Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-18
THE BURLJNGTON VT. FREE
The Nomination Of Mr.. Morrill, In the Senate.
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY BALLARD, CT CHITTEN
DEN COUNTY.

SPEECH OF HON HENRY BALLARD, CT cHIrrEN-
DEN COUNTY.
Mr.. President Il rise to second the
nomination of the Hon. Justin 5. Morrill, &;
nomination first made here on the Senate
floor by the Senator from Orange. but one
already made long time since in the
hearts of the people of our State. His
nomination and election by Us to-day, is
but certitcation oil the peoples will.
Is it nomination fit and proper to be
made?
In tho choice OF men for position Of
honor and OF trust. sometimes We should be
controlled by considerations other than
those of 3 purely personal character.
10 such matters our rule of action should
be mot for the glory OF C9 Sar but for the
welfare of Rome" Our duty to-day is an
important one; to-day Vermont elects a
Senator for the United States. The whole
country is looking to our action: let it be
such as will conduce to tho best interests OF
our State, our party and our country
Vermont-one of the smallest OF the States
by reason of the character of her Senators
in Congress has always had power and
prestige in the Nation altogether dspro-
portionate to her population and territorial
limits. Her Senators have ever been men Of
influence and of power. recall her
Foot. who in the Speakers chair was
the peer of Henry Clay her Phelps. who
sat with Webster. Calhoun. Benton.
Wright. one oil the giants OF those days
her Collamer who in the Judiciary Depart
ment in his time was as easily the first a.
our honored Eimunds is to-day; and others
might be mentioned long roll Of honored
names. Justin S. Morrill, has represented
Vermont in our National Legislature for
almost one quarter of century. from 1854
t. 1S,-and in what manner let his
record speak. The tree is known by its
fruit. The man must be judged by his deeds.
Entering Congress in 1854, in the midst
OF that unhallowed struggle for the extern
sion of slavery which followed the repeal of
the Missouri compromise and the Kansas
troubles, his first best efforts were given to
the cause of Liberty las in the later struggle
for the Nations life they were given to the
cause of the Union.
The author of the Morrill, Tariff Act of
lo6l, work OF enormous magnitude and
merit, and of the Agricultural College
Land Grant bill leader in the House as
Chairman o! the Ways and Means Commit
tee afterwards in the Senate on the import
ant laborious Committee OF Public Buildings
and Public Grounds. and Chairman of the
Finance Committee, with Cabinet positions
offered to and refused by him--the positions
that have been accorded to him. the work
that he has done and the honors he has won
stamp Justin s. Morrill, as one of the fore
most Of our public men from this or any
other State.
do not claim for Mr.. Morrill, that
he is a shrewd, cunning, crafty debater,
like Stephen A. Douglass do not
claim for him the gorgeous rhetoric, the
sonorous periods of Sumner. claim for
him none of the brilliant audacity of gen.
ius: but, so much the more, claim his
record proves tho solid merit of real worth.
For strong. clear common sense, strength
oil Will, hrm, adherence to principle, fidelity
to duty,-ior honest, conscientious work,
Justin ). Morrill, is the peer OF any man in
our American Congress. For twenty-iour
years OF Congressional experience. he has
proved himself to come up to the Jefferson
test ct the fit man for position OF honor |
and OF trust, in this, that he has proved |
himself to be honest, faithful and capable, |
has proved himself to be, as they say out |
West, A safe man to tie to-; and during |
all these years, when many men, high in the |
peoples confidence, have fallen, when some
50 called Christian Statesmen" have |
dropped into meritet obscurity, Justin 5.
Morrill, has 50 conducted himself that, to-
INV, Nbu lOOh ~ MS DIlbhtc ll1e UT
pablic record, his reputation for integrity
and honor l., az was the virtue OF C1.ar's
vile. beyond reprOach and above suspi-
zion" lie has 80 conducted himself, that.
to-day, among the people of Vermont
The name Of Justin S. Morrill, is house
lold word, u synonym for all that goes to
make Up an honored Senator, a Chris
ian gentleman, an honest man Such j. tho
nan whom the people delight to honor. 1t is
With the hi. hest pleasure that ! second the
ION ination of Morrill,. With such record
mi such reputation, his wel-doing in
he past l. our guarantee for the future.
dis reelection, to day. means Vermont
tall power in the national councils. His
Q elcctIoB, to-day, means Vermont still
rue to the principles of our great Republi-
an party. party of which tho impartial
historian will have TO write, the greatest
''!ltitii or.an.2 = that the world ever
ava p0li.c,i parry, the first one in the
worlds history, that ever recognized the
principle of the equality of all
men before the law; apsrty whose mission
: not yet ended-tor as in times past the
republican party has been the guardian
md preserver of the nations life, so in the
uture 1t has got TO be the guardian and
'reserver of the nations faith and the ma
ions honor.
The reelection of Morrill, means, wise,
economical and Just legislation it means an
onest payment of the public debt. His re-
lection means honest money, hard money
the money of commerce and civilization
Ii round the globe. 1t does not mean,
fiat money" II our Government Is ever
o como t. this-iS ever to attempt t. usurp
mighty power and create something out
nothing and call it money-better at
nee write reputation" on our flag and
1T 1t wave, not an emblem oil glory, but a
irty, polluted rag that taints the very air in
Thch it floats.
Again | name for Senator, Justin s. Nor
i'll, Nermont's iavorito son-her peoples
hoice, her farmer, merchant, legislator,
titc>man, her tried and tru ted councillor,
tristan gentleman, honest man. Vermont
'ill honor herself and she honors him BY
gain placing him in her Senatorial chair.