Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-12
Letter from Judge Poland.
To the Republicans ofthe Second Con-
gressiOnal District:

On the 18th of August last, ! was
regularly nominated as the Repnb'
lican candideat for Congress by a
convention duly called and conduct
ed according to the usage OF the
party. At the election held on the
first Tuesday in September 1t APP
peared that my nomination iol
some reason was not sustained by q
majority of Republican voters Of
the District.
Under these circumstances deem
it to be my duty, both to you ana
myself, to withdraw my name from
the canvass. ! do it at this early
period that you may have ample
time to take such course rs You may
deem best before the election IN
November.
The above is probably all | need
to say in your interest. but in JUS
tice to myself, desire to say II few
words in explanation of my own ac'
ton.
1t has been said that l forced my.
self upon the party as a candidate.
In that behalf l desire to say that
| did not feel at all anxious to con-
tinue in Congress beyond my pres
ent term. For the last few years
such an amount OF labor has been
thrown upon me, that the position
was one of unceasing toll.
Ever since have been in Con-
gress | have had the general charge
of the work of revising the Nation
al Statutes, work of great labor
and of inestimable value to the
country, and l was anxious to con.
tinue in Congress till that should
be completed. 1t involved so much
labor and yielded so little reward in
the way of political fame, that l
feared it would fail of completion
if it fell to others who had not tho
interest l felt in it. But in the
present Congress this work has been
finally and successfully accomplish
ed and my anxiety to remain in
Congress was at an end.
l have by the favor of the people
of the State and District been q
very long time in public Office,
much longer than falls to the lot Of
most men. knew there existed to
a considerable extent feeling that
l had already received my full share
of public favor, and that it was
time that l gave place to another.
l felt, that SO far as was concern
ed, there was some justice in this,
and that l had received my full
share of public favor. knew too
that the general disposition of the
time was for change; and that there
was popular feeling through the
country tor changes and "new de-
partures."
In the great contest of two years
ago, a large number of young men
in the District, arrayed themselves
upon the side of my younger COM
petitor, and the controversy became
80 heated and acrimonious that
many of them became personally
bitter and hostile toward me. Their
defeat deepened their animosity.
For the last two years every act
Of mine has been distorted and mis-
represented, and as much political
capital made against me as possible.
knew all this, and that in another
political contest, all these things
would be seized upon, and be used
against me to the farthest limit. 1
therefore determined that would |
not be a candidate, if there was
likely to be any considerable opposi
ton. l therefore remained entirely |
silent upon the subject during the
ate long session OF Congress with.
out even corresponding with my
friends, waiting to see if public
sentiment would settle upon any
one as my successor.
On my return home, | found no
one in the field except Col. Mead.
[ endeavored as well as | could to
ascertain the public sentiment in
'egard to him. His support SEEM
I'd to be limited to new and spec
al organization, which claims not
% be political.
Two other names had been Occa-
mentioned in the newspa-
)ers of the District,-Judge Wheel.
II and Mr.. Denison. had no COM
nunication with Judge Wheeler,
,ut l found from his friends, that
le did not desire to he candidate.
l had a personal interview with
Mr.. Denison, and said to him that |
lid not intend to be a candidate if
here was to he any real contest
'ver it, that l had seen his name
by the press, and that l
lesired to know, if he was willing
o state, whether he was or would
,e a candidate for the nomination.
dr. DenisOn replied that he had
,een solicited to be a candidate by
'arious persons, but that he did not
ltsire to go to Congress if he could,
hat the idea of going to Congress
vas disagreeable and repugnant to
lis feelings. l suggested that if he
lid not desire to 60 now, he might
'e looking to it at some future time.
lie replied that he had not reference
o this particular election, but to going
o Congress at all, and that he did
lot think he should ever be a candi-
late, or desire to go to Congress at
ny time.
l did not interview Mr.. DenisOn
or the purpose of soliciting him
lot to be candidate, or to get any