Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-16
TIE MEN OF VERMONT.
IL. WILLIAM A. PALMER

Governor OF Vermont, was porn at iic-
bron in the County of Tolland and State
of Connecticut, on the 18th day OF Sep
tepber 1881 and came TO Vermont
about the beginning of the present centu-
nv. He studied law with the Hon. Dan
iel Buck of Chelsea-havms been adal't-
ted to the bar, he commenced the practice
of his profession at St. Johrsbury, in the
County of Caledonia, and after remaining
in that town short time, lie removed 10
DalviIle, in the same County, where he
continued TO reside till his death.
lie was appointed clerk of the Su-
preme and County Courts of Caledonia
County in 1907 and continued as such
eight years. The same year he was elect
ed Judge OF Probate for the Caledonia
District and held that office, at this time
but single year, but was again elected TO
The same Office in 1911 and was reelected
in 1912, l3, IA, Is and 1S.-In 1926 and
1927 he was first assistant Judge of the
Caledonia County Court, This, we APP
prehend, is the only instance, since the
admission of Vermont into the Union, that
this position has been filed by one who
had previously oc upied a station in the
highest judicial tribunal OF the State-the
Supreme Court Of Vermont. .....
Judge Palmer represented the town of
his residence, in the General Assembly of
Vermont during the years 1911, l., Is,
rs, 26 and 20 and in the Constitutional
Conventions for the years 1928, 36 and
80. .....
i The Convention of 1886, among other
thing, adopted On amendment TO the Cou-
stiiution, (Which had been previously re-
jected by several prior Conventions.) by
which Senate was established as a Co
ordinate branch of the. Legislature and
the Council, which had existed since the
foundation OF the government, was abol-
ished. That of 1850 adopted the amend
ments to the Constitution giving to the
people, the election of Judges OF the
County Court, Judges of Probate, Sher-
if, States Attorneys and Justices OF the
Peace, and limiting the number OF jus
tees, and apporIioning them to the differ
ent towns according to their population,
each town TO have at least fire and no
town to exceed fifteen previous to this
} time they had been unlimited in number.
f In 1916 he was elected one Of the
judges of tue Supreme Court and was
reelected in the year following but declin-
cd TO serve.
Judge Palmer was, October Goth 1918
elected by the Legislature, United States
Senator from Vermont, to fill vacancy,
7 and was subsequently elected for the full
term of six years, from the 4th Of March
1879 1t was during his term of service,
that were passed the "Aliss0uri Compro-
mise" measures. He alone Of the Yer.
mont delegation, in both Senate and
House Of Representatives and nearly
0 alone, in, not only, New England but the
t entire North, voted for these measures s.
.
great dissatisfaction to the people Of Yer
mont. He was almost the only one from
the North who voted for these measures
: that politically surriced his rote. A re
| cent historian of the United States com
If menting on that ACT, says, Parrot, (N
d H. Palmer and Hunter, (R ~ werv o
that school OF New England Democracy
OF which, the sole principle seemed to be
to follow the lead Of Virginia withou
scruple or question"
: From the cose of the War of ISL.
Il till after the election OF John Quincy AID
= ans to the Presidency party was unknown
. in Vermont, and in tact i'll the Unite
o States; in the elections to office, the on
il division being in preference for particll
. lar man, and our Governors had bee
elected during that period if not with er
=" tire unan'nity, without any organized o
d active opposition-this continued SO i
e Vermont Tor longer period than in an
& other State. In the annual election {
1880 there were three tickets and tire
G parties in the tield.-1st. The Admin.
a tration Party-being those who supporte
n the measure and policy of John Quinc
!, Adams--this was the nucleus aroun
- which was formed the Wing Party. 2
n The Opposition or Jacksonian Party--b'
y ing those who opposed the administrator
ID of Adams and were in favor of Andre
jackson for the Presidency--this ultimate
y ly became the Democratic Party. 3,
lie The Anti Masonic Party-this party W;
IN first organized in the State Of New You
10 on account of the supposed abduction
J. enc William Morgan for intending to pu
. lish TO the world Tie secrets of Free MI
" sonly--this party though prevailing for
= time ina considerable part of the Mort
&c was short lived and its adherents. on i
dissolution became members of some OF
'' OF the other parties. Samuel C. Graf
o. was the candidate of the 1st and receive
1916 votes--Ezra Mech of the ID r
| celyed i, 2S1 votes and William A palr