Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-01-24
Great Whig Meeting.

meeting was called to order by Alexander
Campbell, Esq. when
Hon Phinehas White was chosen Presdent,ant
II William Thayer, VIM. II. Shaner,
David Chandler David Crawford,
limo. II. Whitney, Benjamin Ormsbee
| Charles Phelps, Clark Wilkinson,
/ Dana Bailey, w. X. Ranney,
Chester Rand, Horace Baxter,
4 were appointed Vice Presidents, and
A. S. Campbell, J. w. Moore, and w. w.
Fessenden, were chosen Secretaries.
On motion Of David Crawford committee
of Eve was appointed to draft resolutions. This
committee consisted of David Crawford, w. r.
Ranney, Calvin Townsley, Horace Baxter
and Emery Wheelock.
Hon. VIM. Henry, the Delegate from this
District to the Ha!.;sburgh Convention, being
called upon, gave brief view of the course
pursued by the Convention. He said
Il will be recollected that no instructions
were given TO your Delegation. They were
LEFT to act as the good and harmony Of the
whole might seem to direct--and for one
entertained no doubt, but that Vermont could
gire a majority aud could give majority
to the wings who might be selected by that
convention She had nerer bo,ced 10 Baal-
she tcas not 10 be distrusted and OF course.
the only duty Of her delegation was to Sc.
cure unanimity.
| That Vermont had her preference felt
certain, but on leaving home for the conven-
ton. | entertained but little expectation that
her first choice would be the selection Of the
convention. Indeed sir, for months previous
to the convention, Gen. Harrison, The weN
kaown tauoriie OF Vermont, had altraoted but
little OF the attention of the wing press. in
this section ofihe Union. He seemed as il
were, abandoned by his friends, end public
sentiment divided between MIR Clay and q
new Candidate for favor, Gen. Scott.
Mr. Clay had, for years. filled a large
space in the history Of the country. So
closely was he identified with it, that there
had scarcely been prominent measure Of
our party. or movement for the public
good. which he had no, originated. nor bat.
tie taught for the public interest, in which
he was not a prominent leader He had
gained aurels and friends without number.
But atho' he had more ardent personal
friends than either Of the candidates, still, in
the conflicts in which he had been engaged,
his weapons, tho welded against the com.
mon enemy. had sometimes fallen upon his
friends. This was peculiarly the case in
his measures in relation to the public lands.
refer TO his efforts for the passage OF The
bill for the distribution ofthe proceeds fthe
public lands, which il successful would have
given millions to the old states. And. his
opposition to the Presumption bill. BY his
course 10 relation TO these measures be had
alenated some wings in the new states, and
il seemed hopeless to attempt to sustain him
without the aid Of Ohio, Indiana, and Michi.
gan
On another subject too. Mr. Clay had ex-
pressed sentiments and opinions which had
served TO disaffec; some Of the warm wings,
not only in New England. but in various
other sections of the Union. Under these
circumstances there seemed no propr;ety in
attempting to bring him forward
The character and services Of Gen. Scott
are known TO all. A feeling favorable 10
him. had been excited. in New York and a
large minority Of her delegation we're for
him. They were enthusiastic in their at
tachment. They con,ended that with him
for the candidate, the Empire State would
| VIC SWcp' VI vau DuicuiStu uuu tuut u TIC
wings wished to aid in opposing barrier.
to the progress ofcorruption they mus, coun-
lepance. II possible. their preference. Blu,
while they commended that Gen. Scott. was
T, with them. the mos, available. they also ad-
n.,i,ted tina. with Gen Harrison for candi-
date. the state would be safe to the wings
In regard TO Mr. Clay. the majority Of the
New York delegation, in no disrespect to
him, ex pressed their conviction that the state
would be lost with him for the candidate
ahat she would fall again in the arms Of Van
Buren il Mr. Clay was in nomination. In
reference to Gen Scott il was also urged,
that no one was so popular in the north part
'oiour ewn State. and a portion Of our own
ldelegatioa viewed him as first in the affec-
lions and confidence OF the wings. I'm
der these circumstances our first ballot
was given with unanimily for Gen Scott
But we were soon satisfied that there was no
chance for his success--and the light thrown
by the western mcmbers or the cause OF the
apparent unpopuiati.y Of Gen. Harrison and
the detection ofthe western states, indicated
that the latter must be the candidate, and
that he aoouid be the successful one
STILL the vote OF our Delegation on the
three first ballo.ings, were given for the same
individual although after the second ballot,
a portion ofthe delegation deemed it inlprop-
erto further urge the claims of Gen. Scott
On the fourth ballot the vote Of the state
was changed from Gen. Scott 10 Gen. Harri-
son, TO " HON il fairly and leenimately be-