Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-01-21


in the controversy at the extra session, his
intimate relation with Burlington, and his
well known truthfulness. combined with the
fact that he would not undertake such a mis-
sion and for such a purpose without authority
and perchanco compensation from par
ties most interested all conspircd to give him
credit with our citizens. No definite arrange
mcnts were made, owing to the absence of one
Of the signers of the bond Mr. Spencer, on
his return to Castleton, addressed a letter to
Mr.. Collamcr, in which he says
cAsrLrros Sept 26b, 1857.
G. W. CoLLAMER EsoR
Dear Sri was in your place Thursday, but had not
the pleasure Of seeing you | wished TO- MY object
was to converse with You on the subject Of the speaker
ship suppose the thing is between Mt. Merrill and
Mr. Edmunds Now, have very great anxiety about
this matter and while ] acknowledge Mr.. Merrill well
qualified and every way worthy Of the place. aud gem
tlcman that under ordinary circumstances would sup
port heartily, do feel after most mature dclibcra
lion that would be better for Mr. NJ to yield his claims
to Mr. Edmunds. The contest Of last winter which re-
suited In favor Of Montpelier has left through the West
part Of the State feeling which It will require some pru-
dencc and skin to allay And II Mr. Merrill would have
the magnanimity 20 yield what very many would readily
admit TO be superior claims, very much would be
dome accomplish object which regard as very de-
sirahc. When the contest ended last winter, with me
all feeling and anxiety at an end. But not so with
many on This side Of the mountain and will require hut
little that can be construed into sectional feeling to
arouse that same feeling which witnessed last winter
think YOU deeply interested in this matter as any
one ana THINK you can do more than any one else 20
accomplish this object lit can be done, you may rely
upon my efforts to convince Mr. Merrill and the citizens
OF Montpelier that il is Olive Branch. What say TO
you would also say to Mr.. Cottri and Mr. Jcvett.
Very truly your friend
CHESTER SPENCER.
After this letter was written. and before
the session of the Legislature, Mr. Spencer
informed Mr.. Colamer that he represented
Mr. Edmunds' wishes in this matter Here,
then, was a distinct overture from those who
had been our leading antagonists in the pre-
vious contest--an overture of peace. Mr..
Merrills superior claims to the Speakership
we're admitted but our magnanimous oppo-
nents, actuated, doubtless, by true principles
of craftsmanship. which happened to be CO.
incident with personal aspirations. asked him
and his friends to 'yield his claims for tho
sake of queting sectional agitation and ieal-
ousy. One of the obiigors on the bond is writ.
ten to. and informed that he is most deeply
interested in this matter, and is called upJr
to give it his countenancc, and Mr. Merrill
and the citizens of Montpelier are ASSURE
that the proposition is an Ohrs Branch"
These propositions coming from such in
aucntial quarters were avorably entcrtaine
by Mr.. Merrill and our citizens While
held ourselves o5hgoted on the bond, we cen
tainly, for the peace and honor of the State
could not be justified in rejecting such ger
crous overtures from our most prominei
rivals and foes. Subsequently, in the spir
of the suggestions that mad been made b
Mr. Spencer, as the authorized agent of Nj
Edmunds Mr.. Colamer wrote to Mr. f.. r.
questing him to reach the Capital before tn
opening of the Legislature, in order to conf
upon the topic that Mr.. Spencer had intro
duced to the attention of our people NJ,
Edmunds replied, under date of Oct 5th
1857, stating that he should be DELAYED b
the Supreme Court, but II shall try to con
up on Tuesday night, as chez should like t
see you him on some matters" Mr.. ] .
came as he indicated and the arrangement
were made which resulted in the withdraw =
Of Mr.. NJ, and in the unanimous nominate,
of Mr.. E. by the Republican caucus, and h
equally unanimous election On taking II ,
chair, Mr.. f. alluded to the "oliye branch
las a token that whatever of temporary &C.
local causes may have created feeling of Sc
tiona jealousy" were to be entirely remove
In Mr., +. S letter to Mr. c. there is no deni
that Mr. Spencer represented his views, ar
what the "some matters" were on which
wished to confer with one Of the obligors
6 the bond are sufficiently palpable No den
, will obscure them, no explanation will nal
them clearer.
We have named the man If the r,
Press or Mr.. E. desires it, we can tell Of 9th
things which his witness said and did in 9th
7 places, on the East side of the mountains
= Not here alone did he give the impressic
\ that he was acting "under authority" H.
D visited other prominent towns, and made Il D.
same representations and the same propos
tons
We have made these statements only
the urgent solicitation of the Free Press.
there had been anything in them at all di
honorable to those who participated in the
arrangements, in order to assuage section
feeling, and unite all parts of the State
lraternal sympathies, and prevent the sham
2 full and imbittering policy of extorting fro q
a single town the cost of the Capitol, ",
should have kept silence. But they were
the highest degree honorable and most wisel
polite. Had they been carried out, in Il
last session, in the spirit and faith in whit
they were made, Mr.. e. would have held un
sullied the place of his political aspiratio,
and the State would have had peace.
The dishonor clings not to theoe transac
tons, but to the unwise and reckless aposta,
from them We know that Burlington an
t her representative still declare their good faitl
; They have taken two grounds of defence 4,
Z They have broadly denied the arrangements.
on the one hand and on the other, the spc
cial plea of Mr. Ell letter is to prove tina
he has been faithful to them. We care nc,
, which ground is taken, for both are false. an !
to flee from one falsehood to anotbox i ,.. -.