Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-31

ate in which Sumner, Fessenden, Trum-
bull and Wade were the Republican
leaders. Chandler, Sherman, Sprague,.
Wilson, Grimes, Dixon. Pomeroy. Ram
sey and Doolittle were chairman of the
committees. Reverdy, Johnson, Hen
dricks, Buckalew and Salisbury were
the leading Democrats in the chamber.
At the time when Mr.. Edmunds took
the oath of Office the principal measure
before the Senate was the bill for the
protection of United States officers in
the South. It was bill designed to
save from prosecution under the State
laws men who had committed acts,
while under military authority, which
might be actionable under civil laws.
1t aimed to extend the mantle of the
federal authority and protection over all
the military agents of the government
in the rebellious States. Mr.. Edmunds
thought that the provision of the bill
should extend only to those States in
which the habeas corpus had been sus-
pended, and he moved an amendment
to that effect, which he defended with
ability against the vigorous opposition
of the trainers of the bill. His remarks
on the bill seem to me to be the key
note of his course in the Senate, and |
wish I could give an extract from them
to show with what conservatism and
care the Senator from Vermont address
ed himself at the outset of his Senate
rial career to the business of law-mak-
ing. Mr.. Edmunds voted alone with
the Democrats for his amendment.
Sumner, Trumbull and all the Others
went solidly against him. But in the
light of the political history of Is years
Mr.. Edmunds can safely appeal to this
record as more creditable than that of
his then more distinguished compcers.
Mr.. Edmunds from the beginning
mingled freely in the debates and al
ways with keen eye for defects in
legislation and careful regard for pub
lie rights. There was one other notable
debate at this which it is highly inter-
estinh now to recall in the light of SUBJ
sequent events. There was a bill before
the Senate to admit the State of Colora-
do to the Union. It's constitution, like
all the new State constitutions up to
that time, recognized only white men as
citizens. The bill was defeated once
and then motion was made to recon-
sider The constitution, which had
been adopted by the State. provided
that it should be changed only by
two-thirds vote. Pending the motion
to reconsider Mr.. Edmunds made the
longest speech made by him at this ses-
sion, in which he advocated sending the
constitution back for amendment. In
the course of the debate he said:
For myself, 1 am a Democrat in the
thorough sense of the them, as l under
stand it. believe in the political equal
ity of all men. 1 believe the sacredness
of the private rights of all men. And yet
l am asked, as the political friend of these
gentlemen, as one having an ardent po-
litical desire that my party, as it repre-
sents, as we suppose, the hopes of the
country should succeed; l am asked to
deny my principles in order to achieve a
temporary success. Sir, cannot deny,
1 cannot turn my back to those principles
which are cardinal and essential for the
sake Of any temporary success. A sue
cess of that description, in my judgement
is one not worth winning upon mere
grounds Of policy. 1t is one which no
man who is convinced, as / am, of the
cardinal error in this constitution can
possibly be influenced by.
When he had finished his remarks
Mr. Sumner rose and said: 81 cannot
forbear returning my thanks to the
Senator from Vermont for the noble ut
terance that we have heard from him.
He has reminded you of the true prin-
ciple on which you are to pass. He has
held up before you the dignity of the
occasion and has rallied this Senate to
its duty. thank him, sir. His speech
ought to produce an effect upon his as
sociates in this chamber. 1t ought to
remind them that there is truth which
cannot be put aside for any temporary
expediency." Nevertheless, Messrs.
Foster, Grimes, Howe, Morgan and Po-
land were the only Senators, who voted
with Messrs. Edmunds and Sumner, and
the bill was reconsidered and passed by
the Senate, the Democrats joining these
Senators in opposing it.
In the following December the Re-
publicans in Congress came together to
begin the great fight with Andrew
johnson which consumed the two fol-
lowing years, and to Mr.. Edmunds was
entrusted the charge of the tenure of
Office act, which he reported to the Sen
ate and advocated till it was passed.
MIR. Edmunds was now member of the
judiciary committee, of which he has
always since continued to be member,
and for several years was the chairman
before the democrats obtained the ma
jority. AS member of this committee
| r. ho1 1oo 1;no~ ~ oIox III