The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-10

were formerly made by mass conventions
of the people, then by mass conventions
acting through committee especially APP
pointed for that purpose, and now they are
made by delegate conventions. These con-
ventions were called, these committees
were appointed, for the purpose OF making
nominations, and these nominations be-
came authoritative solely from that fact.
State committees, district committees,
county committees, or town committees are
not appointed for such purpose. The
purpose for which they are appointed is of
a different nature, and it would seem, on
general principles, that they could exercise
only the general powers for which they
were appointed, and such additional special
powers as may be conferred upon them
from time to time. This is illustrated by
the fact that special vote of the several
conventions has, each year, been required
to constitute these committees committees
on credentials
There are three very decisive pre-
cedents in opposition to the powers as
sumed by the Rutland county republican
committee. In 1856, James Meacham,
thon representative in congress and
candidate for reelection from this district,
died. His death occurred August %, and
although only fifteen days interviewed be-
tween his death and the day of election, did
the district committee attempt to usurp the
power of convention, and nominate his
successor =? Not at all. They re-convened
| the convention, and L. p. Walton OF Mont
peller was nominated-and all those who
remember the time WILL we doubt not, join
with us in the statement that had the dis
trict committee done otherwise the repub-
| lican party of the district would have been
hopelessly divided and, probably, defeated.
In addition TO this was the action of the
county committee, and the county conven-
ton in Rutland county, four years ago. 1t
matters not what one or all of the commit
tee may have thought, the question is what
did they do }? Still more decisive is the
action of the recent republican state con-
vention, in promptly voting down prop
osition authorizing the state committee to
fill any vacancies that might occur in the
| ticket.
Here then are three precedents, state,
district and county--and all one way.
But, says the organ of the usurpers, that
may be the way marked out in 1861 1872
and in 1876, but tie precedent is to be
found way back of all these years--nearly
u quarter of century ago. What is this
PRECEDENT Is it precedent for the
assumed authority of the present county
committee Not at all. The wings Of
the county, in 1854, we're unanimous fol
Jacob Edgerton for sheriff, but he declin
ed nomination, and William NJ. Field
was nominated by the convention. He &C
cepted, and, subsequently declining, The
committee, as they say, " tooh the liberty
of recommending Jacob Edgerton, al
though not authorized" so to do, "hopinf
that the freemen of the county will givt
him hearty support" Mark the differ
ence in the language of that committee ant
the present one. In 1854, they TAX
"Me H5erty' although &" not authorized.
They have no authority but venture to rec
ommend that the people vote for csndi
date known to be their general choice
The committee, this year, SAY they act Sun
der their authority" Where, pray tel
us, did they get it? The precedent the
quote is one where " authority" is express
ly disclaimed 1t is an "authority" agains
their usurpation.
So on the state ticket of that year, Osca
L. Shafter was nominated for lieutenah
governor, but, declining, the name of Ry
: land Fletcher was substituted. What ar
the facts? A wing state convention wa
held in Rutland in June, and in order
unite all of the opponents of the extensio
of savery-it was the year of the Kansas
Nebraska act-Oscar l.. Shafter, an abol
ZIONIST or flee soiler, was nominated fc
lieutenant governor, but, being about
leave the state, he Immediately and and b
fore the adjournment ofMe convention d,
clned the nomination. Inasmuch as
4" free soil convention" had been called |
meet at Montpelier July -, and in IL
hope that Stephen Royce, the whig cand
date, and suitable candidate for lieutenal
:, governor would there be nominated, so tn,
q a ticket would be thus agreed upon 0
which all could unite, the filling of the Vi
, cancy was deferred until after that CONVEX
ton, and the matter was left, after full di
. cussion and consideration, in the hands
the state committee.
The free soil convention was held an
General Ezekiel p. Walton of Montpelit
father of the present e. p. Walton-w,
nominated for governor, with Rylan
Fletcher for lieutenant governor. Corr
spondence ensued, General Walton promp
;, y declined the gubernatoral nomination
and the wing state committee, after SON
: delay, adopted the nomination of Rylan
Fletcher, as they had full authority to d.
aud Stephen Royce was elected govern,
> and Ryland Fletcher lieutenant governo
' being the first republican state office
elected IN the mon.
. Thus precedent, as well as reason, o.
% opposed to the validity Of the action of II
. present county committee; and we shou
suppose that very small modicum of con
mon sense would be enough to enable the
> to see that their position is not tenabl
. Grant their position, and we might as We
go step further and allow these commi
tees to make all nominations and, pc
haps, as nominations are generally equiv
lent to an election, 30 amend the constit
. ton and laws as to give them the so
:. power of electing and appointing men
t, office. This power over nominations |
r. we presume, what is sought, as one of Il
members of the county committee, or b