Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-11
Mr.. Bowers Celebration.


made an address on the duty of integrity
and progress in public affairs. Ex-Governor
Chamberlain spoke in open condemnation
of the Southern policy of President Hayes.
Mr.. Blaine spoke, attacking the policy to-
ward Mexico, which he declared to mean
annexation. lie said that there must be no
more annexation at the South, but favored
it at the North. lie reviewed the dangers
which menace the country politically from
the South, and declared that the country
should look them squarely in the face Colo
mel Wait disclaimed responsibility for these
speeches, and said he had an abiding conf
dence in President Hayes integrity and pol
icy. Non-political addresses were made by
Professor Northrop, Rev. DIR. Cuyler and
Others, and poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes
and Mary Clemmer were read.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain, in his address,
fatty drew the hostile sword upon the adj
ministration and its Southern policy. He
said he had no choice of themes that the
special experiences through which he had
lately passed and the Importance of the
question, made the subject of civil rights at
the South the only one which it was fitting
for him speak upon. He had, he said, no
private grievance recent events had relieved
him of burden almost too great to be
borne; and he would gladly close forever
the chapter of history to which he had re.
lerred. Duty, however, forbade, and he felt
obliged to express the truth as he saw it.
He then protested in the first place against
such thing as a Presidential policy at
all, and against the Southern policy of Hayes
in particular. He discussed first the state
of affairs in Louisiana, and insisted that
President Hayes, in allowing Packard to be
overthrown, had been derelict to a plain
duty, had betrayed his friends and his party,
and worst of all, had been willing to clutch
office for himself on the ground of right far
less strong than that on which Packard
rested. The South Carolina case was next
taken up and the same statements made.
Hayes course was denounced as a usurpa-
sprung upon the country at the last by sub
terfuge and falsehood The election of Til
den would have been, il was said, less de-
feat for all correct principles of good gov
eminent and civil liberty. " A curse comes
unbidden to my lips" cried the speaker, " for
the men who thus played with the blood of
brave men and women as the gambler plays
with his dice. Such treachery passes my
comprehension"
Though Governor Chamberlan's audience
were doubtless greatly interested in his very
able and powerful speech, it did not shake
their faith in the rectitude of the Presidents
purpose. Both the ability of the orator and
the steadfastness with which he upheld the
true banner in South Carolina, naturally
kinded enthusiasm for him. But while
testifying their admiration for his heroic
work, they also evinced their sincere re-
spect for the President in hearty cheers.
Even if their minds be troubled with doubts
about some of the Presidents measures and
some of his advisers, they have undated
confidence in his honesty of character and
uprightness of intention.
Mr. Blaine's chief theme, unexpectedly
enough, was that under President Hayes
the country is in peril of IA gigantic scheme
for the annexation of Mexican territory
He points to the plan of pursuing the out
laws on the Texas frontier beyond the Rio
Grande, and says that under cover of this
measure of protection there is scheme
which practically means the annexation of
Mexican territory. This project he re-
marks, has not at present the assent of the
administration, but there are men behind it
who seek to produce such drift of affairs.
For his own part he condemns and denounces
the policy. lie wants no addition to South
ern territory or increase of Southern power.
With the dangerous spirit of the South he
would not strengthen its influence. Skill
fully setting off the acquisitions of territory
in the South against the sacrifice of territory
ON the northeastern and northwestern from
tiers, under Southern Presidents, Mr.. Blaine
openly avows his belief in union with
Canada. He thinks the interests of the
Provinces and the United States are steadily
bringing them together. Is the annexation
Of Canada to he his card ? And why does
he impute new Mexican policy to the adj
ministration, in the face of its explicit
declaration TO the contrary?
On the Southern question Mr.. Blaine
speaks in general terms, but with vigor and
emphasis. lie makes no direct allusion to
the action or the policy of the President
but while raising no issue and not laying
himself open to the charge of forcing a
controversy, he dextrously manages to sug-
gest his dissent. Without single word
upon what has been done, and without any
discussion of the immediate factors which
entered into the Southern settlements, he
forcibly declares the Republican sentiment
upon the broad Southern question. When
he points out the perils of Southern control
in the government when he pronounces ii
menacing and dangerous to every interest
in the land when he invokes the united
North against it; when he declares that
"the men who in battle and in council
saved the Union should govern it," he un,
questionably strikes the true chord of Amer
lean patriotism. The great heart of the
country will respond to this magnetic APP
peal. But all this is entirely independent OF
the questions involved in the withdrawal OF
troops from the South. Those who sustain
that action, equally with those who oppose
it, may and doubtless do recognize the su
preme peril of solid South aiming at the
control of the government. Those who re
gard the Presidents policy of military non
interference as the necessity of the situa
ton, are none the less awake to the impera
tive duty of unfolding the truest Republi
canism, and maintaining the highest obliga
tons of justice. And in this belief and de
termination we do not believe President
Hayes is whit behind Senator Bain,
himself.
LEFT THE FIELD.-A letter from Char
lesion, s. C., to the New York Times, show
that the Republicans of that city have no
the slightest faith in the good intentions
the democrats. In the recent election TO
representatives in the legislature the Re
publicang Withdraw from lha co ,iaut an n ra la