Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-02

Tue Senate Journal for 1867. referred to in the
article on Edmunds, may be found In the free libra
ry by any who has curiosity enough TO verify the
record Unfortunately the Congressional Globe for the
periods 10 question is not to be found in the library,
or any private library in town so far we know But
the ANNALS Of Appletons Cyclopedia contain very
full aud lucid accounts, wherein the connection Of
events and arguments Is far easier to trace than 1t
would be in the Globe. SO there is difficulty, II
any is curious 10 study up Mr.. Edmuudss record
Of Inconsistency, in finding the books to do it, and
really II our neighbor Of Tue Phoenix will take lit
tie advice from US, should urge 1t TO take these
books to study up II Is really dangerous 70 under
take to discuss subjects without knowing anything at
all about them except what some one drops in to tell
it,-Ret0rmer u last rack.
1t is difficult, as we have already said, to tell
whether the course of the Reformer in its de-
traction Of Mr. Edmunds is the outcome Of
malice or of ignorant, slip-shod methods Of
work. The Senate Journal to which it refers,
and on which it processes to rely for informa-
ton as to the position Of Mr. E1munds in
the electoral commission matter, is simply a
bare outline of legislative proceedings, stat
ing in the briefest form possible what bills
are introduced and discussed, what amend.
ments are offered, who speaks on them, the
result Of the votes taken, etc, etc. but the
remarks of the senators are not given and
the Journal affords no means Of arriving &C.
curately at the position taken by any senator
on any given question. Iu the case, howev.
Ell, of the Morton and Elmunds amendments,
referred to in the article preceding this the
yea and nay votes by which both amendment,
we're defeated are given, and the record OF
votes shows distinctly that Mr. Edmunds
voted against his own amendment. The
The Rsformer's failure to mention this may
be an oversight, but it looks uncomfortablJ
like malice, for it readily discovers that Mr.
E1munds voted no on the Morton amend
ment, and then proceeds to convict him o.
Inconsistency and dishonesty in doing So
The Reformer says that the Congressiona
Globe for the period in question is not in tn,
public library. We take for granted that i
means the Congressional Record, for the
Globe went out of existence in 1872, with thu
close of the 42i Congress, and was succeed
ed by the Record with the beginning OF tn
| 43d Congress in December of the same year
| In point of fact the Record for the entire peri
cd of the electoral commission controversy /
in tue public library and occupies place onl
two Or three shelves below that of the Senst
Journal from which Mr.. Davenport quotes
Is 1t malice, ignorance, or a constitutions
habit Of laundering and going at skies an
seyens which leads the Reformer to say tina
these volumes are not in the library. II "
were to offer its editor little advice it woul,
be ito take the books to study up, 70
ii is really dangerous to undertake to discus
subjects without knowing anything at al
about them except what some Que drops in t
tell him"
In exposing, as we have done, the falsit
of every charge which our neighbor has mad
against Mr.. Edmunds we have only pc
formed duty which we owe to the publ,
and it is a very melancholy and doubtful sa
isfsction at the best which we feel in thus in
paling him on stick of his own Gu
ting and leaving him to wriggle and conto
himself for the edifestion OF all who ma
! choose TO look