The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-15
FOLLOWING REPUBLICAN pREcEnENrs.

We have no very great respect for Sam
uel J. Randall, democratic representative
in congress from Pennsylvania. We have
Away regarded him as a partisan and poll
ticlau rather than "a Il patriot and states
man, and, in his course during the present
congress, we see no reason 10 change that
opinion. In his numerous attempts to as
sumo the position of leader of his party,
his failure has been So conspicuous as to
lead US to modify our opinion as to his ca
pacity and ability. We have always re-
garded him as possessed of considerable
"cbeek, but whether his amnesty bill was
injudicious or not, we fail to comprehend
how it was, as II Contemporary puts it,
characterized by display of cheek
seldom equaled.' What did this I'M
equalled display of "cheek" consist of,
pray tell us? Was it in disregardng the
advice of the New York World to treat the
recommendation of the president with
contemptuous dircgard 2" We must con-
fess that it seems little "cheeky" for a
democrat 10 disregard the advice of the
| World, and to endorse the presidents rec
ommeudations-bu it is not unequalled,
because there are other such instances.
Blu, il Randall was ''cheeky" in propos-
ing amnesty, what shall we say of the
president In his annual message, deliv-
cred at the commencement of the Forty
third congress, President Grant said: 81
"renew my previous recommendation to
- congress for general amnesty. The num-
" Der engaged in the late rebellion yet la.
" boring under disabilities is very small
" but enough to keep up constant irrita.
" ton. No possible danger can accrue to
" the government by restoring them to ell
/" eibilty to hold office" What more die
Randall propose to do? What was his bill
but an attempt to practically carry out the
presidents recommendation Where is
the ''cheek" ?
At the same session of congress-first OF
\ the Forty-third-the committee on rules
composed of James G. Blaine, Horace May
nard, James 4. Garfield, Samuel S. Coz
and Samuel J. Randall-unaaimo,lS{y ap
proved OF and reported bill removing al
disabilities imposed and remaining upoi
any person by virtue of section three of ar
ticle fourteen of the constitutional amend
-.,o.,t~ 4h~. ;~ e--o.,tir -o-,~-ol o,,,.,~~.--
that, too, without requiring any oath of al
egance. 1t was distinctly stated that tn
effect of the bill would be to make JEFF
Days eligible to seat in congress, an,
yet the rules were suspended and the bill
passed by a republican house, only twenty
nine voting in the negative. What NOR
did Randall propose to do
The country has been wont to regar
the words of Henry Wilson, late vice-pres
dent of the United States, with attentv
consideration, and the republican part
has, of late at least, professed to heed hi
counsels and follow his advice, and he, toe
displayed that same Kind Of "cheek." A
the last republican state convention o
Massachusetts, he was chosen its presidin
officer and, in his address, used thes
words "The republicans of Massachusett
! |
an naming disabilities imposed by tn
" fourteenth amendment; 30 that, when
son the Fourth of July next, the republi
"enters upon its second century, non
" shall be found laborlng under these dis
" Abilities"
And the convention met "cheek" wit
"cheek" by unanimously resolving as fol
lows "The republicans of Massachusett
" welcome all auguries and evidences tina
" the centennial of American independence
evil be celebrated by the complete restoi
I" alton of fraternity, and they express tn
"opinion that the time has come for th
:" removal of remaining political disabili
tiles. What more did Mr.. Randall pre-
pose to do .? We fail to see the "cheek
displayed by him, although we regret. tina
this following Of, or, even, adhering t
good republican precedents is of such rar
occurrence.