Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-10-14
tGatnhman s. journal.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER Il, 1868.
FneNs-tiNp pas year, strictly In adyancoi or s250
n not ptid within three months
The Antl.Batler Fight.


Richard II. Dana, in accepting the nomi-
nation Of the Ant-Butlcr Conyontan in the
Fifth Massachusetts District. on Monday,
said he could only describe Gen. Butler as
the Ishmac Of the Republican party" To
the claim that Gen. Butler should be elected
because the rebels hated him, he replied that
rebel hatred is not a substitute for fitness. and
further more that he believed the rebels de-
sired Gen. Buffers reelection, because it
would promote disoord in the Republican
ranks To the argument that Gen. Butler
was the regular candidate he said
q" Fof myself om satisfied with this e5nyen-
ton, its nunncrs and ts weight of chalacicr
believe ia Che rist Of the people of this district
" choose whom they please % hll the vacant
place. IN his letter Of july ! understand Mr.
Butler 10 have said that he would be q candidate
for reelection. lie makes no mention of noni-
nation hy his party. Considering the state Of
things 40 TINT time own that understood FROM
that letter. that ho meant to le q candidate be-
fore the people 90 all events. II hc did not ex-
press himself e0rroedy VI Doe did not mean that,
eertainly he cannot find fault u he was misundrr-
stood But it is sad tlmt he bad the onucuses.
Gentlemen. You and ! are .aD Old NOT o. under
stand that there i some limit 10 the orAitmy
power of what Is called cnucoscs. I remember
the time when Robert R1n,1ul, Jr, addressed
aim-elf Go the people of This district on the great
question OF slavery and unti-siWery. lie stood
thcir candidate ior Congress. and ~ ! recollect
rightly without The regularity oi caucus nlminu-
tion ir was elected. ! know that it is entirely
possible Cor coucuses o. elect delegates that do
not represent 1ne-thri of the actual voters of the
..f % ola.
know that the weakest point in our public system
is the power of @ucu-e-. We know that this is
not omnipoient thai the people no any time may
chpp-e their representatives In spite OF caucuse-.
understand that in this district the people oppos-
ed ~ the reelection Of the present representative
declared in udmnoo their determination 10 call
this convention. The convention that nominated
him was an cr-porfc convention, made up Of bis
friends who attended the caucus for him. lhlss
who were opposed % hi- nomination have present
ed themscIye. here. Well. gentlemen, b, % TINT
they are the Teguars the great contests of lib-
erty have ever been fought by volunteers and
militia.
Mr. Dana announced that he should stump
the District up to election, closing as follows
Gentlemen, il IS high time relieve you We
have % work % do. let Us join hands here today,
& declare that tine work shall W. dome Mr. Pres
iieut, diln Q cunc here o. obtain seat in Com
grc-- but in the discharge Of public duty, there
fore 10 is not ior victory that ! contend We hope
for and believe n victory We believe it must
follow such a cause as ours but yet we know that
The gp1l cause does not always triumph on every
occasion. fr one am perfectly prepared % -sc
ourselves bent with modification and ro S,dly tlmi
this District should So stand before the world
But there is one thing defeat cannot DO; 1t cannot
make as personally ashamed.
shall meet eyer, man Of this District with O.,
clear unicnnnoe-though with sad heart
after defeat as after victory and should mo- more
be ashamed OF ii than were our glorious ancestors
aslamel-the volunteers and miltia-that they
were hcatcn at Bunker iiill by Reguars