Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-09-13
States Attorney in Washington County.


With its accustomed zeal and eagcrncss to
pick up some cause of consolation the Patriot
SEXES upon the election of States Attorney in
this County with hungry grasp which would
do honor to a starving cat. 1t proclaims in
startling capitals great victory" 9 Tom
peranae fanaticIsm rcbuked in Washington
County " &c., &c., but we will quote from the
Patriot direct
" The sober-mndcd and intelligent citizens
Of Washington County have covered themselves
wish honor by repudiating Henry, the lanatcal
temperance nominee for States Attorney, and
cl9cting Homer II Aton, Esq, to that Office
This result, as glorious in itself AS it is credita
bic to the people was not achieved by II party.
The movement was not started by a party. 1t
had its origin In the awakened go ID sense of the
county. For the past year nothing has been
talked of or dreamed of in the county, but rum,
rum, and Henry has made himself 50 odious by
his ultra fanatcism, and his mean and prying
inquiries and searchings for a case and fees, that
the people could not endure his corrupt and OPP
pressye administration amy longer"
Now the whole gist of this mltter cal be
summed up in very few words. The Democ-
racy had nothing to do with this; "rum Ganati-
cism, had nothing to do with it, The simple
fact is clearly demonstrated, that the Republi-
cans did not like Mr. II .nrys qualifications and
they have defeated him, In part by cheating, but
more by direct opposition and in many in
stances the prominent influential Republicans
have been engaged in it. 1t is not temper
ance nor a rum move, nothing Of the kind, for
in Waterbury the temperance men opposed him,
In Warren and Barre the same, while in More
town, Montpelier and other towns both "rum
fanatics and " fanatic rummies' did the
same. We do not, however, see clearly the
causes which have led to the opposition to Mr..
Henry, and have to say that the precedent is a
dangerous one, however good cause there was
for defeating regular nominations. We were
not aware that there wasany definite opposition
to Mr.. Henry at the time of his nomination, at
which time the matter should have been settled,
or at least the convention informed of the mat
We are for abiding regular nominations, how
ever much it may come across the grain Of our
personal preferences.
As to the matter of enforcing the Liquor Law,
we think it has been satisfactorily demonstrated
that the law, if properly enforced, will be ben
efcial to the community. We are aware that
in many counties this law and its violations
constitutes very material item in the business
of the States Attorney and to judlclously
manage the business, requires both superior tact
and legal ability. There are those whom the
Patriot calls " rum fanatics who make the
enforcement of the law the all engrossing sub
ject of their medtations, both for the crafty
ing curiosity, and spite; while on the other
hand there are those who in justice may as
we'll be called q fanatic rummies, - who cannot
bear restraint neither in their appetites nor
their lust for the unholy traffic. Between these
extremes there is a just medium and sound pol
lev, which will correct extravagances, and do
what the law makers of the State, and calm
minded, sober, earnest Temperance men desire
As to whether Mr.. Heaton will 81 administer
his Office, ,Oe are not to answer. Certainly none
dispute his ability, and as man and a citizen,
no one disputes his qualifications. He is a
temperance man in act and belief, and has none
of those radical notions about politics which
his party hold to !; in fact, we more than half
incline to the belief that he voted the regular
Republican County ticket, with, perhaps, and
perhaps not, the exception of States Attorney.
One thing is certain, he has been in the County
long enough and his position is such, that all
leading men know him, and their support of
him shows that they preferred him to Mr. Hen
ry. We hope that there will be no attempt at
improper interference with Mr. Heaton s policy
until we shall find what it is, no crowding and
no withholding of proper information. Let the
people of the County give Mr. Heaton's admin