Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-11

L nlIcu ClhkcS Dtliutpir W sNA'N ava
years from the 4th of March, 1879, when
Senator Morrill's present term expires. Inc
United States statute requires that on the
day set, leach House shall openly, by
rira rOcc vote of each member present, name
one person for Senator in Congress from SAID
State" On the next day, at moor, the JOINT
assembly convenes, and if the Senate and
House have named the same person, such
person will be declared duly elected Senator,
If the two Houses have not named the same
person, or If either House has failed to name
a person, the joint assembly will then elect
a Senator, by rira rOce vote OF each member
present. To be manned" in the meaning OF
the act, a person must receive majority oil
the votes cast in each House and to be
elected by the joint assembly, he must re
ceive majority Of all the votes cast, and
there must also be majority OF all the mem
bers elected to both Houses present and vot-
ing.
The report that Judge Poland would be
candidate for Senator has created some ap-
rrehension in other States, lest Mr.. Nor
rill might by so,>c strange fatuity be super
seeded in the Office which he has for twelve
wears past filled with such credit to himself
aai honor to the Statc-an Apprehension
which has not been shared in any consider
able degree by Mr.. Morrill's friends in this
State. The people of Vermont have watched
Mr. Morrill's course with Just pride. They
know him to he pure, able, experienced and
trusty, and that he occupies position aud
wields an influence at Washington such As
very few men gain. They feel perfectly SAFE
with him, and they have had no thought OF
changing him for any other man. The
Legislature has been sufficiently canvassed
to show that in this matter the members
will faithfully represent the people ard
that in the proceedings Of next Tuesday,
each branch will name Justin 5. Morrill, to
be his own successor.
1t has sometimes been suggested that
Mr. Morrill's strength Is all among the
farmers, while with the lawyers Judge Po-
land is the fayorite. Bot, however it ma
be with the latter, Mr. Morrill's backing
i restricted to no class or profession. lie
has earn ell the confidence and support OF
most able, intelligent and good men, Of all
classes and professions, Ii is fact worthy
Of note. ;hat before Mr.. MOrTill's first cleo
tieu to the Senate, and before any public
mention Of his name for that position. he
was indicated for it by the preference Of
the two ablcst, soundest and most far-sghtct
LAWYERS Of the United States Seuat.-JudSc
Collamer, and VIM. Pitt Fessenden. Judge
Collamcr while before his death, apparent
" with some prenonition Of his coming de-
parturc, called a brother Nermonter to his
room. to say that when his seat became va
cant, the best man to fill il was Mr.. Nor
rill. The one to whom this was said is
living and We had the story from his lips
the other day. We have seen also the clean
and bold signature Of Mr.. Fessenden to q
letter written about the same time, in which
he said that Mr. Morrill's great ability and
wide information, especially on financial and
economic subjects, were greatly needed in
the Senate, and that Vermont ought to pro-
mote him to the upper House at the first op-
portunity. Mr. Morrills career in the Sen
ate has fully justified the anticipations Of
these and other friends. His speechcs-on
polygamy and the Utah problem; on various
educational subjects; on the proposal to give
members Of the Cabinet seats on the floors
of Congress; on the eight-hour law on the
Pacific Railroads, and on other subjects, as
well as on financial and revenue ques-
tons have shown a wide range of
thought and study and statesmanlike
grasp of important questions. His later
speeches show no signs of failure Of mental
or physical yigor, and he is good for many
years of vigorous and Industrious and hon
orablc public labor. lie is, it is not neccs-
sary to say to Ncrmonters, without shadow
OF rcprOlch, above suspicion in his personal
as well as in his public character. a man of
incorruptible honesty, and absolute fidelity
to every trust.
Mr.. Morrill's standing before the country
is indicated by articles in the papers Of other
States, like that which We copied, yesterday,
from Tie Philadelphia Buii,tn. and others,
frcm which We may give extracts hereafter.
His standing in the Senate is shown by the
fact that 1t is q rare thing for measure pro
posed by him to fail, and by his occupancy
Of the leading position as chairman of the
Finance Committee. Vermont now holds. in
the person of her Senators, the hcO leading
chairmanships in Congress-thosc Of Finance
and the Judiciary, both Of which have gain
ed in prominence AMI influence in their hands
This is high distinction for our State, not
lightly to he thrown away.
Mr. Morrill's standing at home will be
shown hy the voting of next Tuesday.