Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-21
The Governors of vermont-so.
1ouN $. ROBINSON.

Bennington, March 4th, l772, and died
September 9th, 1872; he was an Attor-
ney, and once represented the town OF
Bennington in the General Assembly OF
Vermont. He was the son OF Moses
Robinson, the second Governor OF Yer
mont, and grandson Of Samuel Robinson
Of Hardwick, Mass, who was Captain OF
the Massachusetts, troops, and served as
such near Lake George, and st other
places, during the old French War, and
who died OF the small pox at London as
mentioned in another article.
JOHN STAMFORD ROBINSON was born
at Bennington, in the County OF Ben
nington and State OF Vermont, on the
tenth day OF November, 1904. He grad
uated at Williams College, Massa'
chusetts, in 1924, in the class with Rec.
Marx Hopkins, II. D., D. D., Ill. d., the
learned and phiosophic President OF
Williams College, WRltan Hrrey, one OF
the pioneer Missionaries to India, and
Rev John Wn. YeOmaHs, d. d., President
OF Lafayette College, Pennsylvania.
At the conclusion OF his academical
studies, he commenced the study OF law,
and having completed the usual course,
he was admitted to the Bar, In Benning-
ton County, in 1927. He then opened
| an office and remained In the active prsc-
tice OF his profession st Bennington till
his death.
He represented the town OF Bennins-
ton In the House OF Representatives OF
Vermont, in 1882 and 1888. He was the
eighth OF the immediate descendants OF
Captain Samuel Robinson, who have
served the people OF Bennington in that
capacity. He WAS also member Of
the Vermont Senate from Bennington
County Ia 1888 and 1889.
"Mr. Robinson belonged to the Demo
cratic party, and was frequently sup
ported by his political friends for Mem
Der OF Congress, Governor, and Other
important offices, but his party being
generally in the minority, he was unsuc
cessful except as before stated, D." and II
the election as Governor as hereinafter
mentioned.
He was, again, the candidate of the
Democratic party for the Office of Gov
ernor in 1858, and at the annual election
in September OF that year, received 49,,
142 votes. Erastus Fairbanks, the ther
incumbent was the Wing candidate
and received 20,849 votes. Lawrence
Brainerd, afterwards United States Sen.
ator from Vermont, was the candidate
OF the Abolitionists and received 1921
votes; and there were 1873 scattering
votes There was no choice by the PEG
pie. On the assembling Of the Legisla
ture, neither party was in q majority
The greater number being divided be
tween the Wing and Democratic parties
the Abolitionists having only few rep
reseatatives and therefore holding tn
balance Of power. The Legislature con
vened, joint assembly was formed an'
then commenced the attempt to elect
Governor. Ballot after ballot was takeT
Z, day after day passed and night afte
night was spent without result. But o
the eleventh day OF the session wa
formed, as described by Rev. william E
Lord, that celebrated coalition bt
tween the pure National Democrats an
the pure sectional Abolitionists, "A
election which demonstrated how muc
stronger is the cohesive power of of1C
seeking than is the attraction of pr
d fessed political principle. On that yes
the scepter fell from the nerveless gras
j. OF the old Wing party, and the sts
which never sets suffered disastror
d and final eclipse On that day, on tt
% 26th ballot, in joint assembly, John
Robinson was elected Governor of We
a mont. The remaining State offices we
t, divided among the adherents of the pa
:. ties forming the coalition. They had COZ
troll of the State government but for
c single year.
. In 1860, he was elected one of IL
h delegates from Vermont to the Dem
cratic National Convention, which a
- sembled at Charleston, in April OF thi
~ year, to nominate candidates to be su
4 ported by that psrty, for the offices
President and Vice President OF ii
United States, and was Chairman of Il
- Vermont delegation. While at Charlie
~ ton, in attendance upon the Conventio
at about six o'clock In the morning
Wednesday, the 18th day OF April, 1876
~ while In apparent sound slumber, he WI
4 attacked by apoplexy, and died so su
i, denly that he was unable to utter al
- word to be communicated to his frienC
at home His desth was announced
4 the Convention by Mr.. Stoughton
~ Vermont, and after the passage OF res
20 lutions of coincidence, as a further r
mark OF respect, the Convention a
journed till the following day.
Governor Hall, in short sketch pr
I