the imperious questions
r.-.an5 rtm the war, has borne on Is
-.l4e.- TIE work Of reaOJustment to the
rau Ia Trey believe that in no other
.ar-e there safety; that vital questions
a.. Ee- Ieruauently settled make 1t foolish,
1870 cl.miual, to try experiments.
N ac can claim that the Republican
a.--v a- such, is to live forever on the old I
---e- alone 1t grew out of the avowed will /
Il slavery t3 dominate the republic When |
t.a great war came there was fusion of /
raruss. All were enlisted under the old |
aafuer who were determined on the preseT-
t.-Ha II tte Union, to the defeat of slavery. /
Eta--taln- else was secondary. And 50 10
t.a National Army and the people who stood
..nt II. there was no DIVISION of opinions /
tue policy and administration Of the
garnuCnt III peaceful times, because Of the
--e.c oVeI>hadOwin- question, shall there be
vernmeut 10 administer in peacabIe
times e tl.
AHA have always thought when the war
Va~ .yer. and slavery exterminated and the
Z eeErment -alc, and there no chance of
efardy 90 the achievements Of the war, no
r-s ID violation Jt obligations resulting from /
Y war-when tile nee ssary amendments to
-.e t0u-r tuition were IN t1e, and unq 4alii I
e4v respected, and equal rights were fact
IS VeII as Id name secure 10 all, and every
dollar ot the Nations debt w44 as some one (
-aid. as sacred S a soldiers grave = /
valn the Republican party had accomplish /
lts original object and gr, at deal more, I
taeH [ have thought. the original elements
u. the Republican party would, 10 certain 1
0.tsnt. IL assert themselves, and because Of I
tl.- and new issues arising, there might be I
diu-tment somewhat OF party platforms /
.,f party hines.
-av ol new issues arising, because they
are aIlsf y, have already arisen, and will
ever arise. And tie nation, standing in the +
presence Of new aims and aspirations, new /
autcs ana duties. must meet these issues .
nor at- cmut tJ deIIde or cvade them. The 4
world moves. and the men and the parties .
who GJ u0y move too Will be run over and 4
crust ed out Hut while / have thought
rarty llr es would be constructed somewhat
anew. | have hoped the Republican party,
slouELing 1T The useless old, and taking 10
and lu-utrod bv the vital new. would be sub
.s+nt5aIIy the party of the long future 1t
was slch noble party IL represented
s4ra Indispensable ideas OF 5ustc and equal
Iryt 1t went 50 braveIy under the cloud
and through the crimson sea r Ii did IL
work 81 aeI[ It is such noble party
HIS such "a grand cJustituency-h sue
vantage ground Is 50 capable of carrying
.4t the last purposes of the wIsest men i It
-e.as Il me that such grand historic or
-aall.Iun has not yet done it's work, and is
5tet To razs away. Certainly, not yet
lre lie taII bearers a the COOr- And II IL
Is r4- Re tie party Of the future, Il GER
#ag tie larty OF tie present. Where
e-a I--uety2
Itsaee at every sign Of a new departure
II re democrats. every token that, repu
4.-aa- t.cr yld positions, they accept the
nos .4gion ana begin new lie. But
whatever they may do as individuals or IN
i--F4-4. states. what title have they. as
A#.-aa tsrty. to the confidence of the
Iel al4 tile control Of the goy oyernment?
- -t t.y th,y are tainted with disloyalty
ltI tie var, and have never been frank
laley loyal since the war. In the +,
l>- flesl-eutia! struggle, they virtually IN ,
-E-.tt their banners Reputation of the
t-- a.i deb. and notification OF the consti-
..ss.a.. ueudments The party as it has
.e.s Is unworthy to exist IL ought to die
a.- * buried. Ii can really live again OILY
% 1eH platforms and under new watch
Ns-s Il. most sagacious leaders 50 under
s--ll i Tie now platforms and watch
as.-- ate cumlpg-have already come q
>-se a-aFtyfs. And the nearer ttey are to
- -L t-e Republican party the better u
w. a- Nothing should be more gladly
-s.. Han the hearty acceptance on all
s-ss eF-5 here -ot all the results of the
-'-a- stfoggle-a forgetting OF the things ,
-. a.c nnd and reaching forward to
.-.se Jltt arc before. Blessed will be that
Fay "Aea there Will be a return of fraternal
II '-s-nz and mutual good wIll-w hen the
.-.erl- zaJIOn Of the people shall be cJr-
-e- anu complete as the war was bitter and
'=rrlet
We must all pray for that day. 1t has not
II -a Yet. Ii will never come exec t
stcady, persistent Government OF the
salon. Ia the line which shuts out all revi- .
'-.yt tao O.d issues, and all possibility OF
HI .'-tal until, So far the legitimate and
'-.eii results OF the war are concerned, ali.
y whatsoever name called, shall become 10
ii s. it puDlIcans. There mus. be no turning
y tle iight hand, nor to the lett By the Old
'ua1d, until the old conflict is all gone.
N Ids i the sentiment and will OF the peo-
u lts Democracy Of Connecticut, and
-" hampshire, may put themselves on
II 'iS aScep1ap-e Platforms may present
most excellent aud popular candidates but
II 'tcIoIy lot with them. The ueople d. NOT
yeO DeieEe 10 Tie sincerity Of such leaderstif,
- ~ democracy, nor in the CONVERSION Of