Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-06-26
THE STA TIE CONVENTION.
what IL said Of IL.


tFrom the Burlington Free Press
One lesson Of the state convention on
"Wednesday last, is SO obvious that "he who
runs" may read. Ii is that something more
than desire for the Office is still necessary
IN vermont TO make man the choice OF
The republican party for governor. The
majority of that convention, and IL was
portion of IL that need ask no odds of the
rest IN point OF character and standing,
would have said, as many dill say: Not
only do we consider Judge Peck the best
candidate to this honor but as between two
men Of equal claims aud fitness Tor the
place, we would every time give it to the
man who did not ask for 1t, rather than to
one who did,"
Never was there a candidate who came
up cleaner from any imputatiUn Of seeking
to crowd himself upon the people. The
original suggestion OF his name was due to
no hint from him or any ono connected with
him. IL found Immediate favor with the
people by virtue solely Of Judge Peck's
nigh personal standing. Mr.. Henry, OF
Chester, in the convention, who of course
is not politician, was troubled because the
politicians had shaped the canvass in his ia
Vor; and he complimented over three hun
bred intelligent aud independent delegates,
10y telling them they were acting against
their own wills, under the " hip and spur
of the newspapcrsl We undertake to say
that there has not been a nomination for
governor IN generation less due to polit-
teal finesse, or to tie immediate influence
oil Inc press. What is more, Judge Peck
not uhly asked no man or journal 10 go Tor
hiu; he could not he Induced To authorize
i statement that he WAS a candidate. No
friends of his went through the state to
See men Of much or little influence in
his behalf No tiers were written for hun
here and there. There was no drawing out
of "the boys or manipulating of caucuses
Tor him. He came not near the convention.
This was not because he does not appre-
ciate the honor Of being selected for chief
magistrate OF his state. lie doubtless APP
prGciatcs the honor kcculv, aud values
highly the mark OF confidence thus repos-
ed in him. But he has also the high, old
fashioned dplicacy, which iOrbds the seek
ing Of an office that has not sought him.
For this, as well as for his Integrity and his
public services, the men VI Vermont hon
or him. And ii Is worth noting, that his
mndesiy and selt-rcspect did not stand at
all in the way of his nomination. The day
has not yet come, thank heaven, in YER
mout, when it can he said that any man is
too good aud too modest a man, 10 be set
up for public Office.
from the Rutland Gllle1
with the result as it Is, aud one over
which we most heartily rejoice for the non
or Of the state and of the republican party,
we should "let the dead past bury its dead"
but for sundry new appliances, this year
for the first time, introduced into the poll
tics of Vermont. We have no intention Of
again calling attention to the writing Of let
ters, the personal solicitations of voters,
the hiring of teams to carry men to the eau
Gus, the shoT: notice given thereof with the
evident Intention Of its meeting the eye OF
only few favored ones, the quick dispatch
of business in other places without waiting
for the attendance of others whom II was
known intended To be present, or to the
packing Of tue primary meetings in certain
parts OF the state. All of this we believe
to be AN innovation IN Vermont politics,
reprehenslOie in practice, Of dangerous ten
deucy, and nothing more or less thtn an
underhanded attempt to wrcst from tue
sovereign people one OF their dearest rights
and privileges, the privilege of freely cN-
pressing their opinions ard the right Of the
majority to govern. We do not say that
single delegate was hribed. We d. not say
that single man sold his vote. We do not
say that a vote was east in that cOnN entiuu
Otherwise than the conscience and judy
meut of the man casting it dictated. We
do say, however. that the hotel bills of cer-
tain delegates were paid by man who, in
war times, would be called the quartermas-
ter or paymaster Of a certain candidate.
We know, from personal observation aud
from the positive Information OF others.
that the hoIel bills OF only the delegates
who voted for particular man were thus
paid. We know, also, that the hotel bills
Of certain editors and other supporters Of
| the same man were pa d ia the same way.
| 1t may be none Of the business Of the pub
| lie who pays tue hotel bills Of this man or
| that, but when they are the hotel bills of
| delegates to state convention, when they
| all vote Tor Que man, and that man or his
agent, quartcrmaster, pavmaster, or what
ever he may call himself, pays the bills it
| IS a matter of public concern.
From The 81. Adams Mcssengcr.l
1t was the misfortune rather than the
| fault, perhaps, of some Of the aspirants to
| have attached their fortunes to AN efiele and
crumbling dynasty. They may and we
| hope will escape from the wreck which
vainly endeavorcd to buoy them, but they
cannot but recognize the fact that Gen.
| Thomas str lck the keynote of the cOnVen-
| ton when he said that Judge Peck was a
man Of whom no man and no corporation
| had ever dared to inquire his price.