The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-08-31
Something Specific.

IL is said by some, that the charges
made against Portus Baxter in this
paper were too general to claim deni-
M. and should have been more specific.
II was so easy for Mr.. Baxter, by a
simple denial, to- have forced lis either
to abandon the charge, or else to
specify the acts embraced by it, that
we cannot concede the soundness of
this suggestion. Nevertheless, earn
estlv DESTROYS to hear from Mr. Baxter,
we waive forlnalities, and proceed to
produce for to-day a single specimen
instance land such instances are daily
multiplying of the way he has man
aged matters in this district, which
falls under the general charge of dis
posing of offices " for personal and pc
cuniary considerations.
In 1861, d. S. Storrs, now an attor-
ney Mt law, at Island Pond, Town
Clerk of Brighton. and Republican
candidate for the States Attorneyship
of Essex County, was living at Hyde
Park. He had studied law with Messrs
Benton & Child, and was just starting
in life, poor, and in debt for his edu--
cation, and having relations.dependent
upon him for support. Three of his
friends thereupon interested them
selves in his behalf to procure for him
the place of Deputy Collector and In
spector in the Custom House. They
made application for him to Mr. Bax-
ter, the fountain Of patronage, when
Mr. Baxter gave assurances that Mr.
Storrs could have the place, the salary
of which should be $3.50 q year, but
that $50 year of the salary must be
paid to him so long as Mr.. Storrs
should retain the Office, and that they
must. see the arrangement carried out
This proposition was communicated to
Mr. Storrs, and astonishing as it was
to all parties, it was assented to by
Storrs, and he took the Office under
the appointment of Mr.. Clapp, the
Collector. Mr.. Storrs remained in the
office at Island Pond for nearly three
years, performing his duties faithfully
and without complaint on the part of
Mr. Clapp, or known cause of com
plant but he had found himself un-
able. from pressure of previous debts
and other causes, to make good his
pledge to Mr.. Baxter. BY and by he
noticed indications that he was in
peril of removal, and thereupon CON
suited with the chief and confidential
deputy of Mr.. Clapp at Island Pond,
now Special Agent of the Treasury
Department, and enquired of him what
he had better do. The reply was, that
if he, (Storrs) would pay up pretty
well he could keep his place. Storrs
refused to pay the sum named and was
removed Soon after, i'll conversation
with Mr.. Clapp, Storrs referred to this
arrangement about the payment from
his salary, apologized for his neglect in
making the payments, by reason of
his poverty, but, willing to redeem his
pledge as far as he was able, handed
Mr. Clapp 500, which Mr.. Clapp put
into his pocket.
During and after this time, Mr.
Baxter made frequent calls upon one
of the three friends of Mr. Storrs above
named, for payment of the sum prom
ised him. Apologies were made for
Mr. Storrs on the ground of his pov
erty. But the demands were renewed
and pressed, until one of the parties
denounced it as an outrage and the
demand has not of late been renewed.
The evidence of these demands crisis u,
he hand-acriting of Dir. Barter.
And now, we enquire sincerely of
the friends of Mr.. Baxter, whether the
above specification is not sufficiently
minute andparticular? And will they
not join with us iii calling upon Mr..
Baxter to speak out, to release any one
who may have in his possession evil
dence of the truth or falsity of these
charg es from any obligation to keep
back the evidence, and give full liberty
to all to tell the whole truth and what
they know ?-Free Press.