Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-18


Of the Vermont senator. Before he had
served year in the Senate he was taxi
ing such a prominent part in tho de.
bates that James Ford Rhodes. the ON.
inent historian quotes from his sneecb.
es in describing the period following tho
Civil War In December 1866 Senator
Edmunds explained the features ~ the
Tenure Of Office Act In January. 1867
he felt sure that negro suffrage must
come"
When arrangements were made for tho
trial of President Andrew johnson before
the Senate to answer to tnpeacbnent
charges preferred by the House. Mr. Ed.
munds was made chairman of A COM
mittee to arrange rules of procedure in the
Senate. and. in conjunction with chief
Justice Bolomon r. Chase who was to
preside AT the trial. established the rules
as they appear in the official records
Senator Edmunds' committee assign
ments in few years were made more
desirable. AS a result Of his demonstra-
ted legal ability he was soon assigned to
the Judiciary Committee and little later
to the Appropriate Committee. In 1871
he was chairman Of the Pensions Com
mittee and in 1872 was made chairman of
the judiciary Committee, a position which
he held with great distinction during the
remainder of his service in the Senate.
with tho exception Of the period from
1872 to 1881. when the Democrats were in
control. and his intimate friend Senator
Thurman of Ohio held the position.
After the first two or three years of
Senator Edmunds' term he was genera =
ly regarded as one Of the leading mem bers
of the Senate and the Congressional Rec
ord shows that lie participated actively
and helpfuly in the considera ton of most
of the important measures that came he
fore the Senate. II is said that Pres
ident Grant depended much upon him
for advice. Rhodes says. however. that
Edmunds and sherman could not he clas-
sed as Thick and thin supporters" of
the administration that they were
! statesmen of high ORDER and not
mere politicians Senator Edmunds and
Morrill, voted against one Of Grants pc,
measures, the annexation of San Do.
minGo.
Early in Grants first term he offered
Senator Edmunds the position of Judge
of the Second United States Circuit, com.
posing Vermont, Connecticut and New
York. n position which he was strongly
tempted to accept. as he liked the law
Nl'NlIlS lIdl lie must i've IN New ! orr
City he made some inquiries in regard tc
the rental of p small and modest house
| in part Of the city and found that the
rent would be 5000. the exact amount
Of the salary which he would receive. lie
decided therefore, that he could not af
ford to accent the office Later durnr
; President Grants first term Senator Ed
munds was asked to accept the position
| ,f Tod ,pts Dirt
ain, preceding the negotiations concern
| ing the Alabama claims, which he fe
compelled TO decline on account of thu
expe nses which acceptance of the posi-
ton would compel him to assume.
! Senator Edmunds was never a maj
who sought publicity for his achievement
and the credit which belonged to hin
for not few important legislative act
| have gone to others, for instance. thu
act providing for the resumption o
specie payments, passed in 1876
| The act compelling transcontinenta
| and western railroads to repay to tn
United States Government. bonds which
had been loaned To them during the rail
way construction period. was framed b,
Senator Edmunds and Senator Thurms,
and the Judiciary Committee. but va
reported to the Senate by Mr.. Thurman
in order that the largest possible mum
Der of Democratic votes might be ob
| tanned for the measure
| One of the greatest services which Sc
nator Edmunds rendered his country du
ring his long and useful career undoubt
| edlv was the important part which h
| took in the peaceful settlement of tn
| Hayes-Tilden controversy of 1851. whic1
Threatened to plunge America again int
| Civil War as result Of bitter disput
over the result Of the Presidential cleo
tion.
| In 1852 President Arthur negotiated
| canal treaty with Nicaragua and tn
| President consulted Senator Edmunds an
| Secretary of State Frelinghuyser con
| suited Senator Fdmunds in the formin
| of the treaty. It was reported from tn
| Foreign Relations Committee by Senate
Edmunds who had learned that NOR
than three fourths of the Senate were /
favor of its ratification. It was not ac
ted upon until after President Cleveland
election and when it came UP at til
December session several Democratic Ser
ators had changed their attitude, and tn
treaty lacked two or three votes of tn
number required to ratify it, A recon
sideratjon was moved bv Senator Ed
uunds and il went back to the calender
| where II remained until after Presider
Cleveland's inauguration, when IL wa
Withdrawn.
One of the few acts which bore Ser
ator Edmunds name is the anti-polygam
ilaw. which ne was influential in enact
ling
During the Arthur Administrative
another vacancy occurred on the Sur
ron,a court bsncb and tho president sar