Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
A LARGE AND HARMONIOUS GATHERING TIL
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.

PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
The Republican State Convention TO
choose four delegates at large to the Nation
al Convention at Chicago, was held at Mont
pelier on Wednesday, February a5th. The
evening trains of the day previous took to
the Capital some three hundred delegates
and Wednesday mornings trains added
about two hundred more, as well as
many lookers-on, the number of the latter
including not few well-known Republicans
The convention was held in the vestry of
the Methodist church, which was filled
to its utmost capacity. AT 1O:43 O'Clock
a. NJ the convention was called 10 order by
Hon Geo. W. Grandey of Nergcnnes, chair
man of the State Committee. Hon. George
Nichols of Mortified, Secretary of the State
Committee, read the call and also the roll of
delegates, which latter, after some minor
corrections, was adopted by the convention.
Gen Grandey, acting for the committee,
then nominated as president Hon. William
W, Grout, of Barton, and the nomination was
unanimously ratified by the convention.
Gen. Grandey further announced list of
vice-presidents- from each county-as
follows: J. Boynton of Addison, G. W.
Hartman of Bennington, Peter Buchanan of
II. Beattie of Essex, H. G. Edison of Frank
lin, j. p Ladd of Grand Isle, Harmon
Morse of Lamoile, William Paul of Orange,
E. p. Foster of Orleans, Ira c. Allen of Rut-
land, Heman Carpenter of Washington, j.
d. Wheat of Windham, c. II. Chap
man of Windsor; and three secrc-
taries-Warren Gibbs of Burlington, c.
NJ. Stone of St Johnsbury, W. w. Stick
ney of Ludlow.
The choice of these officers was ratified by
the convention and they took their seats on
the platform.
On taking the chair to which he was es-
corted, by the chairman's appointment, by
Col. George W. Hooker of Brattleboro),
Gen. Circuit addressed the convention as fol-
lows:
GEN. GRoUT's address.
Gentlemen Of the Conuention
Accept my thanks for this expression of
your confidence in calling me to preside over
YOUR deliberations.
You need not be reminded that the occa-
sion is full of interest. You are met to-day
for the purpose of taking the initial steps in
the selection, for another usual term, of the
chief executive officer of the Government
If this be high privilege it calls also for
the exercise of high qualities. The spectacle
of fifty millions of people. at regular inter
walls, and by regular and constitutional meth
DDS, themselves selecting the man they
would have TO rule over them, and that, too,
by system in which the willof the humblest
citizen has the same recorded weight as that
of the proudest and most influential, is GER
tainly novel and grand. tits full of interest 1t
has moreover, in the history of human gov
eminent no exact parallel. 1t is essentially
modern. 1t belongs tc this century and
this civilization.
The American idea of government has its
foundation in the proposition that all men
are equal before the law, and that all au-
thority and power is vested with the people :;
while in the administration of government
according TO the American idea, the rectitude
of the people themselves, their willingness
to always act upon that principle, is relied
upon. Indeed this assumption that upon the
whole man will be fair towards his fellow
man-will, in this business of government
be honest-is fundamental to our system.
This being so, it follows that if anywhere
i care not whether it be in Name or South
Carolina-in an attempt to ascertain the will
of the people, there be intimidation or vio-
lence in polling the vote, or fraud in counting
and returning it, it strikes directly at the
source of all power and authority under our
free system. 1t corrupts the stream at the
very fountain.
In this hour when the note Of preparation
is sounding along the line of the two great
parties into which the country is divided,
we cannot as party afford to occupy any
equivocal position upon this subject. Let,
then, there be written high on the Republican
banner. as rallying cry of the party: The
purity of the ballot box Appealing to the
moral sense of the country, let us demand
an unintimidated exercise of the elective
franchise, an honest count and true return;
and if the law already provides for the ballo,
box some safeguard against the hand of
violence land fraud, let us, like
that exemplary patriot Rutherford B. Hayes,
resolutely resist the removal of those safe
guards, though the supplies be cut off, and
like the United States Marshals to-day, let
us continue in the line of duty, though not q
dollar be appropriated for pay.
Some tell us that the mission of the Repub-
lican party Is ended. If judged by the
splendid achievements of the party one
might well exclaim, enough, enough! The
measure of its glory must be full. its career
must be complete.
Only think of the events which have been
crowded into the nineteen years during
which the Republican party has admins
tered the affairs of the Government Think of
the history which as people We have made
in those years then reflect that that record,
proud as it is, is but the record of the Re-
publican party. The party was confronted
at the very threshold of its existence with a
rebellion unequalled in modern times for its
magnitude and its malignlty; that very re-
bellion being brought forth from the defeat
and disappointment of political party that
had long controlled the Government. Yes,
political defeat and disappointment under the
name of secession was the serpent that laid
the egg that Matched rebellion but the Re-
publican party put it down, and such was
the clemency of the administration that no
political execution followed, and this to-day
must be regarded as one of the brightest
jewels in the Republican crown. Mean
while the party liberated 1000, 900 slaves
and remodelled the Constitution on the basis
of equal civil rights and manhood suffrage.
1t has managed finance in way
that has astonished the civilized world. 1t
has steadily upheld the National credit, over
coming every wicked scheme of initiation
and reputation, so that to day the grccnback
is as good as gold and our four per cent
bonds are at premium in our own market,
and are shipped to the old world millions at
a time. 1t has forever exploded the heresy
of secession and State rights. and has taught
the people by the terrible experience they
have passed through the necessity of a
strong central government that though We
may love our several States as we love our
homes, yet the American system recognizes
but one flag and one sovereignty This and
much more has the Republican party accom-
plishcd. But much yet remains to he done
before the country will enjoy the perfected
fruit of self government and until that
time there is work for the Republican party.
But we are met to-day to make Presi-
dent-and who is lie to be? Either Grant.
that great li:lle-man, whose presence. like an
avenging spirit, was ever at the fro.:t, with
out single backward step. from Donelson
to Appomattox or Sherman, that able
man who has ably executed the will of the
Republican party in the work of refunding
and resumption; or Blaine who has
warm spot in the heart of every Vermonter
or last but not least-really the greatest Of
them all-our own Edmunds, if we can
only make the country understand that we
can find so great man in 50 small n State
yes, Ednunds, who is foremost among his
fellows in expoundng our system of Govern
msnt AS one regulated by law one in which
as in ancient Sparta 1.-The laws command the
magistrates. and not the magistrates the
lawS at L-r---ssrnv 5uiur uIVInlty VIII
so shape the action OF the convention OF June
2d, as to give us this man as standard
bearer. That done and victory is assured.
Not Bayard not Hancock, not Thurman. not
Hendricks, not Samuel J. Tildcn, not the
evil one himself, not even the prince Of the
powers Of darkness, shall prevail against
him.
Hon. G. G.. Benedict Of Burlington moved
that committee on resolutions be appointed,
10 consist Of nine members.
Carried; and the chair appointed as such