Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-16
An Ugly Record.


Witnesses to Charles N Davenport's dis
loyal doings and sayings, especially during
tho early part OF the war, when he thought
and openly predicted that the heightened,
chivalrous gentlemen Of the South, as the
plant doughfaces were taught to call them,
would easily whip the poor Northern mud
slls, are springing up in all directions and
particularly in Wilmington and vicinity,
which was the principal field of his exploits
in those days. 1t is wonderful how man,
in tho then exasporated state of tho public
mind, could say and do what is now laid to
his charge with swarm Of witnesses to its
truth, and escape with whole skin. II
shows to advantage that remarkable love of
law and order which thoroughly pervades the
Northern mind restraining any resort to vio-
lence and the inniction of irregular punish
ment, even under the strongest provocation.
1t is probably fortunate for him that 1.-THE
boys in blue" whom he stabbed in the. back
~ they went forth to the field of battle, were
away during his most viruent exhibitions Of
dsloyalty, otherwise he might not have got
of 80 cheaply. Later in the war, after he
had drawn down on his head the fierce wrath
and open denunciaton of the late venerable
Judge Kellogg, himself lifelong Democrat,
for outrageous disloyalty of speech and ac-
ton, and had been earnestly expOstulated
with and warned to desst by Charles X. Field,
another Democrat and now one of the vice
presidents of his Hancock club, and 10y Diany
others, he drew in his traitorous horns lit
tie, and became more cautious in expressing
his bitterness against 'old Abe Lincoln and
his hirelngs," and the "nigger war" But the
improvement was all on the outside, and
worn as II protecting mantle, while the old
virus still ranked within, ready to reappear
whenever personal safety or self Interest
would permit. At heart he is the sauio man
to-day that he was eighteen years ago, aud
everybody who was acquainted with him
then and now knows it.
Now il Mr.. Davenport were content mod
estly TO occupy back seat, as becomes n
man with his unsavory record, his past polt-
ical mistakes and msdotds would have no
special interest for the public, and would
doubtless be permitted to rest in that shady
silence which is next TO oblivion. But the
man has been put forward, or has incautious-
ly thrust himself forward, into the full glare
Of sunlight as an exponent and figure. head OF
modern d, mocracy, and in public and private
speeches, with an unctious hypocrisy worthy
Of the great Pecksnr himself, fawningly
| talks to the war-worn veterans of ''the wal
WE fought 10 save the Union :" Why, tn,
stupt ndous impudCnce of the man is some
thing wonderful and almost excites admir-
| tom
OF the old political sins Of Charles N. Dav
export, the private citizen, The PHGEIl
would have nothing to say indeed it wOult
rejoice to have them buried out Of sight ant
forgotten, with all other shameful sins ant
incidents of that dark period but with Mr.
Davenport, the self-appointed aud self-an-
nointod political teacher and proselyter-t Ia,
wolf going stealthily about in sleeps cloth
ing, aud striving in that innocent guise I,
steal into the fold and gobble up the unsus
pecting lambs Of the flock, the case is quit
different. He has thus become, by his owl
voluntary act, proper subject Of newspape
comment, and has invited and provoked, by
his upbluthing tHrontery in his public
speeches, an inspection and exposure of hi
past political history. II it is not to his lik
ing just now, it is his fault not ours We sim
ply publish the facts as We find them, and a
they are known to hundrt DIS of reliable mel
in the county. But we confess it gives us II,
pleasure to make public 30 discreditable
record, even of a man whom We have no rea
son to regard as "A friend