The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-02
The Sheriff Question.

ne FeTWOVttT udS iudue pIOSi Sso, poe
like a notorious specimen of the animal
kingdom. in backward direction. On
the occasion Of the recent County Con-
vention, Mr. johnson took tenable ground,
but through his paper has since deserted
it and taken an untenable position. For
this we are sorry. To speak more plain
~, he was present all through the deliber-
ations Of the Convention, acquiescing.and
apparently approving its action. Its
course was obviously right, and by his
silence he admitted it. 1fthere was any
thing wrong or supplementary in its
action, according TO his judgment, why
didn't he utter protest But he wasn't
tougue.iied, y, no! He recognized it as
the convention, all through, recorded Its
proceedings as its Secretary and apparent
" went away rejoicing in the result. He
neither claimed that its action was un-
parliamentary, or Objectionable in any
other respect. In fact, in introducing
his resolution upon the subject Of delegate
conventions, he pleasantly referred to the
harmony" which had prevailed all
through Its deliberations.
So, it is evident his opposition is en-
tirely an after.thought. The frs. note
of the different tune he is now singing,
roe the statement .h"t tho action IF tho
convcntion,in refusing to ratify the recon-
mendation of its nominating committee
on the matter of Sheriff, was unusual. "
But as the days pass, the chagrin and
disappointment of defeat overcome the
sense of justice at FIRST operative in his
mind, and now it is openly charged, that
"unfairness and wrong was perpetrated"
in refusing to ratify the recommendation
of committee. But how was any Gun.
fairness or wrong perpetrated ?" Not
by bringing the matter to vote before the
hour set for meeting, for the Convention
adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock p. M, at
School House Hall, and it was. at least, a
quarter past two when the Convention
was called to order. Did any fail Of
notification Of the hour and business /?
No one claims that. The announcement
was made in open convention. Some
claimed, it was done while Mr.. Skif's
friends were at the Addison House at
dinner. But it would seem that all of
his friends had ample time to get dinner.
during the recess in the convention, ex-
cept those in the committee, and as only
Al votes were cast for him in that com.
mittee, we cannot suppose that more than
that number were hindered on that ac-
count. Besides, Mr.. Rider only served
about rs dinners after 2 o'clock on that
day, including the friends of Nh. Trip
and others, as well as the friends of Mr..
Skiff. The convention had finished its
work and adjourned in time for the cars,
so none needed to be away on that &C.
count,
There are some reasons for supposing,
that, as matter OF fact, comparatively
few members Of the convention from out
OF town, were absent at the time the final
vote was taken. 1t is estimated that
there were about eight or nine hundred
persons, in and DESTROYS Of getting in the
Court room in the morning. 10 the after.
noon, the capacity Of the hall allowed a
more accurate estimate of the numbers
assembled, and there is 10 doubt but
there were above thousand persons there
very likely some who had not been in
at the morning session. But we have no
evidence that there were any present who
were not lcgtimately SO, and proper
voters in mass convention. This right
will be conceded.
Then, what docs the Vermonter mean,
BY game or trap sprung upon those who
were absent ?" The more active friends
of Mr.. Trip knew nothing of any inten-
ton, to refuse to ratify the nomination Of
the committee, until the vote was taken.
The motion to accept and adopt" was
made BY one, who evidently had no such
action in mind. The motion "to divide
the question" was explained by the mover,
to have reference only to the two ques.
tions of acceptance and adoption, though,
on Mr.. Shades explanation, Dr.. Warner
accepted the amendment to have the
nominations voted upon separately. And
when the vote came upon the nomination
Of Mr.. Skiff for sheriff, the emphatic
"No" evidently came out spontaneously
from the mass of voters assembled there,
and the nomination Of Mr.. Trip, by
reclamation, came just as spontaneously
and much more emphatically, while one
voice only uttered its protest against
this evidence Of the popular wish. The
only claim which has, to our knowledge,
been put 10, that can give any color to
the charge so fippantly brought by the
Vermonter, Of games" and traps" and
"wrongs perpetrated," is one, not made
publicly, but in corners, and privately. in
order to prevent denial. 1t is that the
Convention was packed by Middlebury
men, for the purpose of overriding the
the wishes of the people. This Mr.
johnson knows to be false, and will nc
doubt deny, when occasion offers. Nc
one will estimate that there we're more
than fifty residents of Middlebury in the
Hall, at the time the vote was taken, and
some,even, claim that there we're less thar
twenty.
From facts in our possession we may
Assuredly gather, that there were forty
four members Of the committee on nomin.
atoms, in favor of Mr.. Skiff; and that
these "A men represented others is mos
likely but it is not likely, that any con
siderable portion Of the mass of voters
who were gathered here to attend the con-
ventiop. had that particular issue in mind
when they elected delegates, or else they
would BOT have suffered themselves to BE-
SO grossly misre2resented, by their dele
gates 10 The committee,as it appears they
were, by their hearty reputation of thu
endeavor to foisE upon them an objection