Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-07-22
COUNTY CONVENTION.


The Chittenden County Republican Con-
vention Of Tuesday, was more entertaining
than county conventions usually are. It
was called to order by S. Huntington, ESQ.
the Chairman Of the County committee who
read the call for the Convention and calle1
over the list Of delegates according to the
certificates Of their election by the several
town caucuses, as placed in the hands Of the
County Committee Hon. Ira Writers Of
Milton was elected Chairman Of the Conven-
ton, and A. B. Halbert, Esq, Of Essex. was
elected Secretary. There appearing to be
three or four vacancies in the delegations,
the delegates from the several towns where
the vacancies existed, were ordered to Gil
them, committee on resolutions was APP
pointed, and recess was taken till after
dinner. After dinner the roll was called
anew and all answered to their names.
The business of making nominations for
the several officers to be elected by the Coun-
ty being brought forward, Mr.. Harmon of
Sbell@.ne said that so far as he had heard.
there was to be no strife except about two
nominations. He thought it would promote
peace and save time to renominate the en-
tire ticket Of last year. This proposition
was objected to, especially by Mr. Adams of
Milton. The present iacumbents. he said.
stand in very different relations to the people
as regards the time they have severally held
Office, and the usages Of the county on that
subject, and also as regards their respective
duties, and their fitness for the Offices held
by them. The judgment Of the delegates
could not be fairly ascertained by the mode
proposed. Others took like view Of the sub
ject, and the proposition was rejected. Mr..
Edmunds Of Burlington, proposed that the
three present Senators should be renominat-
ed. There was a usage, having a very pro-
per foundation, that the three Senators OF
the county should be taken from three diff
ferent parts Of the county, and that one Of
them should be from Burlington because Of
its relative population and business relations
to the rest of the county. If there were
local questions Of consequence to the people
Of the county, each portion was thus sure to be
fairly represented in the Senate of the State
In the present case, there was d local ques-
ton OF great moment-that regarding the
q hrov IL =, (
Canada Railroad, according to its original
charter and the provisions Of the act of last
year. 1t was well known that the thee
Senator's from this county did not agree in
their vote on this subject last year, but if
each represented the sentiments of his vici-
nifty, no fault could be found with them on
that account. The reelection Of the three
would undoubtedly be acceptable to their
respective viclnities.
Objections were raised to the proposition
Of Mr.. Edmunds, and a majority voted
against 1t, and in favor Of an election by
ballot. Mr.. Weston of Burlington, then pro-
posed the Hon. Lueius E. Chittenden. of
Burlington, as one whom the republicans of
this place by large majority were DESTROYS
of sending again to the Senate His fami-
liarity with the question adverted to, and
the known ground on which be stood in re-
gard to it last year, satisfied them that it
was better to send him again than any new
man. Mr.. c. had not wished for the nomi-
nation; but his constituents at home wished |
him to receive 1t. Mr.. Edmunds said if no |
other person was nominated against him. it |
was contrary to usage, and unnecessary, 70
minated Hon. Levi Underwood of Burling-
ton. He was requested to state on what
grounds he made it,-which Mr.. Gleason
was exceedingly backward &c do. Mr.. Miner
of Hinesburgh came to the rescue. All sorts
of stories, he said, were afioat as to what Mr..
Underwood's and Mr.. Chittenden's senti-
ments were on the subject of the proposed
branch of the Vt. & Canada Railroad. He
thought it would be the better way to have
both candidates come before The convention
and make known their views,-so that all
might know for a certainty what they were.
As for having money spent to build road
over the hills and swamps north from Bur
lington, for which there was no money, and
which would never return cent for the ex-
penditure if made, be did not believe in it.
Mr.. Underwood, it was said, was in favor of
a road from Essex Junction, southwark
through Hinesburgh, and so down to Castle
ton. That would be a road which would
far better accommodate the public than the
present southern road. If Mr. Underwood
could bring that about, the people of his
(Air. Miner's) neighborhood were for his
nomination. Mr.. Edmunds wished to know
if Mr.. Gleason put the nomination of Mr..
Underwood on that ground. Mr.. Gleason
said he did not,-such a plan was altogether
new to him, Mr.. Benedict urged that it
was right and proper to ask Mr.. Gleason to
give his reasons for the nomination made
by him under the circumstances. The cour-
tesy of the different parts of the county to-
wards each other in regard to senatorial re-
presentation was well known. Here was
the delegation from Burlington appointed |
by a very large meeting, and by an over
majority, under the express I'M