The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-08-31
TO the Honest TOterS Of the Third
District.

No honest man who regards his free
mans oath, can support Mr.. Portu> BaX-
ter, if he believes that the charges made
against him are true. The whole thing
then hinges on this one point: the charges
are either true, or they are base SANDERS
and lies. If the charges are true Mr..
Baxter should not be elected. and every
h"""~t man should rally and vote against
him, thus trowning down corruption in
high places, and breaking up a clique that
proposes TO manage the politics Of Yer
mont for their own aggrandizcmcnt and
the pecuniary advantage OF their friends.
If the charges made against him are
not true, then should the true men of the
third district see to it that he Is elected
But what IS the evidence in the case
The charges are maze and sustained by
some of the best men in the third district ::
such men as the Hon Geo w Benedict
Hon. Daniel Roberts and J. 5. Adams.
Esq, of Burlington Geo, n. Dale, Esq.
of Essex county; Hon Homer +. Royce
Of Franklin county, and several thousands
more in that district And mark this {:
W0ugh the chayes hare been nude publicity,
a0d reiterated tor toou or fire wceks past
neither -ur. Batter nor ay otter authorized
person has erer attempted a denial!
One charge against Mr.. Baxter, was
that Offices had been disposed of for per-
sonal and pecuniary gain, and that contri-
buttons upon the salaries of subordinate
officials have been levied in the name of
Mr.. Baxter and paid for his use and ben
eft. This charge was made by Mr.. Ben
cdict month Or mere ago. and the fol-
lowing letters are pretty good evidence
that the charge was correct:
''IslANp PoND, Aug. u, 1866.
G. G. BENEDICT, ESQ, Ncn' Sir The
facts you inquire about are as follows:
During the year 1861 | was living in La
noble county, practicing law. Ny bust
ness was very small, and | was deeply in
debt. Thinking to improve my circum-
stances applied TO Messts Child & Ben
ton q. A. Child, now deceased, and Col
L. {. Benton) and Col. E. b. Sawyer. to
assist HE, through Hon. Portus Baxter
in getting an appointment in the custom
house at Island Pond
They interested themselves for me. and
| believe say Mr.. Baxter, and reported to
me that they could get me the appoint
ment of deputy collector at Island Pond.
at a salary of seven hundred and fifty dol
lars q year, but that | should have to nav
Mr.. Baxter something for it out of nv
salary.
agreed to this, and got the appoint
ment under Mr.. Clapp. was afterwards
told by these gentlemen that should
have to pay Mr.. Baxter out of my salary.
one hundred and fifty dollars per year,
and that they had been obliged to pass
their word to Mr.. Baxter, for me, to that
effect.
remained in Office nearly three years.
and never heard any complaint but that
| performed my duties as an officer faith
fully and well, BY reason of my credi-
tors pressing me for payment and of some
other burdens, | was unable to meet fine
payment Of the one hundred and fifty dol
lars, and at this time had paid nothing
for Mr. Baxter when l observed indica-
tons that | was in danger Of being remov-
ed from office
consulted with one of Mr.. Clapp's
deputies whom believed to be in his con-
tidence, about the matter He informed
me that MIR. Clapp had repeatedly threat