Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-06-14
STATE CONVENTION


Mass Convention of the frccmen of Yer
mont will be held at Montpelier, on Wednesday
the 26th day of June, inst, at II o'clock A. NJ.
to nominate candidates for Governor, It. Gov.
cmor, and Treasurer, to be supported at the en-,
suing election.
All who are in favor Of supporting the Con.
stitution and the Union" and of sustaining the
Federal Government in its efforts to suppress
rebellion, and put down treason, are cordially
invited to attend
II. HENRY BAXTER,
J. GREGORY SMITH, Republican
r. w. CLARKE
GEO. C. SHEPARD, State Comm.
A. JUDSON ROWELL,
June l, 1861.
We are not disposed to question the
personal right of any body to sign such
a call. Everybody in the State has an
undoubte1 right to issue a call for con-
vention for any purpose that is not OF it.
self immoral or Illegal. There is no law
against it, On the other hand presidents
can be found in support of the exercise
Of such 4 right Were the above call
signed by the five gentlemen, whose
names are appended thereto, in their in
dividlal capacity we should not for a mo-
menJ question their right nor their juris-
dction; but as they have seen tit to issue
such a call in their official capacity as the
" Republican State Committee" we can
not refrain from expressing our doubts as
to the expediency of such course of ac-
ton.
The Republican State Committee were
appointed by Republican State Con-
vention to act for the State Republican
party and for no dher purpose. No au-
thorty was conferred upon them for call
ing Democratic Conventions nor Peo-
pies Conventions. They are the select
ed agents of the Republican party only,
and as such had certain well understood,
well defined duties to perform, such as
promoting the efficiency of the Republi-
can organizations, calling conventions Of
the party, &c. They were intrusted with
no such discretionary power as they have
assumed. In our judgment they have
altogether transcribed the powers dele
gated to them, and TO that extent their
acts are no more binding upon the party
than would be those of an agent appoint
ed by an individual when such agent ex-
ceeded the scope and plain intention Of
his instructions.
We cannot but regard this action of
the Republican State Committee as mis-
chievous in the extreme. 1t is a virtual
disbanding of the organization of the Re
publican party in this State. It entirely
ignores the principles upon which the
national administration was elected, and
by the aid of which the general govern
ment is now administered. The call is
sued by the Committee invites a general
meeting OF all the freemen of the State
for not one can be found who will not
claim that he is in favor of supporting
the Constitution and the Union" and we
know Of hardly one who does not profess
to sustain the Federal Government in
lis efforts to suppress rebellion and put
down treason" Among these are some
Of the most active, uncompromising and
bitter enemies of the Republican party
men who, while patriotic in their actions
and intentions, persist in declaring the
Republican party responsible for the
present rebellious attitude of the Southern |
States, by reason of their aggressions un
Southern rights in their opposition to
slavery extension. If there is to be any
unity OF feeling and concert of action be-
tween the Republicans and such men all
the distinctive principles of the Republi-
can party must be ignored, and all the
bonds of union between the Republican
party in this State and the national ad-
ministration, except upon the one subject
embraced in the call, be destroyed.
Again: fla State Convention is held
as proposed by the Committee, new
State Committee will of course be ap-
pointed which will have no authority or
power to call Republican Convention
hereafter. This alone will operate as
virtual disbanding of the party.
The selection of candidates is a matter
Of minor importance, and one which we
shall not now discuss. According to the |
decision of the Republican State Com
mittec there is to be a new "shuffle, cut
and deal all around. 1t is the very
least Of onr objection to the power arbi-
irarily assumed by them that one or more
patriotic democrats may thereby be NOM
mated and elected to office. But seems
10 US that in pursuing such a course they
are thereby causing the Republican party
Of this State TO stand in an attitude of
hostility to Mr.. Lincoln's administration.
Under the new order of things inaugu-
rated at Washington on the 4th of March