The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-12
THE STATE CONVENTION.

lhE olhlE Jun NENllUN,
The meaning of the word "precedent,
as used in the call for the republican state
convention, was explained in an article
which we republished from the Free Press
yesterday. The explanation is undoubted-
ly correct, but we fail to see how the ac-
ton of 1879 can be dignifed into "preco-
dent" There were then no congressional
districts in Vermont. 1t was a matter of
doubt whether we were entitled to ten or
only eight delegates. There was no man
ner in which delegates could be elected ex-
cept from the state at large and even in
this state of facts, it was deemed necessary
that the several committees, for the old
congressional districts, should concur in
the call. The convention was so called,
and, when assembled, IL appointed dele
gates at large but, if VIC remember cor
rec,ly, did not assume to appoint the re-
naming delegates. For this purpose, 1t
resolved itself into three district conven-
tions-one for each of the old congress
sional districts and composed solely of
delegates from the district-and these dis
trct conventions selected two delegates
each
To be sure these district delegates were
formally confirmed as delegates from the
state by the state convention, because, as
we have said, there were then no congres-
sional districts. The uncertainty which
existed in regard to the number of dele
gates to which Vermont was entitled, led
to the adoption of resolution of instruc-
tons, to the effect that the len delegates,
so chosen, should "csst such vote as the
- state may be entitled to in the national
convention in body" We trust that,
under the changed condition of affairs, a
resolution, perfectly proper then, will not
be deemed precedent" now. If we can
not select delegates that we can trust, if we
have no representative men representatives
of the intelligence and opinions of YER
mont-let us send one man, and figure
head at that, to vote sin body" This
voting sin body" has been too often used
in democratic conventions to stiille the
votes of individual delegates, and, under
the operation of the two-thirds rule, to
forestall the will and defeat the wishes of
the people, to be adopted as precedent
by the republicans of vermont-and yet if
one is precedent the other is.
We believe, as we always have believed,
that it lie the better course to elect all of
the delegates on one day and in the same
place ; and we can see no objections to the
same men representing this county, for in
stance, in both state and district conven-
tons. AS we took occasion to say, before
the state convention was called, fuller
and better representation can be obtained
by holding the state and several district
conventions in conjunction, than in diff
ferent towns and places. The difficulty,
however, with the convention, as called by
the state committee, is this. If the "pre-
"cedent is followed, the will of con-
gressional district may find no expression.
Surprising, for instance, that the first and
third districts should favor one candidate,
and the second another, would there not be
danger that the precedent" would compel
the election of delegates who would vote,
not as the republicans OF that district
wished, but as those Of the other districts
should determine We do not say that
this would be the result, but is there not
danger that such will be the case in Yer
mont, as we know it has been in other
states
Is there no! another danger The
"precedents," until 1872, have been for
the calling of separate conventions-and
that Of 1879, in one sense, was not con-
trary to these 'precedents, because, as we
have explained, there were no districts and
moreover, the committees of the old dis
tricts Joined in the call. If then, in the
case we have supposed or for any other
reason, district should be dissatisfied
with the delegates, and should elect others
at a regularly called district convention,
would not these delegates, under the "pre-
" cedcnte," be entitled to admission to the
national convention, rather than the So
called district delegates chosen by state
convention 2 1t might not make any diff
ference this year, it probably would not,
but is it wise or safe to make such "prece-
" dents ?"