Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-07-24
The County Convention.

For want Of time and room last week we
had TO reserve our remarks on the County
Convention, held at Essex junction on the
l4th inst In regard to the numbers pre-
sent, the nominations made and the resolu-
tions passed, we need not enlarge. The
nominations and resolutions speak for them
selves. There were present from $50 to
$50 persons, andas wholesome looking set
of men as can be found at any political con-
vention, wherever it may be. So far as
there were any..diferences of opinion on any
points, those differences were presented in
good temper. The nominating committee,
found very little difficulty, as we are inform
ed, in making up a ticket for recommend
alton to the convention. The resolutions re-
ported were heartily adopted. The ticket
recommended by the committee was adopted
without disagreement, and we cannot doubt
that every man so put in nomination will
be elected by an overwhelming majority
on the first Tuesday of September next.
The only subject on which there was any
disagreement was that Of making up the
nominating nommittee.
For long time the prevailing usage in
this county as we'll as in other parts of the
State, was to hold delegate conventions for
the purpose of nominating public officers
The delegates were appointed in primary
assemblies of the freemen, meeting in their
respective towns, the number of delegates
allowed to each town depending upon the
party vote in that town the year previous,
and being in proportion thereto, or very
nearly so. Ordinarily the rule was one del
egate for each town and one more for every
fifty votes cast in it for the party candidate
for Governor at the last election, BY this
rule,in every town BIO the voters Of the ticket
few or many, they could have an influence
In forming the ticket which they were ex.
pscted to vote for, and, taking tho county
through, fair regard would be had to the
principle Of equal rights to all The ratio
Of delegates to voters may have been some
times different but the principle was sub
Etantialy adhered to.
The introduction Of Mass Conventions
disarranged the usage, and led the way to
great irregularity, and sometimes to con-
siderable dissatisfaction. 1t being conccd-
ed that, in a Mass Convention there
must be COMMITTEE appointed to propose
a ticket, the essential difference has been
between those who would have that Conn
~inet consist Of an equal number from tho
several towns of the county, and those who
would have it made up with due regard to
the party vote cast in the several towns.
last year there was q two hours discu ssion
on the matter, which was ended by the adop
ton, for the occasion, Of method which
was neither the one thi NOR the other
This year the ground was all gone over
again and q motion to have the nominal
ing committee consist of three from each
town being, before the Convention, motion
wa. made to amend it by making the com
mittee consist of one from each town and an
additional one for every fifty votes cast in
the town last year for the Republican can
dldate for Governor. The motion to amend
was lost, and the original motion was car
ried, and the convention adjourned for
dinner.
Though the feeling that the decision
was wrong one in principle, was not con-
fined to members from Burlington, by most
of them it was felt to be most injuriously
30. With some Of them the first impulse
was to refuse to have any thing more to do
with the nominations at all; but after a
brief discussion it was determined to pre-
sent by their chairman respectful protest
10 the convention against the decision Just
made, and a request that the convention
would reconsider its vote This was done
when the convention re-assembled, and a
reconsideration was cheerfully voted for.
The subject being brought again under dis
eussion, it was proposed by some to allow the
members from Burlington to have, if they
would be satisfied Herewith, larger nun.
Der In the nominating committee, than had
been assigned to the members from each of
the other towns in the County. To this 1t
was replied in substance, that the question
was one of prinople and Of justice, not one
Of foror--one which concerned the people
OF the county, wherever they might be.
If any supposed the members from Burling-
ton we're anxious to be more largely repre-
sented IN the nominating committee, because
OF any sohcitude on their part about who
should be nominated for county officers
at this timo, those who supposed so were
under an entire mistake. That was a pojnt
Of very little consequence in their view
But the decision that small number in
one place should have equal power with
much larger number in another place
vas C gross violation of fundamental
principle of ropublicanism, and
If insisted on, 1t must lead to destruct-
I've results. 1t was the very despotic prin-
ciple which was working inconcelvable evil |
IN the affairs Of the nation. The national
wrong could not be successfully combated
~ those who would persist in On analogous
virtual disfranchisemcnt of the
many for the convenience and benefit of tbe
ew. The county offices were determined by
he vote on general ticket, No method of
making up nominating committee (for it
vas not to DO forgotten that the decision of
he nominating committee was expected to
sclde the eleetion,) could be founded in
'sseo which did not give power in the
9mnittse from each town, Substantially in