The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-08

come the temporary editor OF the Courier
We then subscribed $50 each TO the publ.
cation fund, and adjourned In time for an
early dinner. Before the arrival OF the
daily stage for Burlington Qor Vermont had
no railroads them Field had completed his
address to the people. IL was read
amended, and adopted. | was named as
chairman and Stansbury as a member OF
the state committee, and we were author
lied to name the three remaining mem.
bers--two from the old whig, aud one from
the democratic, party. We never
paid our subscriptions to the Free Sol
Courier. On the first day OF June, STAINS
bury brought out the first number. 1t was
30 racy that the old hand-press upon which
1t was printed was kept running until Il
was wanted for the second number. Sub
scriptions for the twelve numbers to be
issued before the September election came
in 80 rapidly that the enterprise was a pay
ing one from the start As I write
after the lapse of forty-6ve years, the scenes
of that day come back to me with vivid dis.
tinctness Except myself, all the actors
have gone over to the great majority"
Now was a most deeply interested spec.
tator Of that historic scene, but my memory
fortified and refreshed by ample data in my
possession, prompts me to move material
amendment and enlargement OF the fore.
going record
The convention was holden the 18th day
OF July. A serious revolt against the nomi-
nation OF Cass, and the anti Wilmot Pro
viso platform on which he stood, was ap.
parent even before the convention as
sembled, and 1t assumed alarming proper
lions the moment that body was called to
order. 1t is safe to say that the scenes OF
excitement and turbulence there enacted
were never equaled in any like gathering of
the party, unless 1t was In that Of 1892.
Conspicuous among the malcontents were
Hon. S. s. Brown OF St. Adams, Hon. K.
ID. Barber OF Middlebury, Gen. s. H. Price
OF Windsor, Charles X. Field of Newfane,
and L. K. Chittenden of Burlington. OF the
latter our record says, "Mr. Chittenden, a
young attorney of no limited repute, made
a fine Wilmot Proviso speech perhaps the
best of the occasion" Messrs. Barlow of
Fairfield, Wires and Underwood Of Burling
ton, Noyes OF Morristown, and Eastman
and Spalding Of Montpelier took laboring
oar in support of Cass, while no one-not
even Dillingham;, the gubernatorial nomi-
nee OF the convention-presumed to defend
the platform on which he stood. He Oil
lingham) said "he doubted the propriety OF
General Cass' letter" denying the right of
congress TO restrict slavery, and naively adj
mitted that he crippled some in the act; but
II was no more than presidential candidates
had often done in answering the various in
quiries which are put to them" At GER
tain stages of the convention 1t seemed as
il the protesting party might carry the day
and they did so far succeed as to secure
the passage of Wilmot Proviso resolution
OF the most positive character; but upon the
question of ratifying the nomination of
Cass, discussion was stihed and the fierce
and boisterous spirit Of hunkerism carried
the day. Whereupon the remonstrants re-
tired in body, and the subjoined proceed
ings we're had
cat a meeting of delegates to the demo-
cratic state convention representing towns
in Franklin, Chittenden, Lamoille, Addi-
son, Orange, Windsor, Rutland, Benning-
ton, Windham and Grand Isle counties,
holden at Montpelier on the 18th of July,
inst, Luke r. Poland was appointed chair
man, and William w. White was chosen
secretary. The following resolutions were
passed unanimously:
"' ReSOlUed, That in the opinion of this con-
vention congress have the constitutional
power to prohibit the introduction of slav-
cry into the territories belonging to the
United States, in which slavery does not
now exist, while such territories remain
under the jurisdiction Of congress, and that
ii is the Imperative duty Of congress TO exercise
that po,oer Immediately.
Resolued, That the democratic party of
Vermont, by repeated resolutions OF state
and county conventions, stands Dledoed 10
oppose, by every legal and constitutional means,
the extension of slavery into any OF the ter
ritories of the United States now free, and
that zoe here reiterdte that PLEDGE
"On motion OF s. s. Brown, voted that a
convention of Free Soil democrats, and all
others opposed to the extension of slavery
into territory Of the United States now free,
be called to meet at Middlebury on the first
day OF August next, to make such nomina-
tions and to transact such other business
as shall be deemed advisable at that time.
"On motion, S. H. Price, e. D. Barber
and j. G. Haswell were appointed a COM
mittee to prepare for the signatures of the
members Of this meeting, an address to the
freemen of Vermont.
On motion, committee of correspond
ence was appointed, consisting of Z. ID.
Barber, Middlebury; l.. G. Kellogg, Ben
son; G. I. Walker, Saxtons River S. II.
Price, Windsor; Silas Wilcox, Bennington;
l.. K. Chittenden. Burlington; Jeptha Brad
ley, ST. Adams; j. M. Flint, Randolph, and
l.. P. Poland, Morristown.
After remarks by several gentlemen the
meeting adjourned
81. P. POLAND, Chairman.
"WM w. WHITE, Secretary"
To the foregoing is appended stirring adj
dress to the freemen of Vermont, dated
Montpelier, July II, 1S4S, in which, after
distinctly setting forth the general issue,
they say: And in the spirit of concession
due to the emergency of the crisis, as in
volvlng a great peril to the interests of
freedom and humanity, we are anxious, for
the purpose Of securing the great objects
above announced, to make common cause
with all the friends of those principles, we
therefore respectfully invite all the freemen
Of the state who agree with us in the prin-
ciples we have adopted to meet
US in mass convention at Middlebury on the
first day of August next, to make a state
organization, put in nomination a state
ticket, and take such measures with refer.
ence to the approaching presidential cleo
ton as may then seem best calculated to
promote the great object for which we pro-
pose to unite our councils and efforts"
The signers to this address are as follows:
s. 8. Brown, j. G. Haswell, l.. P. Poland,
William W. White. Charles Robinson. b.
Davenport. E. j. Bliss, Jeptha Bradley,
ID. r. Bogue, Zoroaster Fisk, Thomas
White, j. Emery, Charles d. Kasson, Ran
som Jones, L. e. Chittenden, ID. r. Potter,
III. b. Bogue, Isaac N. Soule, Jr., N. L..
Whittemore, H. b. Smith, Lyman Burgess
Ira Writers, l.. j. Dixon, John M. Morse.
<. ID. Barber, s. III. Price, Silas Wilcox,
j. Morse Flint. q. G. Clark, Alexander Rid
die, Jacob w. Conroe, Lemuel Grover, II.
s. Morse, Hazelton Lake, +. Cheny.
Another matter in which Mr.. Chitten.
den's memory must have led him astray is
in respect to the issuing OF the first number
OF the Free Soil Courier" as II did not an.
pear until August; also as to the co.opera-
tion OF MIR. A. j. Rowell in this democratic
bolt. as Mr.. Rowell was nominated the