Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-10-11

RANDOLPH CAUCUS AND ELECTION

hANDObIH CAOODS AN ID ELEtlION.
Mr.. EDITOR In your issue of September tn
appears an article, which, by its false statements
and misrepresentation does great Injustice to A
majority Of the freeman Of Randolph; and your
correspondent must have been well aware that the
statements therein made were not warranted by
the facts in the case And lest the VERY cnviable
reputation we fully realize the town has so we'll
earned, and long enjoyed, for her honorable cleo
tons should suffer by the statements in the att-
Gle referred to, the Undersigned, by request of
many Of the leading republicans who supported
Col. John b. Mead at the late election desire to
place before your readers what they deem to be a
true statement Of facts, with the view to correct
any erroneous opinions which may have been enter
tanned on the subject And as local interests and
prejudices figured largely in the whole affair, it
may be proper briefly to refer to the location Of
each facti n.
Mr. Dubois is a resident Of West Randolph v il
lage, situated nearly in the extreme Southwest
corner Of the town, and supported by the free
men living there aud others in that part Of the
town usually doing business at that village receiv-
ing the entire vote of that section with the excep-
ton OF a few who persisted in supporting Colonel
Mead, and not a solitary vote from any other part
OF the town, either at the caucus the election
/ Your correspondent SAYS the people were accus-
toned to meet IN caucus and nominate the peoples
man. That is precisely it, and we claim, and the
sequel shows, that at the caucus which nominated
WIN. III. Dubois, no such thing was done. Mr.
Dubois, it IS true received the greatest number of
votes, owing to the vigilance of his friends, who
turned out en- mdsse fully equipped, every man
with his printed vote, showing by the unanimty
which characterized their movements, that they
understood both their place and the business in
hand Upon opening the caucus they chose their
chairman and secretary and proceeded at once to
an informal vote, the whole being conducted with
unusual haste, and much to the dissatisfaction of
Colonel Mead, who took occasion to demonstrate
against it, but without effect, aud many of the
more tardy ones consequently found that tiey had
come too late to vote. Upon the announcement
of the first ballot Mr.. Dubois was declared nomi-
mated for town representative amid the cheers of
his friends who retired much pleased at the success
OF their plans while those Of Colonel Mead re-
NAMED and after short consultation determined
to appeal to the people
Colonel Mead, living in the central part Of the
town, received, probably, the entire vote of that
section without an exception, and also, East and
North Randolph, with the exception OF the demo-
Gratis, part of whom voted for man of their own
selecting and the result was Colonel Mead was
elected, receiving 65 votes over Mr.. Dubois and
40 over ALL
Your correspondent saws that by pledging the
support OF the town in the construction of GER
tain proposed railroad, the election of Colonel
Mead was secured. The statement is without
foundation, as neither Colonel Mead nor any 9th
hau Ut set u hleh nave ever nltnEtu tntir sup
port or that of the town in the construction of said
road nor was that argument used to our know-
edge as an electioneering bait except by the
friends OF MIR Dubois in the West part Of the
town, Aud your correspondent representation
of the wholesale bantering and buying, which so
much shocked his youthful sensibililies, are With
out foundation. Aud his representations of
leading republican seilipg,his expectation OF office
for thut en- demo ratio Votes, we are unable to
learn, upon dihgent inquiry, has any foundation
10 fact: The gentleman perhaps, INDUCED some
little feeling on the subject as we'll as the
legal voters whose rights at the polls he saws,
were denied, But knowledge Of the facts in
this case Is sufficient to relieve the honorable gem
uemen, who decided against his right to vote from
the unjust imputation Of being sectional civil au-
thorty.
We have no disposition to say aught against
Mr.. Dubois. Both the candidates are high mind
ed gentlemen, and correct politicians We have
no feeling other than thai Colonel Mead was the
peoples choice.
l. L. WHEELER.
W. S. WEBSTER, Too" COMMITTEE