Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-14
Prom the Rutland Herald.
Gov. Chittenden.

| OUts
Martin Chittenden, the sixth Governor O
Vermont, was son of Cove; nor II oma:
Chitlenden, and was born at Salisbury
Connecticut. March 18th, l766, and gradu
ated at Dartmouth College in 1880.
He came to Vermont with his father in
May, IVA, and resided with him till hi.
graduation. Owing to his feeble heath, al
This time, he did not, as had been his inten
ton, study for profession, but having pro-
cured farm in Chittenden County. at Jer.
icho, he devoted himself to agricultural
pursuits, which continued to occupy his at
lention, except when engaged in official du-
ties, till his death.
In 1889, being then but just out of Col
lege, as we have seen, he was elected one
Of the Justices of the Peace for the Coun-
ty Of Chttenden, which Office he continued
TO hold for four years. The same year he
WIS also elected County Clerk of that Coun-
ty, and remained as such till 1898, when
he became one of the Judges of the Coun-
ty Court; he was reelected in 1894, and
30, and in 1896 he was elected Chief Judge
and continued to preside over the Courts of
the County OF Chittenden in that capacity
till 1908.
In 1870, being still Justice Of the
Peace and County Clerk, he was chosen TO
represent the town of Jericho in the Legs
lature of Vermont, and was reelected in
1871, 90, SO, "a, 95 and 80, and again in
1902.
In 1903, he was elected to represent the
North Western District Of Vermont in
Congress, and was re- elected in 1905, OF,
90 and IL, and although he was rarely a
| participant in the Discussions of that body,
he was useful member. and his opinions
when expressed com handed more respect
han those probably of any o-her member
In 1913 the people filled 10 make choice
of Governor, and upon the assembling of
the Legislature, the Federalists. in Caucus.
found that by r'jrcting The woes from COL
chester on pretense that large number of
the votes in that town had been polled by
United States Troops then stationed in that
place. it would leave the two parties a tie
IN JOINT assembly, each party having 1l2 !;
by some sort of political maaecre this was
accomplishment the joint assembly bal
io'ted number OF times each day for more
than week without efecting any result,
when at last, by some means which have
never been satisfactorily explained, one of
the Republican members was missing, and
Martin Chiltenden was elected Governor
by majority Of one vote, receiving il2
votes 10 III for Jonas GalusIla.
His administration was period of more
excitement and alarm than any other in The
history OF the State, consequent upon the
War then existing between the United
States and Great Britain.
In 1918, when it was almost momentar;-
iy expected that the enemy would make a
descent from Canada, and portion of our
Militia had been ordered by the United
States authorities TO the defence of tb,.
frontiers of New York and we're ac,nallv
engaged IN that State, Governor Cqi,tenden
issued his Proclamation commanding them
instantly to return TO the respectiUe places
81 their usual residences tcit.ia this STATE
and ho'd themselves in readiness TO march
al momenls notice to the defence of the
frontiers OF their own State. And AGA n
IN september, 1914, when it was ascertain
cd that the British Fleet was coming down
Lake Chsmplain, General Macomb. the
Commander OF the United States Forces n,
fiattsbnrsh, made a requisition on Gov
ernor Chitienden for the " immediate pres
e''es and aid Of tie Militia Of, Tenaoat at
mat place. lie refused compliance, assign.
ING as hIs reason, which was also the rea.
son assigned in his Proclamation, tina, by
SO doing il would leave the frontier Of Yer.
mont utterly dtf-neeless, and that IL wss
uncertain where the enemy would make an
attack, and that under these circumstance
bis duty TO his own State required him to
Keep the whole military force of Vermont
IN readiness 10 defend her own citizens and
soil
These acts of the Governor, though now