Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-08-24

calling Of such a convention, to determine
question Of deep importance to the Repub
licans Of this district-on which it was known
that feeling ran high among the peOple-as 1
mass convention, and UP behind the noun
tains, in little village beyond the reach o
railroads or telcgraphs, and which must b
reached by the masses, in the main, 10y then
own conveyanccs. The convention was call
cd as 1t was and where it was-and the hest
had to be made OF the case.
The eve Of the convention was a lively ono
III the commonly quiet littlc town OF Ilyderark
The leading attendants On the Convention
began to arrive about noon Of Tucslay-and
the crowd 10 pour in during the afternoon.
At nishtlall some COO had collected in Hyde
park and were disposed of in the two hotels
and in private houses-the headquarters Of
both sides beng Of course at the American.
Tie Hoy men appeared 10 lie decidedly in
the ascendant that fight in ilydcTark. At
johnson, five miles distant, one Of the tay-
erus had been ontirely engaged by Mr.. Bax-
ter, and among the 500 or COO men who fill
ed that town the Baxter element was prcdomi
nant- much 10 the disgust of the inhabi-
tants o. that intelligent and worthy borough,
who wcIc four to one opposed TO the corrup-
ton csudidate, and not particularly delight
cd either with the Political predictions as to
candidate or personal habits and behavior Of
the .oJcugncrs. al the ncIghboring villa
gcs, and the farm houses for miles around,
on every s,tewcre filed in ike manner with
pilgrims.
At Morristown, four miles distant, large
gathering assembled despite the rain, 70 lis
ten to Judge Poland, who i. was understood
had come to attend the convention and to re-
turn some Of the iaycrs rendered him by
Mr. Baxter at the Convention Of the second
District, Tie Tuesday previous. We have
no report OF bic remarks.
OF course there was great caucusng and
cousaliing lctwccn the managers and wire
pullcrs. On Tu,-day evening Ot the
schemes proposed, and oacrs made and dccliu-
cd on the respective eilcs, it is not necessary
to speak here.
The clouds which had been threatening all
day shut in over the valley, as tie night fell,
and the rain fell with it. 1; raincd steadily
all night
Wednesday morning opened dark and
rainy and with daylight the crowds legan to
pour in. Tie muddy Ioad> were filled with
vehicles Of every description, IN lines con-
tinuous and intcrmmable as the trains Of an
army S.mc delegations On each side came
.i headed by lands ~ martial music. some
shouted flr Iioyt ard some for Baxter, all
were IL good humor spite of wet and mud.
BY ten O'Clock. at least tiIee thousand
men had assembled Oi coursc no building
ia Hydcark could contain one louIth of
;l.at number. and thc convention was OF ne
cc ssity held in the open air, and owing to
the rain tie calling TO order was deferred tall
twelve O'Clock, by the District Committee
Al eleven O'Clock, the Iain having nearly
ceased, Judge Poland came 90 the stand erect
ed in front Of che Court House for the con-
vent ion, and addressed the multitude We
defer the report OF h- ,Iecch for to-day,
with only tie l,mark that it was not par
ticularly calculated to quiet the opposition
TO Mr. Baxter.
Printed hand bills, freely circulated, had
announced that the convention would he
held at the ringing Of the Court House he'll,
and designated the places Of meeting for the
various sub-County- Conventions.
Shortly alter the close Of Judge Poland's
speech, very sharp On twelve O'Clock and
J,for, any ringing Of tle JeH, Mr. VIM. Ilar-
mon Of Shclburn. chairman Of the County
Committee, took tie stand and called the
Convention to order II the object OF this
littlc piece of sharp pacticc was to secure
the organization Of the meeting ior Nh. Bax-
tcrs friends before Mr.. lloyt's friends should
reach the ground, it failed. Mr. Poland's
speech bad collected the Iloyt men in nrgcc
numbers close around the stand and they
were therefore in position to mike their
presence felt.
Mr.. Harmon read the call and nominated
for temporary chairman Hon. GEo. WILKINS
of Stowe. The nomination Of Hon. Homer
f. Royce Of Berkshire, was made by Hon.
Henry Seymour Of st. Adams, and Of other
gentlemen by Cthers, and persistcntly urged
but were not regarded by Mr.. Harmon, who
proceeded TO put the vote on Mr.. Wilkins,
and to declare him chosen in the face Of n
storm Of noes, which continued till well
known friends Of Mr.. lIoyt got the car of
the crowd long enough to say that Mr.. W.
would make a satisfactory chairman, and to
second his nomination. Mr.. Wilkins being
chcscn chairman, Mr.. IlarmOn's duties wer
Of course ended but he preceded as If no
moderator had been chosen, TO further or
ganize the meeting by calling for nomination
Of vice presidents, and put the votes and
declared the election of several Of them be
foie the growing merriment of the bystand
ors on the stage, at this novel mode of pro-
cecding, disclosed to him his blunder and
with the remark. that it had Just occurred
to him that he was undertaking Mr.. VIII
kins' proper duties. Sir. Harmon subsided.
Tic organization proceeded. Hon. How
ARD STEVENS Of Franklin County, Gen. G.
J. SrANxARD Of Chittendcn County, Hon.
WV. HASTINGS OF Orleans Co, 6. W. HES-
DEE, Esq. of Lamoille Co, and VIZ. Ii.
HARTsmoRN Of Essex Co.. were chosen vice
presidcnts,-Gen. Stannard's name alone re-
cciying hearty and well nigh unanimous
aye.
Mr.. 6. ii. BICELow Of Burlington was
elected Secretary; but declined to serve and