Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-22
Waterbury, July 10th, 1858.


EDITOR FREEMAN Before the assembling of
the Convention nominating our present State
Ticket, discussion seemed to be the order of the
day, as to whom belonged those nominations.
Not little anxiety was manifested as to the
result And why? Clearly from the fact that
all true Anti-Slavery and Temperance men felt
the Importance of placing the Republicans of
Vermont right on the two great questions
overshadowing all others-of our Nation and
State. And believing that that ticket would be
taken as an index of the spirit ruling the party,
they desired to see there again the names of men
tried and true, who had been weighed in the
balances and not found wanting in principle
who in days past have not finched in the open
defence of just and righteous cause, though
unpopular while on the other hand it was ev-
ident that fraction of the party, who are
merely passive Republicans, active only in try
ing to lower the colors of the party-were de-
termlned to have things their own way. In the
language of the Times {" were beginning to
grow little sick Of the narrow, proscriptivc,
and bigoted platforms of the past Surely,
the platform of 81 could not have troubled
you-much, gentlemen. Perhaps that was not
the idea exactly" little sick, )" of seeing such
men as Fletcher and Slade, at the head of our
party and State, knowing they were active and
hiring men, and that their influence would be
felt Knowing too, that that conservatism
which bids us silently submit to the ever-increas-
ing arbitrary mandates of the Slave Power,
would be treated with contempt, and trodden
under foot by such men. This, for the old
i" staunch and really conservative State " of
Vermont, would not do. Oh, no hence the
idea of the Times, that this conservative party,
which $50 long maintained an honorable and
honored ascendency in Vermont" must beagain
restored to power. Therefore we must turn
again to the old standby leaders of their
former " conservative party" to pilot us in the
difficult and rather dangerous performance
None but those who stuck by its decaying re-
mains until it was evident no power on earth
could baeathe into it again the breath of life,
would do.
Now, the question, with many, is, has this
faction triumphed? or, has true Republicanism
gained the day? Or has there been kind of
compromise, giving to one the men, to the 9TH
er the Platform?
The Convention assembled, and presented us
with Ticket, composed Of good and honor
able men, and Judging from the reports we
read, was conducted throughout in the right
spirit IF SO, it should have felt the necessity
of " harmonizing" and uniting the different
sections of which the Republican party is COM
posed, and should have spared no pains to have
accomplished that desirable object.
Hundreds of old Liberty men, and of those
formerly Democrats, would like to be informed
why our State Ticket is wholly made up of
those who stood and fought for the Wing par
ty as long as there was name even, to cling
to. As all our Congressional delegation are
from that wing of the party, should we not
reasonably have expected different result in
the formation of State Ticket? Is it Silver
Gray conservatism that has shaped the course
of the party with regard to nominations, or is
it not !? is the query Of many who would like
to become satisfied as to the justice and propri-
ETY. of the (formor) Wings still laying claim to
all the Offices in the State, and who would like
to unite-as equally-with them in Opposing
the present corrupt, tyrannical and extravagant
Administration. f.
Woodbury., July, 1858