Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-07
The Campaign Opened in Montpelier.

The local political event Of the week was the
address delivered in Trinity church vestry on FRI
day evening by the Hon R. G. Horr, representa-
tive in congress from the eighth Michigan dis
trict The notice OF Mr. Horr's appearance here
was brief and imperfectly circulated and the
evening was rainy, but large number Of our
citizens assembled to hear the man who had
proven match for Sunset Cox in sparring
matches Of wit, and who in a Speech specially adj
dressed to the southern members during the IA
nous extra session, condensed world Of practical
wisdom into his advice to them to stop raising
he'll, and go to raising more corn and cotton"
The speaker was pleasantly introduced by Hon.
+. p. Walton Mr.. Horr was born in the neigh
boring town Of waitsfeld, but his parents moved
west when he was three and half years old so
that though Of New England stock he is essentially
a western man. lie is in all respects self-made
man; worked at home till he was twenty years
old and helped to support widowed mother and
large family Of children. lie then commenced
studying, entered college and graduated, beating
Garfield, OF whom he was an early friend and as
sociate, $50 in the size OF the debt he incurred
for his education Ultimately he engaged In the |
lumber business in Michigan, where two years
ago the people picked him out from behind |
pine log" to run for congress against the Green
back candidate in his district After hotly con-
tested campaign, the success Of which was due to |
his keen ready wit and hard native sense, he was |
trumphantly elected. Mr.. Horr has gained a
national reputation during his brief congressional |
career by his original and pungent manner Of
discussing national questions. lie is gifted with |
genuine mother wit, with native abilities and
aptness for illustration which enable him to d- |
vest the questions that lie at the basis OF the ad
ministration OF the government Of much the
mystery and abstruseness that seem to envelop
them. In his hands, questions like that Of finance
become the everyday problems that enter into
the ordinary affairs OF business life, and are con-
sidered and settled with the same plain hard
sense that an active thinking business man puts
into the management OF his personal affairs.
Government is the aggregation of individual
affairs and its administration hinges on the same
general rules and principles as the affairs Of in
dviduals This fact was plainly developed under
the familiar and sensible calculation of tho genial
speaker, who enforced his plain practical precepts
with many humorous anecdotes and witty thrusts
that excited his audience to sidesplittng laughter.
His exposition OF the events Of the extra session,
the intents and purposes Of the dominant De-
mocracy in congress as expressed and implied by
thar words and actions gave ono n vivid imnres.
sion of that memorable carnival of the Democracv
on their resumption of mower in the legislative
branch Of the Government and Of the danger that
threatens the country in the event Of their obtain
ing possession of the executive a. well as the leg
isatiye department. His review of the history Of
the Democratic party in war time-tbe obstacles
thrown in the wav of the government in its early
efforts to subdue the rebellion the creation Of the
preenback and the trnculent course nj the Dance
racy In relation To that powerful factor in the
work of saving the Union: Copperbead delight
over the defeats of the Union armies. the effects
of Union victories on pending elections the fire
in the rear " inaugurated nv northern rebel gym
nathizers. wbcb develoned into the infamous
draft riots inst when the utmost energy Of the
government waa demanded Mt tho front 10 ,,rn
tho ouiverino beam of vantaoe in favor ~ tho
Irnion-.hronobt hack tho memorios ~ tho, evon,-
f,, ,or;od nth s,ar,,;n, d,s,,nonaas M. a,sons
sion ~ tho oanora, and oxo,rs;,aI, ,,;oai ,ss,as
~ Tho c.mn.ion and III. oon,no -;,or =, ,ho ,,ou
so,a, ror;ts ond ora,;eoo,ou. =, ,ho 80 ,o.i,u
cond;da,ss ,ro,,od h;s ord,oroo 49,, -, ,h h,,has,
n,,h ., o,,,h,s,oar, u,a..,,,o. ~ ,.,. IA.
:. h;,. ho,,roon ,to oro. to-, ~. ,,'.a 80 =,
,o,;,,oaI onronor,s .nd ,ha,r arnnn,on.s III. .,o
-. 49,, A.. ,.s..,e.s .,., A.
-, .,, a. -, .. -
raoo,uod ,r;,, rar,,n,ora and ,nnn oon,,,n.a ~
s".,a .,,,at 80, A.. -. as,su. ~.