Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-08-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

Mr.. Editor: Since the congressional |
convention in this district sever,l COM |
munications have appeared in your paper, |
the writers of which were evidently in
spired by a mischievous disposition to
mislead the voters to such an extent that
they would either withhold Their votes,
or cast them against the regularnominee,
Judge Poland. This purpose IS sought
in two ways: One by representing that
the Judge secured the nomination unfair
ly, and the other by charging him with
bad character. Was his nomination fair
ly secured? My relations to the Judge
have been such as to give me full person
al knowledge Of the manner in which his
candidacy came about, and do not hest
tate to affirm (and am prepared to prove
the affirmation) that there never was any
such thing as a ''still hunt about the
canvass, and that the Judge at all times
answered his friends solicitations that he
should become a candidate, by informing
them that he would go into no campaign
to secure the nomination; but if he was
nominated, he would accept the nomina-
ton. This was his well known position
up to the second week in July, when his
friends from the south part of the district
informed him that there was very urgent
| feeling in their section to return him to
| congress, and that it was their strong de-
| sire that he should come to the conven-
ton with the support of his county. This
he finally consented to do, and thereupon,
| for the first time, requested his Caledonia
| f,ianlr loot y o1~e~>,A III -
his nomination. 1 am thoroughly con-
WINGED that nothing was done by the
Judge or his friends, at any time prior to
the convention, for the purpose of deciev-
ing, cheating or misleading Gen. Grout
Or any other candidate. And it is quite
certain that no evidence has been pro-
| duced tending to establish any such
charge. But there is a much graver OBJ
lection urged against the Judges candi-
dacy. And the manner of presenting this
objection is fairly Illustrated by letter
appearing in your issue of the 18th inst,
signed GA Voter in Orleans County," He
says, "The great party having an over
whelming majority in the state has re-
Gently put in nomination a candidate in
the second congressional district, whose
record has associated his name in the
public mind with anti-temperance, and
with the most shameful jobbery and cor
ruption that ever disgraced the republi.
can party in the national halls of legisla-
ton Judge Poland's name associated
with ''the most shameful jobbery and cor
ruption that ever disgraced the republi
can party in the halls Of legislation!'
When? What act of jobbery? What
kind, character, species, or instance O.
corruption? associated! Associated by
whom? By masked assassins, who, ikt
the writer of this letter have not thu
courage to come out into daylight ant
make their assaults in way that the.
can be met and resisted. 1t is disgrac'
to civilized country that this conscience
less, cowardly species of attack upon it
citizens should be tolerated. These an
nonomous Williams should be treated b.
all fair minded, honorable men as enemy
to society, and either put in stocks o
banished. When mans character is in
volved as candidate for high office
let the conscience Of the voters, who hav
the question to settle with their votes
demand that he shall be openly accuse
by some visible person and that the accu
2 sation shall embrace the particular
!, wherein he is faulty and that the accuse
, shall not only openly prefer particula
charges, but shall establish them by
satisfactory proof, or suffer the odiul
that justly attaches to the traducer. Th
= Judges accusers have never adopted an
r such honorable method, simply becaus
q they knew there was no foundation wha
ever upon which a specific charge coul
rest. His public service upon the bencl
in the U. S. Senate and House of Repr
Il sentatives, covering quarter of Gel
fury has been of such a character tn:
! nobody has ever yet undertaken the jo
of showing that he was not strictly VI
) right judge, or that he has been implica
. ed in any job of corrupt practice as
q legislator. But on the contrary he alwa,
e conducted himself in such manner, n
d only in public, but private life, that b
; neighbors and intimate acquaintance a
among his staunchest supporters, whi'
certainly would not be the case if tn
IL had not the utmost confidence in his no
rs esty and integrity. Not only is he no
ored by those who have had the best pc
10 sible means of knowing all about his p
80 vate life, but also by the country at lars
as was evidenced by the highly comp
~ mentary manner in which his recent no
oF nation was mentioned by nearly all t
republican papers in the nation. 1t
well known, as was recently said by t
I'M Boston daily Journal, ssThat Judge Pola
ne was one of the leaders of the republic
of party in congress at the time he retiI
rs in IA and whatever may be alleged to
Ia contrary, it was a desire that Verne
nd might again have this high position in
he national legislation, that induced the p
pie of the second district to nomin
in him instead of any of his competitors. .
by HENRY C. BELDEN
es. ---------.- s--s----
Md September election occurs c
use week from tomorrow, Sept. 9th.