The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-08
Honor to whom HOnor.O

Edttor Wdtchnldn:-l was greatly inter-
ested in reading an article in the Burlington
Free Press Of February %, from the pen of
Hon. l.. e. Chittenden, formerly of Burling-
ton, but now of New York, giving some
"reminiscences of the Free Soil uprising in
this state during the memorable presiden-
tial campaign of 1913. After graphically
describing the political situation in the
country at the close of the Mexican war,
and the base surrender of the democratic
party to the behests of the slave power in
the nomination of Lewis Cass for the pres-
dency, on a platform which denied to con-
gress the power to prevent the extension of
slavery over territory now free, Mr.. Chit
tenden comes down to the assembling of the
democratic state convention at Montpelier
in the summer of 1848, and gives a striking
pen-piCture OF the scenes there enacted in
revolt against the candidate and platform
OF the national party. Mr. Chittenden was
a recalcitrant, and he says he soon found
that other delegates were of the same tenn
per, notably the late Charles d. Kasson of
Burlington He says:
with Kasson promptly decided that IL
the convention committed itself in favor of
squatter sovereignty, and against the Will
mot proviso, we would leave it, and raise
the standard of free soil. We consulted
with other delegates and invited them to
join us in the revolt. We found
only four who were willing to unite in he.
roic measures. These were Edward ID.
Barber of Middlebury, Charles l. Walker and
Charles X. Field of Windham, and A. j.
Rowell of Orleans county. The
six members referred to had a conference
in Montpelier the evening before the con-
vention. We agreed to go into the conven-
ton after we had notified the state commit
tee OF our purpose to withdraw IL the de-
sign OF adding the new planks 10 the plat
form were persisted in. At ten
o'clock the convention was called to order
nd
ization ard the committee on resolutions
we were, as we had anticipated, excluded
The last-named committee met in a corner
OF the hall; the resolutions which had been
prepared by authority were Immediately re-
ported to the convention. They were anti.
proviso, and pro-squatter-soverei in
their most repulsive form. !" arose
to make my first, my last, and my only
speech in democratic convention.
When took my seat there was for some
moments an oppressive silence, followed at
last by what appeared to be burst of gen.
uine applause. But an ancient
democrat, whose mind was impervious to
argument, then arose and observed that as
the boy had spoke his piece, we might as
we'll proceed TO business OF the convention
No one else spoke. There was subdued
affirmative vote and sharp No from the
six to the resolutions. We did not challenge
the vote, the chairman declared the reso-
Aa'ASio SotAAOui ohi tuc OppOSihlOu party Vi
six walked out of the convention. There
was an effort to raise hiss. 1t failed; and
we took our departure In a profound
and unbroken silence. We crossed
the street to the Pavilion hotel, entered
the room we had occupied, and closed the
door. Barber was requested to take the
chair, and Rowell to act as secretary.
Field arose, saying he had a motion
to make which he had committed to writ
ing. He was brief but comprehensive. i
move he read, that we organize a new
party to be called the Free Soil party:'
that its platform shall be uncompromising
resistance to the extension of slavery or the
slave power; that we select state commit
tee OF five persons; that we establish a
weekly newspaper to be published in Bur
hngton, and called Free Soil Courier; that
we assess ourselves for money enough to
pay for publishing four numbers that we
name Its editors; that the first number be
issued az early as 1t can be prepared, and
that II contain our address to the people of
Vermont There was no discus
sion, for the motion was drawn after con-
sultation OF the previous evening. 1t was
passed at once, nem con-, and the first Free
Soil party formed in this republic and out of
the loins OF which came the most effective
political organization witnessed by the
nineteenth century-the grand old republi-
can party-was organized Field
was then appointed TO write the address.
Edward A. Stansbury, an active, young,
anti-slavery wing, was in the hotel. He
was sent for, came, and after our action