Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-27
The Republican Party.

learn WISDOM. IL. a. QUITTING, M. ~
The Republican Party.
ITS ORIGIN AND NAME-oENERAL EZEKIEL
p. WALTON.
A correspondent of the New York Evening Post
Of September 14th asserts that the credit Of the
origin Of the Republican party is due to the anti
slavery men and liberty party, and especially to
OF free-soers and anti-slavery men, |
met at Kalamazoo Michigan, on the 18th of June,
1854 which proposed party consisting of all
men opposed TO the slave propaganda, to be
named Republican. This was followed by con-
yentions on the 18th OF July, 1854, (the anniyer-
sary of the ordinance Of 1887 for freedom in the
northwest territory,) in Ohio, Indiana Illinois and
Wisconsin, all Of which adopted the name Repub- |
iican The same name was adopted in Vermont |
and on the same day, at the suggestion OF the
late Charles X. Field and sundry Of his old Demo-
cratic associates. in Windham county. It is, Of
course, true that the Republican party originated
in the ant-slavery sentiments Of the people, but
we must go far back of 1854 for the origin The
first anti-savery petition to congress was from the
Quakers OF Pennsylvania; but back of that was
the first anti-slavery supreme law in America, to
wit: the constitution Of Vermont, adopted in con-
vention at Windsor in July 1y77. AT that period I
slavery existed in every American state, Vermont
even having few slaves; but the first article OF
the declaration OF rights in the constitution eman
cfpated them all, and in 17S6-three years before
the organization of the government OF the United
States-the legislature of Vermont passed ian
act to prevent the sale and transportation OF ne
groes and mulattoes out OF this state"
f.t..
Republican party of the nation, think i. is my
right and duty to claim that the honor belongs to
the last state convention Of the Wings OF ver-
mont, holden at Rutland on the 7th of June, 1854
This was eleven days before the convention at
Kalamazoo, and | think antedates every other
movement for the formation Of the Republican
party. By the convention at Rutland a commit
tee on resolutions was appointed, consisting OF
L. p. Walton, Jr, Thomas Hale, James ii. Bar
rett, L. B. Whiting and o. H. Plat. As chair
man, drew a series OF resolutions, which strongly
denounced the pro-slavery projects of that day.
invited union against them of all men, ire
spective Of party affiliations, and proposed a ma
tional convention Of men Of like sentiments Two
Of these resolutions are to the point and were as
follows:
Resoired, That hereby invite the cooperation Of all
eemen Of Vermont who agree with us IN the principles
them our cooperation in the cause Of freedom, and offer
ing our confidence to those who connde in us
people OF all other states who are disposed 10 resist the en-
croachmens and the extension Of slavery by all practicable
and constitutional neans and In case national cOnven-
ton shall be called TO consider the subject,
mend the appointment OF two or more delegates from
each congressional district TO represent Vermont such
convention.
These resolutions were first submitted to Ryland
Fletcher OF Cavendish, afterward governor, and
the late Hon. Lawrence Brainerd Of st. Albans,
who were not members Of the convention, but
present as interested spectators. Having received
their approval, the resolutions were reported, sup
ported in able speeches by Hon. William Weston
Rev. DIR. John Wheeler, Hon. Anson Allen and
Edward Kirkland, Esq, and "were adopted
unanimously and followed by three cheers
The promulgation of these resolutions was fol-
lowed Immediately by call for IA state conven-
ton at Montpelier OF call persons who are in
favor of resisting by all constitutional means the
usurpations OF the propagandists of slavery"
July 4th was first fixed ~ the day, but it was
changed to the 18th, on which day resolutions
were adopted in harmony with those Of the whig
convention, the name Republican was adopted for
thenew party, and state ticket nominated, at the
head Of which was my father-the late General
Ezekiel p. Walton. | was not a member of the
Montpelier convention, believing that it was best
| for those who took part in the Rutland conven-
| tion not to interfere. My father, however, was
| member Of the convention at Montpelier, and i'm
| mediately on receiving the nomination for gov
ernor he went to the Wing state committee, which
was then in session. and put himself in their hands
| Doubtless other nominees did the same thing with
their respective committees and the result, on
| the meeting of the two committees, was the for
nation Of the first Republican ticket for state
officers which was triumphant at the September
| election of 1854
The proper allusion above to my father leads
| me to state two facts which never have been made
public They SO clearly show the self-sacrificing
| habit, for which he was remarkable in all public
and private matters, that think due respect for
and justice to his memory warrant me in stating
them. On the death of Senator Upham it was
felt by some that my father, for his eminent po.
litca services, his character and abilities, ought
to be appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily
have reason to believe that Governor [Erastusl
Fairbanks was not unfriendly; but very impor.
tant nomination was pending in the senate
Judge Phelps was in Washington, and new
senator from Vermont might not arrive in time
| ior tne eiuerBency' tuuer lucso eAtrdoruinhIy
circumstances the governor commissioned Judge
Phelps, west side man, to fill an Office which
by the common law of Vermont, belonged to the
east side OF the Green Mountains. In 1853 the
legislature was unable to ill the vacancy, and in
| 1854 it was found that an arrangement to elec
the Hon Lawrence Brainerd for the vacancy, and
the Hon. Jacob Collamer for the full term would
be surely successful. On being apprzed of this
my father refused to be candidate for the va
cancy, both out Of regard to Mr. Brainerd ant
special friendship for Judge Collamer, whos'
election he believed would be OF the highest i'm
portance to the state and the nation, as indeed i
was Thus, for the second time, an east sid,
seat was given to west side and very worthy
man
Possibly some may think that it is not yer,
modest in me to promulgate matters in which my
father and myself were somewhat prominent
My answer is that record of events worthy o
being esteemed historical ought to be preserved
ELIAKM p. WALTON.