Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-15
ISSUED SIMULTANEOUSLY AT MONTPELIER,

| WITHOUT permit rom the bOvernOr
whose residence was at the extreme
southwest corner Of the state, and
imposing u penalty Of $1,000 fine
and seven years confinement at hard
labor an the state prison , This
unwise, unnecessary and oppressive
law, as ii was termed by the FEEDER
nlIsts IN the Legislature, Tor as their
opponents, by way of derision called
them, the Peace Party was resist
ed in the house with all the power of
eloquence and argument that such
men as Daniel Chapman, of Middle
bury, David Edmunds, of Vcrgennes,
Rev. Asa Lyon, of Grand Isle, Lew
Barnard, Of Guildhall, Jacob Smith.
OF Royalion, and their political asso-
clates in the House, could bring into
requisition to defeat it.
There were giants in those days"
in form and intellect, Of both parties;
but TO no purpose, for defeating the
passage Oh IiIat law. such men as
Rich, DIN, Chase, Griswold, and
others Of the War-Parly, were more
than a match in numbers, If not
in eloquence and argument, for their
opponents and the measure was
,riumphantly carried through the
House and Council. 1t however
operated upon its authors and sup
porters as an overcharged piece, and
proving oppressive TO the people,
many OF the Republicans abandon
cd their party ranks, and "went over
10 the eneny"-not the British
but the ranks of the Federalsts, who
gained the ascendency al the next
election. No election of governor,
however, was effected by the people.
That duty devolved upon the Legs
lature. In bsIloling for tina, purpose,
tue vote was repeatedly tie. After
many unsuccessful ballo,ings, aud
the conveyance OF a sick member
upon his couch TO the House, and
much political maunuvriug on both
sides, Hon. Martin Chlttenden, the
federal candidate for governor, was
declared elected How the malorI-
~ OF one for Chltenden was obtain
ed has long been much mooied
question. Ash was then locker
on in Venice" and partook, in no
small degree, of the anii-war-splrii, |
may he permitted, perhaps, at this late
day, to reveal the fact that the charge
brought 10y the Republicans of that
day against the then Secretary ofState.
Josiah Durham, Esq, OF embezzllng
one of the votes for the venerable
Galu, ba, and hiding it in his coat
sleeve, was a political SANDER, aud
had no foundation in truth. The
majority was given, and Chittenden
elected, by a member of the Repub-
llcan party and member of the
House from one of the towns in the
valley of the Wlnooski He deserted
his post and his party for the time be-
ing and turned traitor and leamster
at the same moment. He was on his
way to Boston, in charge of a load
of country produce, when Martin
Chiitenden was made Governor,
Captain General, and Commander
in Chief, in and over the State OF
Vermont" by the absence, tcithout
iedve, Of ",he gentleman frum Wor-
cesler." How much he received for
his services as traitor and ieamster,
and who bought him and his farm,
and who furnished the money to pay
the worthless purchase, the late Gen.
Amos w. Barnum, of Ncrgennes,
and the late Hon. Stephen Haighl,
of Monk,on, could tell, if alive and
SO disposed.
OLIVER OLD SCHOOL.