The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-08-24
THE HYDE PARK CONVENTION.
A Full and Fair Account.

The fullest and fairest account Of
the Hyde Park Convention is given by
the Free Press, from which we copy as
much rs our limited space will per-
NIT
Shortly after the close Of Judge Po-
lands speech, very sharp on twelve
o'clock, and before any ringing Of The
bell, Mr. VIM. Harmon, of Shelburne,
chairman OF the County Committee,
took the stand and called the Conven-
ton to order If the object of this lit
tie piece of sharp practice was to Sc
cure the organization of the meeting
for Mr.. Bakers friends before Mr..
Hoyts friends sho'ld reach the ground,
it failed Mr.. Poland's speech bad
collected the Hoyt men in large num-
bers close around the stand, and they
were therefore in a position to make
their presence felt.
Mr.. Harmon read the call and nom
mated for temporary chairman Hon.
Gro. WILKINS, of Stowe. The nomi-
nation of Hon. Homer f. Royce, Of
Berkshire, was made by Hon.
Henry Seymour, of St. Adams,
and Of other gentlemen by others, and
persistently urged ; but were not re-
garded by Mr.. Harmon, who proceed
ed to put the vote on Mr. Wilkins, and
to declare HIM chosen in the face of a
storm of noes, which continued till
we'll known friends Of Mr.. Hoyt got
the ear of the crowd long enough TO
say that Mr.. W. would make salts
/ factory chairman, end to second his
nomination. Mr. Wilkins being cho-
sen chairman, Mr. Harmon's duties
were of course ended but he pro-
cedcd as if 10 moderator had been
chosen, to further organize the meet
ing by calling for nomination of Vice
Presidents, and put the votes and de
clared the election of several of them
before the growing mernment of the
bystanders on tie stage, disclosed to
him his blunder and with the remark
that it had just occurred to him that
he was undertaking Mr.. wilkins prop
er duties, Mr. Harmon subsidized
..The, Vice Presidents then came for
ward and took the stand. During the
i 1nll pceasioned by this movement, Mr.
G. CT. Banedict of Burlington, stepped
4 to tie front of the stand and asked
,eaye, to make a remark and to submit
ila pTeposition.
b MIR. BENEDICT REMARKS.
"a NJ, Dn,olt,4 .,,l tIo4 ,,.o,.r -, 4, 1,
4 before him was doubtless aware that
certain grave charges had been pre-
ferred against one of the candidates
for the nomination of this Convention
The charges were that Mr. Baxter had
used the official patronage under hi;
control for his personal ana pecuniary
advantage and that contributions
had been levied on the salaries Of sub
ordinate officials, iii his name and fol
his benefit. As the editor of the pa.
per i'll which the statement of these
charges was first given to the public
the speaker desired 70 cay. shat If they
, were not tue, he wished TO retrac
{ them, and to publicly apologize to Mr.
Baxter, cheers and cries of good fol
, the Baxter men. But he, Mr. Ben
edict, believed them to be true anC
capable of satisfactory proof Cheers
, from the Hoyt men. 1t must be re
membered, however, that the transac
; tons involving such corruption were
commonly confidential between til,
? parties to them and he was here t,
say that if Mr.. Baxter (who was nov
almost within hearing Of the speaker
, voice, or any one in his behalf, woul,
deny those charges, challenge tn
proof of them, and withdraw the con
r tdential obligation resting on some o
Mr. Baxter former friends, the effor
=, would be made to prove them in opel
a convention, here and nom. Cheer
e and loud and long calls fQr Baxter
e Baxter. -s
y Mr.. Baxter did not appear, hut Nj
e VIM. Harmon came forward -
MIR. HARMoN's REMARKS.
b Mr.. Harmon said that such char
, ges were not to be believed of ma
e with the high character of Hon. Por
! tus Baxter. Derisive cries of ooh
i Oh" from one side, and cheers iron
: the other. The gentleman who ha,
n just spoken had lost $4,000 ofiic
/ awhile since. 1t was easy for news
paper men to bring such charges, an,
they were often brought against pub
|. lie men. 1t was the duty Of those VIII
made such charges to prove them
Mr.. Baxter was the choice of the PEG
= pie, &c, &c. Renewed calls 70
= " Baxter" but no Baxter
= Mr. Benedict asked Mr. Harmon
he was authorized TO deny the charge
S or to challenge proof of them II
= which Mr.. Harmon replied that H.
;, didn't know what the charges were.
:. Mr. Bradley Barlow of st. Adams
e next addressed the convention sub
stantially in the same vein as Nj
Harmon, saying that he believed tn
# charges to be ISLANDERS that the
t We're vague and general, and that i
b was for those who made them to max
>. them specific and prove them.
+ Hon, Daniel Roberts of Burlington
said that the charges loere specific, t.
u the effect that Mr. Baxter had dispos
n ed of public offices under his contro
= for his private pecuniary gain an,
a that it was absurd to call for proof O
Y these charges, or further specification
1 so long as Mr.. Baxter did not appea