Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-09-11
Letter from Judge Poland.
To the Republicans of the Second Cor
occasional District:

candidate Tor congress Dy coh'ention
duly called and conducted according to
the usage Of the party. AT the election
held on the first Tuesday in September
it appeared that my nomination for some
reason was not sustained by majority
of Republican voters in the District.
Under these circumstances | deem it
to be my duty, both to you and myself,
to withdraw my name from the canvass.
IL do it at this early period that you may
have ample time to take such course as
you may deem best before the election in
November.
The above is probably all need to
say in your interest, but in justice to
myself, desire to say a few words in
explanation of my own action.
1t has been said that | forced myself
upon the party as candidate. In that
behalf ] desire to say that did not feel
at all anxious to continue in Congress
beyond my present term. For the last
few years such an immense amount Of
labor has been thrown upon me, that the
position was one of unceasing toll.
Ever since / have been in Congress |
have had the gen eral charge of the work
Of revising the National Statutes, a work
of great labor and Of inestimable value
to the country, and was anxious to con-
tinue in Congress till that should be COM
pleted. 1t involved so much labor and
yielded so little reward in the way of
political fame, that feared that it would
fail of completion if it fell to others who
had not the interest felt in it. But in
the present Congress this work has been
finally and successfully accomplished /;
and my anxiety to remain in Congress
was at an end.
| have by the favor of the people of
the State and District been very long
time in public Office, much longer than
falls to the lot of most men. | knew
there existed to q, considerable extent q
feeling that had already received my
full share Of public favor, and that il
was time that | gave place to another
| felt, that so far as was concerned
there was some justice in this, and that
| had received quite my full share OF
public favor. / knew too that the gem
eral disposition of the time was for
change; and that there was popular
feeling through the country for changes
and =" new departures.
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 competitor, and the
controversy became so heated and acri-
monious that many of them became per-
sonally bitter and hostile toward me.
Their defeat deepened their animosity.
For the last two years every act of
mine has been distorted aud misrepre-
sented, and as much political capital
made against me, as possible. l 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. | therefore determined
that l would not be q candidate, If there
was likely to be any considerable oppo
sition. therefore remained entirely
silent on the subject during the late SEES
sion of Congress without even CORES
pondng with my friends, waiting to Sc,
if public sentiment would settle upor
any one as my successor.
On my return home, found no one il
the field except Col. Mead. l endeav
ored as well as | could to ascertain th,
, public sentiment in regard to him anC
! became satisfied that no considerable
portion of the people desired him. Hi
support seemed to be limited to a new
and special organization, which claims
not to be political.
Two other names had been occasion.
ally mentioned in the newspapers of the
District, -Judge Wheeler and Mr.. Den
ison. | had no communication with
Judge Wheeler, but l heard from his
friends, that he did not desire to be 8
candidate.
/ had personal interview with Mr.
Denison, and said TO him that l had no
authorized any statement that l was
candidate, and that / did not intend t,
be candidate if there was to be any
real contest over it, that | had seen hi
name mentioned by the press, and tina
| desired to know, if he was willing {
) state, whether be was or would be can
didate for the nomination. Mr.. DenisoI
{ replied that he had been solicited to b
a candidate by variops persons, but tina
he did not desire to 60 to Congress if
could, that the idea of going to Congress
was disagreeable and repugnant to hi
1t feelings. 1 suggested that if be did nc
J desire to 60 now, he might be lookin
to it at some future lime He reptile
Is that he had not reference TO this partit
g ular election, but to going to Congress 9
&c all that he did not think ha should go