Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-03

to others TO say that no man contributed
more TO the complete success OF that body.
He was always present, and always attent-
i've TO his duty. Tue new constitution,
however, was voted down. At the State
election of that year Mr.. Wilson was the
candidate of the Free Soil party for Gov
ernor, but was defeated.
The year 1854 will always be memorable
in the political history Of the country on
account OF the repeal OF the Missouri Com
promise, with the intention OF carrying
slavery into the Territories OF Kansas and
Nebraska. The excitement was intense.
Mr.. Wilson was one of the most prompt to
appreciate the crisis and to see that ii could
only be adequately met by union of all
true-hearted opponents Of slavery propga-
gandism. To accomplish that, he publicly
said, he and his friends were ready to make
any sacaifice. They would Ego to the rear !;
If a forlorn hope was TO be led they would
lead ii. They would toll; others might
take the lead, hold the Offices and win the
honors. The hour had come TO form one
great Republican party, which should here
AFTER guide the policy and control the des-
tinles of the Republic" The utterance
noble and disinterested spirit. But for the
time the generous offer was rejected by the
Wing party, and Mr.. Wilson again became
the gubornatorial candidate of the Free
Sellers, to be again defeated. The popular
Indignation, however, continued to rise,
and the Legislature OF 1855 reflected its
power. When, therefore, Senator Edward
Everett sent in his resignation on account
of failing health, and it became necessary
10 elect another Massachusetts man 10 stand
by the side of Charles Sumner, there was
no hesitation as to who il should be. Hen
ry Wilson received TIE nomination in eau
Gus on the first ballot by majority of more
than hundred votes. He was elected by
both branches of the Legislature, and took
his seat in the United States Senate on the
10th of February, 1855.
This seat he held till he exchanged 1t
for the Vice Presidency in 1873, period of
eighteen years-the most eventful, mo-
mentOus and thrilling period in the history
OF our Government, scarcely rivaled by
any other in the history OF any other gov
ernment. Speaking of his advent in the
Senate, Mrs. Stowe says: "Wilson brought
there his face OF serene good nature, his
vigorous, stOcky frame, which had never
seen Ill health, and in which the nerves
were an undiscovered region. 1t was eu-
tirely useless TO bully, or TO threaten, or to
cajole that honest, good-humored, immov-
II II.
way, and took all their fury as uncon-
sciously as a rock takes the foam OF the
breaking waves.' He was then forty-three
years old, and the following description OF
his personal appearance will answer for
the whole of his prime: The Senator
from Massachusetts is about five feet ten
inches high, and weighs. probably, about
hundred and sixtv-five pounds. He has a
small hand and foot, and seems built for
agility. His complexion is flord, his hair
brown and his eyes blue. His ample brow
indicates ideality and causation; his voice
is strong aud clear. He is, on the whole,
decidedly good looking, and seems fearless
and good natured in the performance OF
his Senatorial duties"
In approaching Mr.. Wilson's Senatorial
career, 80 long extended, so crowded with
Incidents of deep interest and so important
In its public bearings, we feel the utter in
adequacy of the space at our Command,
even If we had the ability, for doing ii the
simplest justice. We must pass over the
details, promising that the new Senator's
first speech-on Mr.. Toucey's bill TO "pro-
tect persons executing the Fugitive-Slave
act from prosecution by State courts''-
contained the most frank avowal on his
part and on that of the anti-slavery North
which he represented. Speaking Of slav-
cry, he said: We are in favor of its aboli-
tion wherever we are morally and legally
responsible for its existence" His bold
attitude gave great satisfaction TO his con-
stituents. The shining phases OF the Kan
sas question found him ready at every
point with the boldest sentiments uttered
in language which no one could misunder-
stand. On the 22d Of May, 1856, occurred
the memorable assault upon his colleague,
Mr.. SImner, which Mr.. Wilson character
lied as it deserved. For this he was chal-
lenged by Mr.. Brooks, and answered that
he still considered the assault "brutal,
murderous and cowardly," but that he re-
garded dueling as ''the lingering relic of a
barbarous civilization" although he reli-
giously believed in the right of self defence
in the broadest sense. The answer so Sc
rene and appropriate, commanded the ap-
proval of the country. His elaborate re-
ply to tue Senator from South Carolina, in
vindication of Mr.. Sumner, was exceed
ingly able, and was characterized by John
G. Whittier as "eminently the right word
in the right place."
In the Presidential campaign OF 1856,
Mr.. Wilson took an active part in support
Of the Republican nominee, John C. Free
mont. Resuming his seat in the Senate
after the election OF Buchanan, he brought
in bill to organize the Territories of Kan .
sas and Nebraska, accompanying it with a
powerful speech. Among the best known
of his efforts at this period was his reply to
''the mudsill" speech OF Mr.. Hammond of
South Carolina, containing a splendid de-
fence of the free labor of the North. He
was reelected in 1859 by greatly increas-
ed majority. In the following year, sig
nalized by the nomination of Abraham
Lincoln for President, Mr.. Wilson threw
himself into the contest with unWonted ar
dor. and had the extreme satisfaction of
joining in the popular triumph that follow
ed. During the various attempts at COM
promise which were brought up by the
Southern threats of secession, Mr.. Wilson
remained firm aud true TO The Constitution
and his constituents.
Then came the war with all its stirring,
still well-remembered incidents. As
Chairman OF the Military Committee of the
Senate heavy responsibility devolved on
Senator Wilson, which he met with ener-
gy, strict impartlality and the most untir-