Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-07
JUDGE PoLAND's SPEECH.

Hon. l.. y. Polaud's speech was in re-
spouse to the sentiment, The President
and Congress Of the United States" The
following is AN ABSTRACT
He said that he came expecting, if he said
anything, to recount his own services in
the war, and fully prepared TO tell all he
did, and perhaps what ne did not do. But
another subject had been assigned 10 him.
But for the soldiers we should have had no
country, and, Of course, no President or
Congress. This sentiment TO the President
iAciudes. doubtless, both the office and the
man. DO we realize that II is the highest
office in the world? Emperors and Kings
hold their places, not by reason of personal
fitness, but by right of birth. Our chief
magistrate is made such by the choice of
the people, and no throne compares in dig
nifty and importance with his office. AS to
the man. we elected General Grant 10 carry
out the laws. He was chosen without eX-
perience in civil Office, for his eminent SER
vices. Ii would seem 10 have been a rash
experiment; but l said at the time, and
have had no reason to change my opinion,
that u man with judgment and ability suf-
ticiont TO command great armies, will be
found to have the ability for a civil ruler.
This, history has shown, and think Gen.
Grant has fully verified it. That he has
faithfully and conscientiously administer
ed the laws, | verify believe. As to Con-
gress, may be excused for feeling II 10 be
a delicate subject for me 10 discuss. Yet l
will say that the two houses of Congress
are but the mouth-piece and representatives
of the people. A great responsibility rests
on them and IL has been on the whole,
faithfully sustained. But ali our represen-
tatives nave 10 be selected from poor hui
mainly, and, so far as my observation goes,
very lew are absolutely perfect. When, at
| the close of The war, we found ourselves
IA PrnSiHant wnnl6 l.
structed The South on the very theory which
| caused the rebellion, viz: that we are a
mere confederation of independent State
| Sovereignties, Congress stood in the gap,
| and insisted on guarantees for loyalty. Tine
| last was an exceedingly well abused Con-
| gress. Yet so far as general legislation was
| concerned there has never been Congress
| that performed its work more faithfully
| than the Forty second. They wound up,
| it is true, by doing very foolish thing,
| which trust they will take the first oppor-
| tunity to undo. For that they have been
| abused as a mob and as swindlers. The
press has been responsible for quantities OF
| such abuse. L see here present one, in
| whose paper read the other day what pur-
| ported to be statement of the stationery
account of a member of Congress. II was
| chiefly made up of sugar, lemons and soap,
sugar by the barrel, etc. 1t was all set forth
with circumstance. This went the rounds
| of the press, and no one contradlcted It,
Doubtless many good people now suppose
| it TO have been "A correct statement. The
truth is that each member is allowed Sl25
a yaar for postage and stationery. Every
item supplied to him is charged, and at that
limit he must stop. l have often been IN
| the stationery room of the House and have
never seen theIe any lemons, sugar or soap
| Is ii well that our Congressman should
be described rs IA set of pillaging thieves
Is It well to have Congress brought into
dlscredit? II a law-maker is deserving o.
censurc, care not how much he Is whip
ped by tho lash of justice. / have done
something at the head of n comnitteeof in
vestigation, to expose whatever was cor
rupt, whether in my own or any Thor par
~. Judge Poland closed by saying that ht
found himself saying more than he hac
thought when he rose but having entered
on the subject he had though, it but RICH
to vindicate the body to which he belonged