The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-05-22
State Reform Convention.

This immense gathering of the people on the
Goth inst, was all that could be wished. The H.
on spirit of the Mountain State is aroused. The
fire of Allen and Star<e IL not extnguised. /,
still burns in the breasts of their descendants
Like a tornado it is sweeping away forever, the
thorns aud branbes, on which, with bleeding feet
and torn garments the people of Vermont have
passed for years. That spirit is up and it will
sweep before it the huge "monumenis of old opin-
ions,' the chmeras Of paper speculation, the airy
castles, and the schemes of self aggrandizcmcn,
which the Ani-State Reform party have been
building up--buildmg up for years, as the wl,rl-
wind scatters the withercd leaves of autunn.--
That spirit is up. 1t was seen flashing liom the
eyes and speaking from the tongues of the immense
multitude, The waves of popular opinion arr
swelling like these Of old ocean in Il storm. They
come washing agains. that Da,;i'e of ibcriy--pAR-
rIAL LEGlsLArioN. They thunder ugain3, its
black wallis will fall forever.
On the day before the convention, early in the
uiternoon every county in the state was represent
cd-a thing never before known in the state. I he
meeting Of The democrats in the evening" was cnlhr-
sils, and Tally attended Abe and sptilcd spcecI4-
cs were delivered.
Early on the morning of the convchiicn, the del
egaies began to pour in, in masses from the neigh
boring towns, and long after the convention COM
menccd It's sitting, hundreds after hundreds ilochcd
in from Windl,um, from Bennington and Rutland
counties T'hcv came with no banners. no drums,
no hilaronhdc, no 1omp, 10 show. They came
like men us rational sObcr-nndcd men should
come. They came not as men come To raree shows,
to pnppet dance or nenagcric they came as
men should come, when they assemble to consult
upon the interest of the people and the welfare of
the nation. They transacted their business and
went home, preserving their own dignity and that
of the state.
The ticket put in nomination il such an ono as
the Reform party Of the State demanded. Mr..
Dillingham; has long been known to the lfccmcn of
Vermont us nm accomplished Legislator, gentle
manly and powerful DICTATOR. He Is of all men in
the state, the man TO head the Reform ticket,
which is to command the supper, of the Young
Men.
Mr. Barber is well known. For many years u
member of the legislature he commended with Il
bold heart and n strong arm against the ~ stem of
banking that has almost beggared the state. lie
is Il firm advocate of State Reform young man
of vast requirements and political integrity.
Mr. Baldwin has been supported for The last few
years by the democratic party for Treasurer. No
man in the state is better qualified to discharge
faithfully and judiciously the duties of State Treas
urer.
As whole the ticket will commend Itself to the
irecmen of the state ~ one of great moral worth
and intellectual vigor one they can support feel
ing sure that if elected it will tend to the advance
mcnt of the interest of the state aud the power Of
the people
The number ofpeople in attendance has been es
timacd at, from two TO four thousand. Probably
the true estimate would not vary much from 3 5000.
7 his the largest convention by half, ever hol-
den in Vermont