Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10

character. we have no space TO speak. AS
our readers know, he has taken IN active
part in nearly every debate in the Senate
since he bccamca member of that body, and
his voice, we do not hesitate to say, has al
ways been on Tic ede of right, of wisdom
and moderation, Of truth and justice and
sound Constitutional methods. Sometimes
he has found himself almost alone nearly
all his party associates being arraycd against
him, but then, not otherwise than when he
had the whole party at his back, he has advo-
Gated those principles which he believed just
and right. Ills favorite saying has ever
been, that this is government not OF men
but of laws and all his energies have been
directed to securing the triumph Of the
latter. But We will let the record speak for
itself
George F. Edmunds was appointed by
Governor Paul Dillingham; United States
Senator to succeed Hon. Solomon Foot April
Sd, 1866. being then only thirty eight years
of age. Previously to that his public career
had consisted only Of five terms in the Yer
mont House of Representatives, during three
of which he servedas Speaker. The Cover
nor's appointment held good of course, only
until the meeting Of the Legislature in the
October following but Senator Edmunds
was the choice of the Legislature rs he was
of the Governor and by successive elections
he has ever since served the State in the Ma
tional Legislature.
1t was on Thursday morning April 9Th,
1866, that Mr.. Edmuuds took his seat in the
Senate. That body then contained some
what unusually large number of eminent
men, included in the list being many whose
names are sure Of long immortality
Among them may be noted Zacharah Chand-
Ter, Garrett Davis, William Pitt Fcssendcn,
j. w. Grimes, Reverdy johnson, Henry S.
and Joseph II. Lane, +. ID. Morgan, l.. NJ.
Morrill,, Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson and
b. +. Wade of those now dead, and Henry
B. Anthony, Charles II. Buckalew, Daniel
Clark, j. r. Doolittle, John Sherman an /
Lyman Trumbull of the living, 1t was
among such men that Mr.. Edmunds made
his mark. His credentials were presented
by his then colleague, Hon. Luke p. Poland,
and his first speech was a eulogy on his dis
tinguished predecessor Senator Fool-and
very beautiful and appropriate tribute it
was. Senator Edmunds's first appearance as
debater was on April 18th, on the bill for
the protection Of United States officers
This bill provided that the order Of any mill
tary officer of the United States holding the
command of the department, the district, or
the place within which any search, seizure
or arrest or Imprisonment was made should
stand as defence in and of itself. This
bill Senator Edmunds opposed, thereby rang
lug himself in opposition to the ma
jorily of his party associates in
the Senate; and looking at the
matter in the light of to-day, there is no
question but that lie was in the right. The
bill was very sweeping one, like many others
debated or passed in those stormy times. Its
object was good ouc but the means adopt
cd were very Objectionable. Under the bill,
in States which had never been in rebellion
the act of captain recruiting company of
volunteers was made. by an cx poe. facto
law, a complete defence to an action of tres
pass, for instance, for false imprisonment, or
for. taking horse. Senator Edmuuds declar-
cd that he was not one of that class of per-
sons who Gre 'siruck with constitutional
paralysis on every occasion when
some necessary law for the security
of the public was about to be en-
acted, and was willing to 90 as far as any
reasonable degree of patriotism, or even any
reasonable degree of courage, would permit
into the .debaiable land of constitutional
doubt in passing laws Of such q character I;
but the act under discussion seemed to him
to go beyond all safe limits. He urged that
the United States district attorneys be au-
thorzed to defend suits brought against
Federal officers, and that no man should be
denied the privilege OF trying his cause in
the courts of his country. Surelyiin all this
Senator Edmunds showed craftsmanship of
the broadest, highest kinda kind that rose
far above the par.y clamor and conflict of
the day.
The next impol mt debate in which SEA,
ator Edmunds participated was that on the
admission of Colorado us n State OF the
Union. On this bill, again, Senator Ed
munds differed from many Of his party as
socates, for he strcnuously opposed IL, for
the reason that the constitution Of the pro-
posed State limited the elective franchise to
white men. i large number Of Republicans
were ready to overlook this, for the reason
that Colorado, il made a State would oend
Republicans TO Congress. But Senator Ed
munds, at the close OF an elaborate argu-
ment, used these memorable words.
at appears to me that the arstocracy of
class, The aristocracy OF caste, is as bad as
the asistocracy of kings. 1t is the same evil
anti-democraiic spirit precisely as that which
anima,es the arislocraciGs that govern the
monarchies of the Old World, only the form
of the aristocracy is developed In different
way. For myself, / am a Democrat In the
thorough sense OF the term as Understand it,
be,ieye in the political equality of all men. |
believe in TIC sqcfedness OF the private rights
OF all men. And yet an qsked as a polt-
ical friend OF these gentlemen, a. ono having
an ardent political desire that my party, rs Il
represents, as we suppose, the hopes Of the
country, should succeed am asked to
deny my principles in order TO achieve
temporary success. Sir, l can not
deny, | can not turn my beck to those
principles which are cardinal and essential.
for the sake ,of any temporary success. A
SUCCESS of that descrption. in INV Judgment.