Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-31


CORRECTION OF SOME SPRINGFIELD REPuBLI-
CAN MISREPRESENTATION COUNTY
POLITICS.
The Springfield Republican, in its issue of
May oath, asserts that of the committee on
resolutions in the State Convention. two
were "anti-IIayes men," 1t adds: "sey-
mour was quite bitter against the Presi-
dent, but all the rest were for endorsement. "
The reference Is to Hon. Edward Seymour,
OF Nergennes,-one of the best citizens Of
Vermont, universally esteemed and respect
cd one OF the most courteous OF gentlemen,
always considerable and careful in his
speech, and never "bitter" against any one
Those who know him do not need to be
assured Of the fact. which is the fact, that
Mr.. Seymour was not quite bitter against
the President, in or out of tho committee.
lie has often expressed himself as firm in his
belief in the honesty and good motives of
President Hayes. though he may not have
been able always to approve all his actions.
In the committee on resolutions. Mr.. Sey-
mour. as We understand, expressed no
opinions in reference to the President I;
and tho only change or amendment suggest
cd by him in the platform (Which was chiefly
the work of the chairman of the committee.
Hon. Albert Clarke) was to add the words
land We believe justly" u tho statement
that the question of the Presidents title has
once been lawfully closed" Mr.. Seymour
had no conversation with Mr.. Griffin. who
represented the Republican at tho Conven-
ton and some have wondered how the lat
ter could have obtained so erroneous an i'm
preston of Mr.. Seymour's attitude in the
committee.
a correspondent, who appears to DO toler-
ably well informed, mentions the circum-
stance that Mr.. Griffin had long confab
with Hon. F. f. Woodbridge. of Yergennos,
and evidently surmises that it may have had
some connection with tho case. lie also
thinks that the matter is not without Con-
nection with Addison county politics. Mr..
Woodbridge was particularly anxious to be
a delegate to the State Convention but in
a caucus largely composed of the best bust
ness portion of Vergennes, and including a
number of Mr.. WoOdbridge's nelghbOrs and
personal friends, he received but fourteen
votes out OF iorty-,he fourteen including
every voter in Mr.. Woodbridge's family and
household, down to his coachman. Mr..
Woodbridge then made an unwise exhibi-
ton of disappointment, in speech in
which he declared himself as preferring
either Sprague or Merrill for Governor, said
that Col. Proctor was mot a man OF large
experience or of a single brilliant quality y
the implication being that he compared at
great disadvantage with Messrs. Sprague
and Merrill in these respects-and asserted
that the Convention would make its own
choice of Governor in spite Of the
papers. lie said he would have liked to
go to the Convention as q delegate, and
evidently felt very sore at his rejection.
lie has made, says our correspondent. some
other very injudicious speeches-as that he
would grind Mr. johnson, of the Vergennes
Vrm0nter. finer than powder" when he
got him under his heel-which does not ap-
pear to be the case at present. The true
inwardness of all this, our correspondent
suggests, may be found in the fact that
some parties arc using the Republican in an
attack on Gen. Srandey as Bank Exam
iner; and that Mr.. Seymour's friends are
talking Of sending him again to the State
Senate-a most proper thing to do. Mr..
Seymour, it is well known, has no desire to
return to the Senate: but his standing is 80
high and his position in the Legislature so
influential, that many Addison county Re-
publicans feel that the county could not do
itself more credit than BY renominating him.
Aspirsnts for the off ce-of whom there is
no lack-of course do not favor this idea.