Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-03-17

NoRTHFIELD RIGHT SIDE UP IA


not understand how it was. As the leaders
of this bogus dynasty threaten resistance to
taxes, after the manner of their brethren in
Dixie, and swear in their wrath they will do
great things--an explanation Of how it was
done," may be interesting and profitable
The victory was so grand, the flank movement
so glorious, that it is too good to keep, and
so, dear reader, we will give you an insight
into the machinery by which we "met the
enemy and they were ours
The Legislature Of this State, last session,
passed an act allowing towns having $500 in
habitants t. choose their town officers by one
general ballot-tut in order Tor a town to do
this the town must accept Of the act in town
meeting, and comply with certain require
ments specified, one Of which was, twenty
men must sign petition, demanding right
to thus vote, which should be presented to
the moderator previous to voting.
Well, the freemen from the hills and val
leys assembled early in the day--both parties
confident Of success After electing George
Nichols, Esq, moderator, who displayed
great irmness in this unusually trying po-
siton, motion was made to take up the ar
ticle in the warning, of which all had due no.
tice, to see il the town would accept of the
this a vote was about to be taken when some
one called out, d" Divide the house" and upon
so doing, a great majority were in favor Of
the new law. To see the two classes, as they
marshalled themselves right and left, was
amusing The gentlemen from the Emerald
Isle, who never had such privileges at home,
and who have elected all the officers in North.
field, with but a few exceptions. since their
IL. I'll
J. A. S. White, and Corporal Johnson. and a
few others, were on one side of the house, and
the substantial Northfeld- born and long res
ident citizens, on the other. being two to one
in favor of the act. Gen. Fisk did not like
the looks Of this, seeing the respectable por-
ton Of his party on the opposite side from
him and his followers, and so demanded
ballot with stentorian voice, thinking, no
doubt, that some of those with the great
majority, If they would not be seen in his
company, might vote against the act, and so
it came to pass that ballot was ordered, and
1t resulted in adopting it. In vain did Col.
White insist that The proceedings we're all
unconstitutional, in vain did Gen. Fisk con-
tend that the law should be accepted by a
town meeting called for no other purpose, in
vain did Corporal Johnson rub his forehead
and declare the proceedings all wrong the
memorable majority insisted on voting the
general ballot-which, by the by, was kept
secret to all but few sklful engineers and
miners in the Union ranks, and who seemed
to be fully prepared for one Of the greatest
flank movements ever known in town meet
ings, which almost outrivaled the invincible
ShermaL's movements, while passing through
en.ral Georgia.
Now came the " tug of war" when the
lreemen were to ballot for town officers by
general bal Of The keen eye OF Brig. Gen
Fisk happened to espy long and formida-
[ bic ballot (something like a 600 pouuder)
and saw that If enough Of that kind went in.
to the box. they were used up party-jump-
ing vi on bench, and with few swings Of
his long arms, he cried out, "Mr. Moderator
the gentlemen are little ahead of their
time-twenty voters must sign paper and
/ hand it to the Moderator, demanding a right
to vote by general ballot" 4" Ha ha ha
ha J. that's SO, shouted gentleman from
/ Dublin, who was oppressed in sweet Ire
land that he came to this country but few
/ years ago, TO help Cypress the id mig
gers" as be calls them. And genera
haw haw went up from that party whict
was aboIt to die the death that knows nc
resurrection
Here, Jasper Orcutt, ESQ, stepped for.
ward, and presented paper signed by TWEEN
ty legal voters, demanding the right to vote
by general ballot. when a scene ensued which
beggars description. In vain did the bogus
democracy squirm and wriggle, swear and ex.
postulste and amid cries Of Z" not constiiu.
tional "-"I protest against these proceed
ings the friends of republican institu.
tions marched boldly forward with firm tread
and elected all their town officers by from sc
to 100 ma GRITTY Never was victory more
conn lete, never movement more skillfully plan.
ned, and carried into execution The " rigu'
lar democracy" as the Hibernians call the
party, we're out-generalled, for they had nc
general ballot printed or written, while TIT
Republicans bad enough OF the right sort
and few to spare.
The farce that followed the Moder ator's de-
claration Of the officers chosen, was laueha.
BILE in the extreme. Col. White presented
his vote for first seectman, Gen. Fisk walk
ed up and offeted his vote for 6rst select
man, and Corporal johnson did likewise
but the Moderate having declared one set o
officers elected, did not think it his duty tC
receive ballots for another set until the | 81
Tuesday in March, 1866 and so, with a era
cious smile, and if he had not been Modera
to OF the meeting we should have expected h,
would put his fingers on his nose, as thu
boys do, giving them a few graceful evolu
tons, as much as to say, You can't com,
it, After a while these leaders of what wal
the dominant party in Mortified, gave up tn,
ghost, skunk down into their small ptopor,
tions, and some Of them had the good sens,
to acknowledge that they we're fairly whip
ped, and that it was we'll done. Thus end
eth the history of the rise of Republication
and the fall of Democracy in NorthfelC
town meetings; and let all the people sa!
Amen.
JUSTICE.
TOUCHING SCENE AT THE WHITE
HoUsE.-The National Anti-Slavery Stan
dard gives an account Of an interview o
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