Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-27
The State Convention

The State Convention
Was large and goodly gathering, number
ing some four hundred and fifty staunch
Republicans and including many men OF
prominence and high standing. Its charac-
Ter as Il body is of course best shown by
what it did 1t called to the chair, to pre-
side over its deliberations stalwart-in the
best sense of the term-Republican whose
opening speech showed that he shared the
unanimous sentiment of the convention in
favor of Senator Edmunds but who is also
willing, if there should prove to be no chance
of the Senator's nomination, TO take the
strongest candidate, be he Grant. Sherman
or Blaine. 1t nominated as delegates four
prominent Nermonters, three of them stall
wart Republicans, and all heartily for Ed
munds, and sent them, untrammelled by any
instructions, free to adopt al Chicago the
course which shall best secure the common
end. 1t adopted resolutions, one of which
expresses the general appreciation of Senator
Edmunds as pre-eminenily fit to he the
standard bearer Of the party and as the ilrst
choice of the State, and the others of which
reaffirm the devotion of the Vermont
Republicans to Republican principles,
their support of honest money,
honest elections, honest counts, true reform,
public economy and determination to main
e hut wi hnut
bitterness towards the South. This was in
brief the work of the convention.
The general harmony was marked. The
bitter anti Grant men had rallied pretty
strongly at Montpelier on Tuesday, and at
one time had decided TO offer and press an
anti-third term resolution. But as the dele
gates Toured in on Tuesday evening, and the
fate which surh a declaration would meet
became apparent, the purpose was aban-
doned. On the other hand, nobody was dis
posed to press any resolution committing the
convention to Grant or any other of the lead
ing candidates. The overwhelming deter
miuatioa was to express preference Tor
Senator Elmunds; hut 10 restrict the dele
gates by no instructions, and to take no atti-
tude which might embarrass them when
called to act in the National Convention
with the whole field before them.
A good many names had been mention
ed in the papers for delegates, and
almost every county had some favorite
to present 4 number Of the county delesa-
tions held meetings Tuesday evening to de
eide whom to support. Addison county was
a unit for Ex-Governor Stewart Franklin
county was almost equally unanimous Tor
Ex-Governor Smith. Caledonia county voted
10 present Judge Poland. Windsor and
Windham counties were for Mr.. Billings.
Windham county voted to present Col. Geo.
W. Hooker Orange county WAS for Col.
Mead. Bennington and Rutland counties
were divided as TO their respective choices.
Chittenden county was not very fully rep
resented, Tuesday evening, but held meet
ing next morning, after the delegates arrived,
and was generally favorable to Mr.. Benedict,
should he care u be candidate. On the
west side OF the State the various preferences
speedily simmercd down 10 harmonious
agreement to unite in the support of Govern
ors Smith and Stewart, and cordial ac-
quiesccnce in this action on the part of the
various gentlemen who had been talked of.
On the east side there was a general willing
ness TO accept Mr.. Billings. The sugges-
ton of jude Poland met with
good deal mere opposition, for obvious rea-
sons, .some Of which found expression in the
convention The elections of Messrs. Smith,
Stewart and Billings were made by acclama-
tion. The want of support for Judge Po-
land outside of his own county, becoming
apparent from the numerous expressions in
favor of other candidates, Judge Poland
Withdrew his name, and ballot decided the
remainin, question between Colonies Hook
er and Mead, in favor of the former.
The resolutions reported by the committee
on resolutions We're cordially received, and
the resolution subsequently, presented by
Judge Poland. in a7or Of a return to the old
plan of choosing all the delegates at the same
convention, was heartily approved. The
arguments in favor Of such a return appealed
strongly to the good sense of all. Here was
this large convention, with the districts all
well represented. Il had finished its work
before one O'Clock Several hours remained
before the delegates could leave Montpelier,
in which they might be selecting the district
delegates. Instead of that three more con-
ventions must be held in different parts of
the State, with preliminary caucuses in two
thirds of the towns in the State, at a heavy
aggregate expenditure Of time and money,
to do work which could just as well and
perhaps better have been done on the spot.
We have only space today to add that
Gen Grout presided with dignity, and to
the approval oil the convention and that the
delegates separated in good feeling and with
a general determination to maintain the har-
mony and spirit OF mutual concession of
prefcrenccs not involving important princi-
pies, which marked this occasion.