Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-13
General Buffers Speech.


election night, and in response to call made the
following remarks:
Ny Friends and NeighborS:-I answer your
call in the spirit of the profoundest gratitude and
humility, lest may not prove worthy of the high
trust (shown by the peoples vote) in me, and
will do all that in me lies to make myself worthy
Of it in the future by standing by them as in the
past The vote of the state well pays for all the
cost and toll OF the contest hold 1t as the most
dear OF all else have. 1t replies to all the SLAM
ders and misrepresentation Of the campaign.
The ballot cast by the humblest citizen is as pre-
cous rs that of the most learned the wealthiest
1t comes from an honest and loyal heart. Whether
coDquerng or defeated, trust ] have sef-control
enough to meet either with equanimity. lie
that hath no rnle over his own spirit is city
broken down without walls The enemies of
the people have made this fight of hate,
wickedness and lies. We resolve to make the re-
suit triumph of love- of righteousness and truth.
The people have been up in their might, and will
take their own government into their own hands.
The stone the builders rejected the same has
become the head of the corner. We have con.
tended against the combined capital of the state,
and indeed of the country, against the combined
newspaper press against the federal officers of
the whole country. Two cabinet officers were
sent here to oyerawe the people, the ablest ora
tors of Congress, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio and
New York came. Both the old parties put forth
all their strength to maintain their organizations
Senators from both parties were here to cry out
that their party was in danger Intimidation of
working-men and employees OF the strongest char
acter was called for and vigorously used. Nearly
n whole trade the shoe and leather trade in Bos-
ton the largest in the state closed their stores on
the day of election, that the merchants might
watch and control the votes of their clerks, part
ners and other dependents All this has not de-
tered the peple from voting in so large numbers
that the majority of the Republican party hold
ing rule here for nearly a quarter of a century is
reduced to merely plurality of the vote for
President, although their old antagonist the dem
ocratic party, by its caution, abandoned their
candidate to vote together in the interest of in
vested capital against the people, The timid
were frightened by false tales that socialism and
communism were to be set up and their property
divided. All this was brought to bear upon one
man who represented the peoples will The cleo
ton has shown that the people will eventually
rule. Wiser and better counsels will prevail
among the men of enterprise and business, and
men who in the interest of invested capital have
put in all their energy, time and money to defeat
| the will of the people, will most assuredly see
their mistake, and, on candid consideration, repent
Of their course injurious to the laboring classes
and therefore to themselves and their own inter
ests. They will realize that II the voice Of the
people is stiled at the ballot-box, it will make
itself heard and felt in a much more disagreeable
manner. The people will and must rule in splits
Of parties, rings, money, intimidation chicanery
am entirely satisfied with the result, whatever
it may be. Much good will be done in the state
| Reforms are obliged to be made by the Repub-
| lican party. II they have plurality, however
large, many reform members of the Legislature
have been elected who will make the voice of the
were obliged to improvise an organization Al
that will be attended to in the future. The peo
pie are being instructed in their duties and power
The failure OF any advantage to accrue to the
business Of the country, from the present fnan
cial policy Of the administration, will be seer
and felt Right and the true principles of demo
cratic government must, aud in the present future
will, prevail | would that could express in fit
ting language my sensibility of the high homo
done me by the people of the state The devotion
of the remainder Of my life to their best Interest,"
will be the only return can make and my hes
energies and abilities in that regard shall be 3,
given. Meanwhile, let me assure you that afte
my labors no man in the commonwealth will sleeI
tonight more quietly and sweetly than myself
Good night"