Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-05
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TON;
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 5, 1851.
THE STATE CONVENTION

At Montpelier, June Goth, 1861, was
called to order by Gen. II. II. BANTER, Of
the State Committee, who nominated Hon.
F.F. WoopBRDGE. Of NTgennes, for tenn
rorarv Chairman, and invited him to the
Chair Mcssrs HENRY Z. Miner, Of Man
chester, and HoYT \. WHEELER Of Jamaica,
were appointed Secretaries pro tera.
Mr. A. J. RowErI, of Troy, moved the
appointment Of a committee by the Chair,
Of two from each county, to nominate officers
for the permanent organization, when
Hon. Tuos. F. Powers, Of Woodstock
rose to say that under the peculiar circum-
stances Of the case, the Republican Commit
t.c having called a Convention not in terms
Republican, he thought it should be the
first duty Of the Convention to define Its
position. lie regarded it himself as the
annual convention Of the Republicans Of
Vermont. He believed that party had not
yet accomplished Its purpose. The time had
arrived in the affairs Of the nation to prove
il EeYgblicln principles would do to live by,
and 10 die for lie feared a compromise
with Slavery by the approaching Congress,
nnI believed that the Administration must
10 X TO the Republican party for effective
support lie was thankful for the aid Of
tie Democrats. In sustaining the Govern |
meu,, they were only doing their duty. He |
could not see why the war could not as well |
De prosecuted by the two parties remaining
separate, as by a union, with but a single
point Of agreement. lie was entirely op-
posed to ji,baniing the Republican party,
and knew but one mau in his county who
approved the "no-party' idea. lie thought
the Convention should begin by adopting a
declaration Of Republican principles.
Mr. RowELL withdrew his motion, to al
low the introduction Of the following reso-
luton by G. B. SAWYER, ESQ, Of Burling-
ton
FlsolUsd, That the history Of the nation during
the last seven years has fully established the pro
Triety and necessity Of the organisation and per-
Hs,Ery of the Republican party, and that the
causes which ca He'd 1t iAto existence are permanent
H7 thar nature and now more than ever before de-
maud bis peaceful and constitutional triumph.
This resolution, the mover remarked, was
the first resolution ot the Chicago platform.
Hon. ID. Z. NICHOLSON, Of Wallingford,
believed that the State Committee would
have been willing to append that resolution
to their Call, if they had been asked to do
so. lie thought the Committee had taken
au enlightened view of the subject. There
were men in that Committee who, since the
days yt the plaques Of Egypt,-which the
speaker described in a strain Of pictorial elo-
queneo, itself utterly indcscribable, begin
ming with tho turning Of the waters into
blood, and going through the ten plaques to
the last, when 'the dark Angel of Midnight
tapped his wings over the desolated land,
and slew the first born in the chamber. and
stole the Inch pins from Pharaoh's char
tots, ,''-hcliev,d that God had had hook in
their Jaws Whether it was in the Jaws Of
the angels or the chariots that the hook was
placed, was not entirely clear, and the ora
tor did not stop to explain. For the rest,
however, he was quite ineligible. lie jus
titled the Committee fully, in their action,
which be believed to involve no abandon
ment Of the Republican organization. He
hoped the call would be the keynote Of the
Convention. lie eulosizcd the late Mr..
Douglas very highly hoped there would
be 10 lrtting up of bars, or of two cent, |
plnny-Ioyal persecution Of Democrats, but |
taaJ the majority Of the Convention would |
take heartily by the hand every man in the
Convention, no matter how be came there.
a.. 3. Sawyer, Esq, Of Burlington, said
tlis Convention had been called to dissolve
the Republican party, a scheme headed by
the State committee. The principles Of the
Chicago platform were still needed its or
gauizltion was necessary to the triumph Of
the principles, and for one he was not
ashamed OF lis honored name. The State
Committee had power Of attorney from the .
Republican party to do a particular thing
but they had broken their trust. This opcr-
alton was a change Of front in the face Of |
the enemy, mlnoauvre which no army can |
be strong enough 10 attempt. He h0nored |
the patriotism Of many Democrats. Some |
of them were doing good service in the |
army. Others, like Harney and CadWalla- |
der, b. could not trust. lie felt honored by |
those Democratic Kisses (Which were pretty |
freely bestowed for moment). The Demo- |
cratic politicians were here to take control |
of the Republican party, but they should |
not do it with his consent.
Tne chairman, here and on a subsequent |
occasion, rebukod with dignity and severity, |
the disordcrly Interruptions to Mr.. Sawyer's |
remarks, rcmarking that in Vermont the
right Of free speech was still recognized.
Mr.. Carpenter Of Nortbfeld, did not come
here to abuse anybody. 1t was question
between party and patriotism and he had left
PARTY at home. The call had his approba-
u4n. lie was willing To join bands with
every man who in this crisis is for the uion
and the Constitution and the enforcement of
t." laws. H. moved to lay Mr. Sawyer's
resolution on the table
Hon Wm \ Pmgrey, d Weathorsfeld,
said he was for 40 party f1r the sake of
party; but only for the sake Of principle.
lie believed the principles Of the Republican
party to be still living. and necessary to the
welfare Of the country. The question Of
how this war shall be settled will soon be
before the nation The Democratic leaders
were mostly in favor Of a settlement by
compromise II Vermont lowers the Re
publican standard, j, would be taken as a
sign that Termonters would DO anything
ilr Icace- II was in favor Of the objects
mentioned in tbe cali, and more. There
should be Republican Convention. Those