Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-02
FREE SOIL PARTY OF VERMONT.
Its Earliest organization- Chapter Of
the Political History of Vermont by the
Hon. l.. T.. Chittenden, Registrar of tho
Tren.nrY Under President Lincoln.


1t Is April, 1S4S. The Mexican war is
ended Shall the territory which we made
the war to acquire-vast enough in itself
for a republic remain FREQ, or shall it be
surrendered to the domination of the slave
power? 4 @ Slavery was
cordially detested by the people of tho
Green Mountains. They inherited their
love of freedom from their ancestors. Like
Abraham Lincoln in his younger days, the
thought Of slavery made them uucomfort-
able. There had been very warm spot in
their hearts for the hunted fugitive ever
since revolutionary days, when Capt.
Ebenezer Allen, 'conscien tious that it is
not right in the sight OF God to keep slaves, "
gave to Dirah MATHS and her infant slaves
captured from the enemy, their deed of
eman cipation; and Judge Harrington de-
cided against the title of the slave master
because he could not show deed from the
original roprietor-Almighty God From
the day when the name of the State was
FIRST adopted no slave had been taken away
from Vermont against his will. The fugi-
tive who set foot upon her soil was from
that moment safe il he was not free. Her
north and south roads were underground
railroads. and there were few houses upon
them where the escaped slave was not pro-
vided with rest food and clothing, and as
sisted on his way There were democrats
who would send their teams to carry the
fugitives northward, while they themselves
walked to a convention to shout for Douglas
and resolve that slavery must not be inter
fered with In the States where it existed by
law.
Just about this time the democratic party
of the North gave way, and intimated its
willingness to make the concessions which
the Southern wing OF the party began most
openly to demand. Chief among these was
the rejection of the Wilmot proviso, and
the doctrine of "Squatter sovereignty"
The proximity of Missouri and Arkansas
would enable their temporary emigrants to
decide that slavery should be lawful in Kan
sas and Nebr aska; and the Instructions be-
ing removed from California and Now
Mexico, any one with half an eye could see
that the Missouri compromise would be
swept away, and the whole region west of
the Father OF the Waters would become
slave territory.
To such concessions there were many
Northern democrats who objected, and some
who answered: mo Never ~ Just then
the democratic State convention was called
to meet ct Montpelier and the leading demo-
cratic newspaper, published at tho State
capital, announced that the convention
would incorpora the new doctrines into
the democratic platform. The paper spoke
as one having authority, declaring that the
Wilinot proviso was violation of the fed
eral constitution.
l was one of the recalcitrant democrats,
and delegate from Burlington to that
convention. On the day 1t met l should
complete my 9Th year. | had been prnc-
tlcing at the bar somewhat over three years
and WAS lin my own opinion) much greater
constitutional lawyer than | have at any
time since been considered by myself or
other competent judges. | felt perfectly
qualified to discuss the constitutional ques-
ton involved in the provso. The more |
examined the authorities the clearer the
question seemed until | arrived at the con-
dition Of mind where | regarded this new
demand as a piece of cool impudence on the
part of the pro-slavery democracy.
found that other delegates to the con-
vention were of the same temper. One of
them was Charles d. kasson, a lawyer of
Burlington, and an elder brother of John
a. kasson, afterward Of Iowa The elder
kasson was as solid reliable and generous
cltizen and friend as ever existed. He was
removed by death only a few years later, a
loss felt not only by the circle of his per-
sonal friends but by the community.
With Kasson | promptly decided that il
the convention committed Itself in favor OF
Squatter sovereignty, and ag ainst tho Will
mot proviso, we would leave it, and raise
the standard Of free soil. We correspond
ed with other delegates and invited them to
join us in the revolt. Many Of the younger
democrats were like ourselves, indignant at
the new dictation. But when it came to the
question of leaving the party they dearly
aulI Wit
cuse.' We found only four who were will
| ing to unite in heroic measures. These were
Edward D. Barber of Middlebury, Charles
|. Walker and Charles X. Fold of Wind
ham, and A. j. Rowell of Orleans county.
Barber was great hearted man, full of fun
and frolic, but with a soul stirred to its
depths by any story Of cruelty or oppres-
sion. He was a born antislavery man.
Walker was an able lawyer, who shortly
after removed to Detroit, where he soon
became the leader of the bar. Field was a
lawyer of great natural ability, full Of q
grim humor and with tongue as sharp and
caustc as that of John Randolph. Rowell
was like Zsccheus, little Of stature, but
great in push and energy. The qualities of
the sixth party to the agreement were as
may hereafter appear.
The six members referred to had a con-
ference In Montpelier the evening before the
convention. We agreed to 60 into the con
/ ventiou after we had notified the State
committee of our purpose to withdraw
ii the design of adding the new planks to
I the platform were persisted in. Possibly
because | was the youngest, to me was as
signed the duty Of delivering our valedicto-
ry, and leading the revolt.
We called upon the State committee In
the morning, and were treated with con
tempt AT 10 O'Clock the convention was
called to order. From tho temporary and
permanent organization aud the committee
on resolutions we were, wo had anticipa-
ted, excluded The last named committee
met in corner of the hail, the resolutions
which had been prepared by authority
were Immediately reported to the conven-
ton. They were anti-proviso, aud pro-
squatter sovereignty, in their most repul-
slve form.
! arose to make my first, my last, and
| my only speech in a democratic convention
| | began with the statement that the resolu-
tons made the democratic party Of Yer
mont say that our free republic had not the
power to maintain its own freedom; that IL
| it was violation of the constitution In