Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-07

iNtl' ~ Wll NNlhiiN w wv h'NTliNl''F' W w
whom the honor belongs for naming the present
Republican party Of tho Union, and II is claimed
Tor the lion. Jacob NJ. Howard, u. $. senator
from Michigan, dating the event on the 9Th of
July, 1854. We arc by no means anxious to de-
priye him Of this honor, for If it he his, it is st
Vcrmont's, since he is Vermonter and owes his
sound political principles to Vermont training
but we think that the name and the purpose to
lie accomplished by IL, in the formation Of gcnu-
inc Republican party, composed of the friends Of
freedom gathered from all parties, was in the
minds Of many men in various parts Of the coun-
try at the same time, spring Of 1851, immediately
after the passage of the Nebraska bill We find
that Joseph II Barrett, then editor Of the Md
debury Rqgistcr and afterwards Commissioner Of
Pensions under President Lincoln, said on the
18th Of March, 1854
In this state of things, an inevitable result
now appears to be, Ms formation Of a great Re
PUBLICAN PARTY OF Tw NoRrn-a party enhuc-
ing all who are earnestly devoted to free Republic
can principles"
Still again, in May. in reference to the Wing
State Convention, which was to assemble ON the
It'll Of June, Mr.. Barrett said
IL Will not iO4t ~iHlN N INC AANN Nlht Nil'iN -
to be n great national struggle such as we have
never seen before, between executive despUusn
on the one hand, aud True ReWdbcanism on the
other.
At the same time, o. H. Pntt, editor Of the
Bpttleboro Statesman, said
8" five mistake not the signs Of the times, the
consequence of the passage Of the Nebraska hIll
win be To create a great Republican party al he
North, nnd that Republican party will be
the wing party, under It's present name and or
ganizatiOn, with all Baltimore Platforms kicked
from under il, and It's ranks swollen by multi
tudcs Of the hatcrs Of slavery and tyranny, from
all other quarters"
T.. b. Whiting, Of the st. Adams Messenger.
and the then editor Of the Uafriman and state
Journal, i. p. Walton, Jr., concurrcd substan-
TALLY with the above, as did indeed several Others
Of the wing editors in the State so ON the whole
It looks as though some Of the Ncrmnnters at
home were little ahead of their brothers abroad.
Any way. Vermont led The column.
Now fornother interchangeable Bywhou,
iri,,i, and cdarc mas hc Republican party origi-
mated by any political coRr,nhoH? We believe the
correct answer is BY the Wing State Conycn-
ton OF Vermont, june 7, 1854, at Rutland. The
discussions in the newspapers, noted above, were
preparatory for that Convention, and the results
correspondent The work of constructing the new
political platform was committed to the editors
named above, viz Il. 2. Walton, Jr., Thomas
Hale, j. H. Barrett, +. B. Whiting and o II
Plat They consulted, not simply their Wing
brethren, but leading men in the Free Soil or Free
Democratic party, such ms Lawrence Brainerd and
Ryland Fletcher, and the result was platform
which declared that the then pending question Of
National Freedom or National Slavery surpassed
the distinctive principles and policy Of the Wing
party in Importance pledged opposition to every
body, Of whatever party, who was not true to
Freedom; invited the corporation of all freemen
of Vermont who agreed in this pledge invited,
also, 4" the cooperation Of the people of all other
States who are disposed to resist the encroach-
ments and the extension Of Slavery - and, in view
Of a National Contention Of like character and
purpose, recommended the appointment Of dele
gates to represent Vermont. This platform was
adopted by unanimous vote of the Convention,
followed by hearty cheers. A dissolution Of the
Convention on the adoption of this platiorm,
leaving the nomination Of State ticket to gem
eral convention, July 18th, had been suggested,
unh ~ wis lHpuEhh AlhiN ~ HiD'ilNl VI NhN N'i-
vention was in favor of it but for prudential
reasons it was determined 10 present ticket but
such an one ms would prove the sincerity of the
Wings in their proposal to cooperate with the
Liberty men of other organizations. The Wing
party being the leading purity Stephen Royce, a
Whig was presented for Governor, and Oscar l..
Shnlter, n leading man IN the then Free Demo-
cratic party, for Lieutenant Governor. There
upon, June l6, call WINS issued by volunteers,
Democrats, Free Sellers, and Wings, for Mass
State Convention at Montpelier, July lth, of all
who were for resisting the propagandsts of say-
cry, the purposes being to nominate State tick
ct and take measures TO unite the people Of Yer
mont in practical expression Of their sentiments
at the polls. The day was afterwards changed to
the 18th of July, the anniversary of the Ordinance
Of 1857, when the Convention met, framed Plat
form for Il National party, recommending Ma
tional Convention, and nominated State ticket.
The Platform agreed with that of the Wing Con-
vention at Rutland, with the addition Of sundry
general principles which had long been favored By
the Wings, and Furthermore gave a name to thi,
political union of men of all parties, declaring
that they were to " be kuoion as RpUnmcANs.'
In forming State ticket this Convention agreed
to the policy of the Whigs, though differing as u
the men. E. y. Walton, Senior, a Wing was
named for Governor, and Ryland Fletcher, Free
Democrat, for Lieutenant Governor Thus, lon
the action Of both Conventions, the friends o
freedom, in all parties in Vermont, were prepared
for harmonious action, and in due time the tick
cts were consolidated, by the withdrawal of Gen
Nation lrnun ,ua nd .Iu,sra III, flor lr,u.