Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-10-17
The GovernOss Of vcrmont-6,
MARTIN oHITTENDEN,

Martin Chittenden, the sixth Governor
of Vermont, was son OF Governor
Thomas Chittenden, and was born at
Salisbury, Connecticut, March 18th, 1865,
and graduated at Dartmouth College in
1889.
He came to Vermont with his father
in May, IVA, and resided with him till
his graduation, Owing to his feeble
health, at this time, he did not, as had
been his intention, study for profess
sion, but having procured farm in
Chittenden county, at Jericho, he de-
voted himself to agricultural pursuits,
which continued to occupy his attention,
except when engaged in official duties,
till his death.
In 1889, being then but just out Of
college, as we have seen, he was elected
one Of the Justices of the Peace for the
| county Of Chittenden, which office he
continued to hold for four years. The
same year he was also elected County
Clerk of that county, and remained as
such till 1893, when he became one of
the Judges of the County Court; he was
reelected in 1894 and '95, and in 1896
he was elected Chief Judge, and contin-
ued to preside over the courts Of the
county of Chittenden in that capacity
till 1902,
In 1890, being still Justice Of the
Peace and County Clerk, he was chosen
to represent the town of Jericho in the
Legislature of Vermont and was re-
elected in 1871, '92, '93, '94, '95 and '98,
and again in 1902.
In 1908 he was elected to represent the
Northwestern District of Vermont in
Congress, and was reelected in 1905, '07
= '09 and II, and although he was rarely
participant in the discussions Of thai
body, be was useful member, and his
opinions, when expressed, commanded
more respect than those probably OF any
other member.
In 1913 the people failed to make
choice OF Governor, and upon the as
sembling Of the Legislature, the Federal
lists, in Caucus, found that by rejecting
the votes from Colchester on pretcns
that large number of the votes in tina
town had been polled by United States
troops then stationed in that place, i
would leave the two parties a tie in join
assembly, each party having 1l2; b.
some sort OF political maneaver this wa
accomplished, and the joint assembl.
!. balloted q number of times each day
for more than week, without effectins
any result, when at last, by some mean
which have never been satisfactorily ex
planned, one OF the Republican member
was missing, and Martin Chittenden wa
elected Governor by a majority OF Oh
y vote, receiving 112 votes to III for Jona
- Galusha.
- His administration was period {
;, more excitement and alarm than an
a other in the history of the State, const
!" quent upon the war then existing bt
tween the United States and Great Bri
ain.
. In 1918, when 1t was almost momen
= arily expected that the enemy weul
~ make descent from Canada, and po
!. ton OF our militia had been ordered b
~ the United states authorities to the d.
d. fense Of the frontiers of New York an
q were actually engaged in that Stat
Governor Chittenden issued his procl
~ nation commanding them instantly
return "to the respective places of their asu
c residences" .Oitiin this State, and hold then
" selves in readiness to march at a M
nc ment's notice to the defense OF the frol
Al tiers of their own State. And again
September, 1914, when it was ascertaint
III that the British feet was coming dow
u Lake Champlain, General Macomb, Il
Nv commander of the United States fore
AZ at Plattsburgh, made requisitlon
Governor Chittenden for the "tmmed'c
ee presence and aid Of the militia Of Tsraao''
et a. that place. He refused complianC
4. assigning ~ hi, reason, which w'- al
nd the reason assigned in his former proc
ch nation, tna5 . uO!Ls IL "Ou.i ,eA
the frontier of Vermont utterly defens
n. less, and that it was uncertain where t
Ter enemy would make an attack, and tn
ed under these circumstances his duty
an his own State required him to keep t
ar whole military force Of Vermont
readiness to defend her own citizens al
to soil.
i'll. These acts OF the Governor, thou,
ng now generally conceded right, Under
,ss peculiar circumstances Of the case, were ha