Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-10-24

oSIs ne WAS dlso u ueieSaIe iIOm ZIG |
same town to the Constitutional Con-
vention OF 1928, and Its President. No
material alteration OF the Constitution
was made by either Of these Conven-
tions.
He represented The town OF Crafts
buy in the General Assembly of Yer
mont In 1896 1900 0l and 03 and again
in 1906, and was Clerk OF the House OF
Representatives in 1898 and 1893.
In 1909 he became q member of the
Council and was reelected in 1910, IL |
and IL. He also received majority Of |
the votes polled for that Office at the an
nual election in 1918, but was figured out
by the rejection of the votes from Col
chester, mentioned in another article.
Ftde - Martin Chttenden."] He was
again elected Councillor in 1926, and con-
tlnued as such till his election TO the Of
| flee Of Governor. -a... ..... ..
He was appointed Register of the Pro-
bate Court for the District of Orleans In
4 i >.
In October, 1900, being then Totca ClerR
and Justice of the Peace for the tOteH Of
Crqftsbary, Register Of Pro5ats for the Or
leans District and Representative ,ia the Gen
eral -AsssaJiy from the to,0n of CraftsJRry,
he was elected first Assistant Judge OF
the Orleans County Court, and held that
position till October, 1910, when he was
elected Chief Judge, and was annually
reelected to this latter Office In 1910,
IL, II. 10, IA and 10. In 1926, upon
the reorganization of the Judiciary sys,
tenn in this State-the Supreme Court
furnishing Presiding Judgp-he WAS
again elected first Assistant Judge of
the County Court, and held this office,
also, till he was elected Governor. He
was subsequently-in 1886, 81 and IS
Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts
for Orleans County.
Judge Crafts was chosen member Of
Congress from Vermont in 1917 and was
reelected in 1919, ~ and %. This was
probably the most important period in
the history Of the American Congress,
not only from the immediate Importance
OF measures then adopted, as from sub.
sequent events, as it was during this
time that the celebrated Missouri Com.
promise" was passed.
Judge Crafts voted with the majority
Of the Representatives OF the North in
every instance except one: when the
bill for the admission of Maine and
Missouri, having passed the Senate,
without the clause prohibiting Slavery
In Missouri, but with an amendment,
now so well known as the missouri Re
strtettoa" to the Honse for concur
rence-upon the question Of prohibiting
Slavery North Of thirty six degrees
thirty minutes north latitude. Judge
Crafts was, at first, one of only eighteen
who voted In its favor-those In favor
establishing Slavery in Missouri, as we'll
as those in favor Of its entire prohibit.
tion, uniting to defeat 1t. 7@ q so1
Judge Crafts was elected Governor OF
Vermont, ~ majority OF the popular
vote, In 1923 and in 1929. In 1880 he
received plurality vote, and was elect
ed, by small majority, in joint assem-
bly,, on the thirty second ballot.
Daring his administration an inpor-
tant step was taken toward the abolition
of imprisonment for debt. A law was
passed, providing that on all judgments
rendered upon debts contracted after
January lst, 1881, the debtor may, within
two hours after judgment, submit him.
self to an examination on oath, before
said courts, touching bis property, &c,
and may be entitled to the benefit of the
poor debtors oath, and upon record be-
ing made Of the facts, no execution
should DC issued Gov. Crafts was again
a candidate for the gubernatolial chair
in 1882, but was def ated. Gov, Crafts
was appointed, by the Governor, on the
23d day Of April, 1912. and was subse-
quently elected by the Legislature,
United States Senator, in place of
Samuel Prentiss, resigned, and remained
in the Senate till the 4th OF March, l843.
Of the character and the ability with
which Gov. Crafts discharged the varied
4 duties Of the many Offices which be was
called to ill it is unnecessary to speak
the fact that be received oeer one
hundred and t1eaty elections and appoint
ments TO Office from his townsmep and
fellow citizens, is more eloquent than
mare words could be- Gov. Crafts was,
also, Chairman Of the Committee to fix
on place in Montpelier for erecting q
State House and to prepare plan for
the same and was one of the Trustees
of the University Of Vermont from 1910
to 1918, and was honored with the de-
gree OF Master Of Arts from that Univer-
sity, and also from Harvard College.
He died at his residence in Craftsbury