Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-15
Senator MOrrlll's Letter.
WASHINGTON, March 90, 1876,

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1876.
lion, Geo, Nichols, NoNhfeid, w.
DEAR SIR: Your favor OF the 18th
the pleasure it would give the Republi-
cans Of Vermont to meet me at the Con
yention to be held at Burlington on the
Goth inst, and while gratefully aoknowl.
edging your courteous invitation, feel
confident that my duties TO the State
have the honor In part 10 represent will
be better discharged here than in the re-
Gently redeemed city of Burlington,
have also full faith that the Conven-
ton of Vermont Republicans, which Is
to assemble on the Goth Of March, for
the purpose of selecting delegates to the
National Convention to be held ut Gin
cinnati, will perform that important du-
" with fidelity, and that the delegates
will be such rs cannot fail to confer hon
or upon the State both by their sterling
character MS men and wisdom rs Repub-
LEANS.
To me ii appears to be evident that
the election of II Republican President
in our centennial year is quite possible,
and possible only because he will deserve
TO be elected. Our candidate must be
the embodiment of the Union sentiment
of the country-ncithcr ready to apollo
gze for the preservation Of the Union
nor for the emancipation of race, and
true, not only to all the fundamental prin-
ciples which have ever given vitality to
the Republican party, preserved the ma
tional credit, protected the great indus
trial interests of the country and opened
the way Tor return to specie payments,
hut our candidate must also furnish in
his own behalf name and character, rs
a man of affairs, with robust convictions
nf duty that shall DO oui,ieient guaranty
to secure ability, purity and strict econ
omy in all branches of the executive de-
partmenis.
The coming national contest is likely
to be conducted with earnestncss, per-
haps by result to all the vituperative
cloQuence and cXtravagant abuse which
extreme partisanship is apt to esteem as
among its potent weapons of political
warfare, but this system of tactics has
signally failed where it might have been
the most effective, and we may well feel
our courage reinforced by the late over
throw of the New Hampshire Democra-
cy, whose hatred of Republicanism suf-
itrs no diminution from any disadvan,
tagc of Il Northern latitude.
A sad mistake, as it turns out, was
made in the selection of General Bel
KNAPP for Secretary of War--a mistake
now happily corrected by the selection
of n successor of mquestioned fitness as
well as of unquestioned Republicansm
yet even those who may have had most
cause to dislike the late Secretary never
suspected his personal integrity until he
dropt forever from his high position. In
fact, it is the truth of history to say that
military officers have almost universally
escaped such imputations-an exception
being so rare as to provoke worldwide
commentary-butc even military men, had
they been placed in the Garden of Eden,
might not have done much better than
he who said "the woman gave me and |
did eat" The flaming sword is already
drawn to execute justice.
No true Republicans desire that any
guilty man shall escape, and they have
pursued and will pursue and punish ras-
calls as swiftly when found stealing into
their own party as when found in any
other but they do not connive at the es-
cape of Tweed, nor do they stop the pur-
suit on any trial because it leads to their
own camp. The Republican party does
not attempt to crock all mankind by one
general Indictment based upon the Of
fence of single individual, although it
will be found to possess sufficient health
and righteous wrath to cut off all Offend
ing members, knowing that it will still
hold in its patriotic ranks a large major
ity of the people.
A House of Representatives where
northern Democrats are mainly eXclud-
ed by their speaker from the lead on COM
mittees. and where cx-confaderate ohi-
GERS hold the dominating Influence, can
not be expeced to act with exalted ideas
of patriotism, but soley inspired, as it
would seem, with the purpose to rule
the government they so lately sought to
ruin. The measures proposed under the
plausible guise Of reform may be so gaunt
and grotesque as to raise painful doubt
whether OF not the real design may not
be to cripple the ordinary administration
of the government and to produce at
length imbecility by slow starvation.
some Dcltef GeJurH lOI dHlHeSly I'LL III
possibly have been exhibited.
Ever since the close of the war every
Republican Congress has resolutely re-
duced by many millions annual eXpen-
ditures of the government, and no equal
portion of our history for Il half century
has the per centage of losses been so
small by defalcatons in the collections
of customs and internal revenue as in
the terms of Lincoln and Grant. All
Just and reasonable curtailments Of eX-
penditures, however, should be eagerly
accepted, whether coming from unusual
and reckless quarters or otherwise; but
absolute public necessities should not be
left unprovided for even though the Dem
ocratic party never more needed to talk
loudly of economy, credited as it is every
where with so little, and to that little no.
where holding any valid title.
Vermont wears no mans livery, but
by the thorough devotion to principles
which adorn free governments the work
she can be relied upon to do may always
be safely predicted
With much regard,
very truly yours,
JUSTIN S. MORRILL,.