Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-20
Twenty-ffth Anniversary Of the Republican
Party.

lie lNtDuDutuUS vi tAt PiN
pairing to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniver-
sary Of the formation of the Republican party
in that State, which came into being al
Worcester on the 10Th of July, 1854. As has
been repeatedly demonstrated, Vermont was
4 tritle ahead of Massachusetts, convention
adopting the Republican name having been
held at Montpelier on the 18th of the same
month Michigan, it is said, was little ear
lier still in the field, her first Republican con-
vention having been held week previous to
Vermont's 9th, 1854. Col. II. ID. Hop
kins, in letter TO the Boston Journal, thus
recalls the facts of the Inauguration OF the
Republican party in Vermont
During the early part of July, 1854, pa
pers were put in circulation throughout the
State for signatures calling a mass CONVEX
ton of ali persons who are in favor OF re-
sisting by all constitutional means the unsur
patton of the slavery propagandists, to be
held at Montpelier July Is. The call was
signed by hundreds of voters, and the con-
vcntion was held in the capacious Representa-
tives' Hall of the State House, which was
packed to repletion with large, Intelligent
and enthusiastic audience of the honest free
men of the State. Hon Lawrence Bainerd
of St. Adams, an old Liberty party man,
and one of the immortal three hundred and
nineteen in Vermont who voted for Birney
in 1910, was chosen president Among
those who took active part in the proceed
ings of the convention were Daniel Roberts of
Bennington county, then and now one of the
ablest lawyers of Vermont /; E. p. Walton,
ST., lifelong Wing Ferrand +. Merrill,'a
prominent lawyer and an experienced legis-
iator, Wing J. $. Adams, a young
Democrat from Burlington and one OF
the ablest young men Vermont ever
had; Ryhnd Fletcher, another of the old
Liberty Guard, and aftcrward Governor of
the State Hon. VIM. NJ. Pingry, prom
inent citizen of Windsor county, and f. ID.
Barber, ESD, of Middlebury, from the Dem
ocratic 10y. The venerable VIM. c.
Brady, member of Congress from 1923 to
1927 wrote Il letter to the convention favor
ing the formation of new party to resist the
further entertainments of slavery, which
awakened much enthusiasm. Messrs. Adams
of Burlington and Merrill of Montpelier were
the fist two names upon the Committee on
Resolutions. The resolutions were an indig-
nant and powerful arraignment of the slave
power and an eloquent and forcible protest
against its further encroachments. Their
adoption was urged by Mr.. Brainerd and Mr..
Adams and others in pungent, telling
speeches.
The convention put forth the following
ticket TO be supported by the freemen of the
State at the ensuing election, TO wit for
Governor, Gen. f. L. Walton of Montpelier
for Lieutenant Governor Ryland Fletcher
of Proctorsvile, and for Treasurer, Henry NJ
Bates of Mortified. As to the matter of a
name for the new party of freedom, Hon
Thomas f. Powers of Woodstock moved
that it be called Republican, and it was so
voted, amid enthusiastic cheering. So you
will see that if The Journals right as against
its correspondent, we can rightly claim prior
ity in christening the newborn party by at
least six days. To he sure, not all the old
stagers took handily to the name, and
throughout the campaign the names OF Wing
and Free Democracy were quite common.
Let me go back and give a little other his |
tory On the eth of June preceding this con-
vention the Wings held their convention at
Rutland Their gathering was large and en-
thusiastc. +. p. Walton, Jr., was Chair |
man of the Committee on Resolutions, and |
the series reported by him on that occasion |
were remarkable for their pith and point. |
The speeches by Hon. Alva Sabin, member |
of Congress from the third district Rev. |
DR.. Wheeler and others, were in hearty accord |
with the spirit of the convention and the
times. Hon. James Meacham, NJ. c., from
the First District, sent letter, every line
of which rang with protestations against the
encroachmerts of slavery. The convention
nominated for Governor Hon. Stephen
Royce OF East Berkshire; for Lieutenant
Governor Oscar l.. Shafter, ESQ.,, of Town
shend, and for Treasurer, ii. NJ. Bates of
Mortified. Mr. Royce had been lifelong
Wing, and Mr.. Shafter was prominent
member and favorite of the Liberty party.
In nominating him TO the second place on
their ticket the Wings recognized the gen.
eral demand and showed willingness to
with the Abolition party.
Both conventions, according to custom,
their State Committees to fill any
vacancies which might subsequently occur
in the respective tickets. Mr.. Shafter was
iway from home ut the time ofhis nomina-
ion, and declined it soon after returning,
md the Wing State Committee substi-
uted the name of Ryland Fletcher,
he Republican nominee, instead. General
Walton declined the Republican nomination
or Governor six days after the convention,
md Judge Royce's name was made to fill
he vacancy. Judge Royce, in accepting the
lomination, spoke Of :. a. tho r-c,,'. "s tho
lctionN the Republican party Conven-
ion. Thus the Republican party antcipa-
ed and preceded the Republicans in all
,ther States They were first in the field
With full State ticket, and on the first
Tuesday following they won the first Repub-
lean victory in the country, and elected their
icket by mon than II 900 majority. From
hat day TO this they have maintained their
scendency With an case and certainty
which they would like TO transmit 10 their
brethren in other States. At the session of
he Legislature the autumn following, Hon.
lawrence Branerd, the President of the first
republican Convention was chosen TO the
United States Senate, TO fill out the unex-
tired term of Hon. Samuel S. Phelps, de
eased. ,