The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-04
E. J. PHELPS, SPEECH
II Attacked Lincoln and Was Used
Against Him Politically

Against Him Politically
In the just published autobiography
of Senator Cullom of Illinois is given
an interesting passage of political
history in which two Burlington men
figure prominently-the late ex.Min-
lister Z. ]. Phelps and the living ex-
Senator Edmunds.. The story dates
back to President Cleveland's time
and concerns the appointment OF the
chief justice of the United States.
Senator Cullom makes il clear that
the late Chief Justice Fuller was not
Mr. Cleveland's first certain choice
| for that exalted office. Mr.. Cleveland
had considered the appointment OF
Judge Schlofield of Illinois to the
chief justiceship. Judge Scholfeld
declined the honor and Fuller was
chosen. Senator Cullom consulted
by President Cleveland bore testi-
mony to Fuller's fitness for the place
Moreover, Senator Cullom champion
ed Fuller during the long struggle in
the Senate over the nomination. Sen
ator Edmunds had desired to see Ed
ward j. Phelps of Vermont nominal
ed, and antagonized Fuller. Senator
Cullom came to Fullers support.
Edmunds had accused Fuller of hav-
ing sympathized with the rebellion.
That gave Senator Cullom an oppor.
tunity to retort, and he tells how he
made the most of it.
I'm the meantime someone had
sent to me printed copy of speech
which Judge Phelps had delivered
during the war, attacking Mr.. Lin
coin in the most outrageous and I'M
dignified fashion. When | read that
speech ! then and there determined
that Judge Phelps would never be
confirmed as chief Justice even
though the President might send his
nomination to the Senate. put the
speech in my desk, determining that
II ever had good chance | would
read ii to the Senate at the same
time pointing out that the only OBJ
lection which Senator Edmunds op-
posed to Judge Fuller was his pique
because Judge Phelps had not re-
ceived the appointment. Edmunds'
attack on Judge Fuller gave me the
opportunity, and ] read the speech of
Judge Phelps to the Senate, much to
the chagrin and modification of Sen
ator Edmunds"
Mr. Phelps-we do not know why
Senator Cullom and many other peo-
pie outside Vermont give him the
title of udge"--delivered the speech
in question at a Democratic rally in
Burlington in 1860 or the early days
of 1861. The late John H. Converse
took the speech in shorthand and
kept his notes for quarter of cen
tury. Then, when Mr.. Phelps came
prominently to the front-our mem
DRY is that il was when he was ap-
pointed Minister to England-Mr.
Converse wrote out his notes and
had the speech published Every
thing is fair in politics, proverbially,
but the republication of Mr. Phelps
speech hardly did that illustrious Yer
monter justice At the time II was
delivered Lincoln was comparatively
unknown and untried and plenty OF
people were saying the same things
of him that Mr.. Phelps said, or worse
But when the speech was read TWEEN.
ty-iive years later by new genera
ton, in the knowledge of Lincoln's
colossal greatness and the realiza-
ton of his Unreasonable service to
the country, ii bore a very different
significance, and one which could
not have been foreseen by the speak
er.
Thus much in the way of explana-
ton. The incident, however, is OF
deep interest. and particularly in
burlington. where two of the lead
ing actors are so well known, and
1t will furnish an interesting foot
note TO the history of the United
States Burlington News.