Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-10
The First District.

Of the numerous articles which have APP
peared from time to time 10 various papers
of the State, favoring the denomination Of
Mr.. w ILLARD, we have so far copied or com
mented on none. To this general rule we
make an exception in favor of an article from
the Free Press of Wednesday, deeming it no
more than fair that our friends should under
stand what outsiders think and say
We understand that a private caucus of
persons in Rutland county opposed to the re-
nomination of Hon c. W. WILLARD, was
held in Rutland last week, at which it was
decided by small majority-l3 out of 81,
as reported TO us-to adopt Henry Clark of
Rutland as the opposition candidate of that
county, in the District Convention, and to
make the best fight possible on him in the
Convention. Coming forward as the choice
OF the majority Of the Republicans of his
county we should certainly give Mr.. Clark
our very hearty good wishes for his success
but under the present circumstances we
cannot consider the selection Of him as a can
didste any honor TO him; while his sue
cess, If that was possible contingency, in
the Convention, we could not regard as any
thing but calamity 60 that District e-od o
the State. We say this from no consrdera-
on or comparison Of personal character
but looking at the case on general prIncI-
pies we say that to throw over an able and
upright representative IN Congress, after
single term, because he has failed to suit
everybody with his recommendations for APP
pointmeDts. would be an unmixed disaster
and disgrace to the State. And we should
so consider it, if it were our own brother
instead of brother editor that was men
toned as an opposing candidate.
Nobody charges that Mr.. WILLARD does
not ably represent his district and if they
did. the evidence is ample to rebuff the charge.
Nobody breathes a suspicion of Mr.. VII
LARD's personal or official integrity. But
persons who expected Offices IN his district
have not got them appointments have been
made that were not satisfactory to certain
parties in the district. II this Is to be sufi-
cient cause for a general fight. or for drop
ping a worthy member entitled by every
usage to re nomination, where is the thing to
end No member can possibly suit all of
the various applicants for Office, for the ap-
plicants are much more numerous than the
Offices. Shall we then adopt the rule that
no member shall have two terms in Congress?
| Is it best in any degree to work towards
rule which would keep the State represented
by mex perienced and consequently compar
stively uninhuential men in the National
Legislature?
MIR. WILLARD has represented the State
with credit, but he will render much better
service in second term : and to that he
will, we doubt not, be elected The repub-
lican masses of his district, we are confident,
will not countenance the movement against
him. The second and third districts propose
quietly and tremendously to re-elect their
present representatives. Why should not
the first district do the same, and let us
have united and cordial good feeling through
out the State All parts of the State are
interested in the matter, for each represent Ia
tive represents Vermont and the general
opinion of the Vermont republicans is thus
expressed by the Woodstock Standard
Mr.. WILLARD has the support of every
republican paper in the district, so far as
they have spoken, excepting the Rutland
Herald, which has an axe of its own to grind
while outside of the district the press are
about unanimous in his favor No good
reason can be given for Withholding from
him the customary second nomination which
we believe he has earned by an intelligent
and able discharge of the duties devolving
upon him as a legislator, and by Jealous
devotion to the best interests of his district
and the State. His opponents could undOubt
eddy show considerable strength were there
any common bond of union between them
or any plausible ground for their opposition
but as it is, however reluctant they may b
to yield, there is little doubt Of the result,
and such result too as will be fattering t
Mr.. WILLARD as well as credtable to hi
constituents.
The Republicans of the First District vii
be holding their caucuses from this time on
Let them see to it that they are not left Il
} be run by wirepullers, and that their choic'
of delegates expresses the will of the voters