Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-18


the expections of his friends; that he has
attained no position and cXcrts no influence
in Congress; that he has been falling in
stead of rising in the House, an that final
~ lie neglccts alike his public duties and |
the private interests of his constituents. |
All this Is 50 recklessly uutruthltll and so
cruelty unjust, that ! feel that should be |
in measure pdrticeps crimtnis To the |
wrong, If did not bear testimony against |
IL.
l have been in almost daily Intercourse |
with Judge Poland during all the time oil
his service in Congress, and lave watched
his course therein with attentive interest.
In speaking of his position and influence in
Congress .and his services and personal
habits, I shall speak only "of that which l
know, and testify of that which ] have
seem"
As an evidence that he has attained to no
ominence in Congress, attention is called to
the fact that he does not couspicuously oc-
cupy the noorsin debate that ho does not
often consume the time of the House with
long winded speeches. This argument pro-
sumes that the public arc generally ignor-
ant of the fact that nine-tenths of all the
speeches that swell the columns of the Con-
gressiona Globe, and whose yellow onvel-
opes cucumber the mails, are delivered for
home consumption, are seldom listened to
by the members, and have little influenc
in shaping legislation.
The real work of legislation is perform ed
in committee and votes for measure are
secured not by rhetorical effort upon the
floor, but by conference, explanation aud
conversation among the IN, mbers, and the
exercise of personal influence. No more
false or erroneous standard could be adopt
ed wherewith to measure cneS position
and influence in Congress, than the num-
Dor and length of his speeches. One of the
most influential m embers that Vermontev-
err had in Congress, believe never made
but one speech in the House during his six
years service therein.
Mr.. Morrill, attained his emnence in the
House and his present enviable position in
the Senate, less by his speeches, than by
his usefulDess-his faithful and laborious
service upon committees. 1t is precisely
here that Judge Poland has excelled. He
has by no means been silent on the floor,
and whenever he speaks he is always lis
| tened 10 with unusual attention. The menu
bers know that he is one of the very few
who never rise unless they have something
| 10 say, and who sit down as soon as they
have said it. His style of delivery is pleas
ing, forciblc and impressive; and his ideas
are always expressed with singular clear
ness and perspicuity. But he is chiefly
known as an active, faithful and aborous
worker on committees.
| believe that the record will bear me out
in saying that there is no member more reg
ular in his attendance in the House, and
that no member of the Houses more pune
tual in attendance on committees. think
the re cord will also show no member on
any of the committees that he has served
on, has had as many of the bills and other
matters to examine and report upon az he
has and that no member is SO punctual IN
reporting and disposing of his business as
he is.
No more untruthful and ungrateful at
tack could have been made upon Judge
Poland, than to charge him with careless
ness and neglect of the private business OF
his constituents. / have been constant
witness of the promptness, Willingness and
faithfuness with which all such calls have
ever been attended 10. This has become SC
notorious, that he has long had more than
his hare of this wholly gratutous and Of
tentimes thankless kind of work to do; moi
only for people outside OF his district, bu
oftentimes outside of his state.
1t has also been charged that he has no
origi mated, or been prominently identified
with the passage of any important meas
ures of legislation. So far is this from thu
truth, your columns might he filled with
statement of important measures introduc
ed by him, or the successful passage o
which was due to his influence and effort.
Permit me to remind your readers of
few of the very many that might equal!
as well be cited: One of the most import
ant and one for which he is to be wholly
credited, is the Revision of the United
States Statutes. These Statutes have neve
, been revised since the formation of tn,
government. All the u. S. laws ever pas,
ed are contained in seventeen large vol
umes, whether subsequently modified o
repealed or not. If a lawyer buys them h
has to pay over 800 therefor, and the,
would then be vaueless in his hands, wer
it not for the Digests Of Brightly and Alb
, bot which are mere private compilations
and very defective and imperfect.
, While in tho Senate Judge Poland pro
cured the passage of a law appointing com
: m issioners TO revise the laws, who were
, report in three years. The commissioners
: appointed by President johnson had som
disagreement among themselves, and tn
. three years ran out without much bein
I done. This brought the matter into dsfi
yor, and here II would have rested, bu
$ Judge Poland. after repeated and persiHi
u ent efforts in the House, got it revised an
d a new commissioner appointed with Al
: bolt, author of the Digest, at its head. The,
). have since been actively at work, under III
: supervision OF Judge Poland, and will 500
have completed their work.
d At the beginning of the present Congress
r the great Ku-Klux committee was appoin
ed The subject was regarded as the mo
r delicate and important that Congress la
to deal with, and great care was used in III
: selection of the committee. Judge Polan
was selected as chairman of the House pa
I, of the committee, and with characteria'
i energy put his shoulder TO the wheel ~
kept 1t there till the work was done. Wul
?, other members and Senators were at hon
attending 10 their private business or plea
= ure, this committee during almost the eI
tire summer and fall were engaged her
and in the South, taking testimony an
writing up their report. Some idea of Il
/. amount of work performed, may be forme
l. by considering that the testimony and r.
3 ports make fourteen large printed volume
% An examination of these volumes wi
show that Judge Poland was in constant a
IS tendance upon the sessions of the commi
p tee, and generally conducted tho examini