Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-23

Hon. Joseph Poland of Montpelier con-
tributes to the Watchman an interesting
communication, elected by tho article Of
Hon. J.. +. Chittenden, recently copied in
the FREE Press, giving his recollections of
the free soil uprising In this State in 1S4S.
Mr.. Poland makes .ome important additions
to and corrections OF Mr.. Chittendcns rem
iniscences, as follows:
The democratic State convention was
holden at Montpelier the 18th day of July.
serious revolt against the nomination of
Cass and the anti Wilmot proviso platform
on which he stood, was apparent even b,-
fore the convention assem- 5led, and it as
sumed alarming proportions the moment
that body was called TO order. IT. is safe to
say that the scenes Of excitement and tur-
buience there enacted were never equaled
in any ike gathering OF the party, unless it
was in that OF lS9+ Conspicuous among
the malcoutents were Hon. s. ). Brown OF
st. Adams, Hon. L. d. Barber OF Middle
| bury Gen. S. Ii. Price of Windsor, Charles
! X. Field of Nswfane, and l.. Il. Chttendsn
| OF Burlington. Or the latter our record
says: "Mr. Chttenden, young attorney of
! no limited repute, made tine Wilmot pro-
| viso speech-perhGps the best CT the occa-
sion. Messrs. Barlow OF Fairfield, Wires
Morristown, aud Eastman and Spalding of
Montpelier took laborrng oar IN support
OF Cass, while 20 one-not even Dillingham;.
the gubernatorial nominee of tho con-
vention-presumed 10 defend the plat
| form on which ia stood. lie Dbl
inghanJ said 'hs doubted the propriety OF
! Gen. Cass' letter. denying the right OF
| Congress to restrict slavery, aai nalvely
admitted that lie "crippiedsorns in the act;
| but IL was no more than presidential can
didates had often done in answering tbs
| various inquiries which are put to them"
At certain stages of the convention it
seemed as If tho protesting party might
0.rry the day-and they did SO TAR succeed
Us TO secure the passage OF Il Niimot pro-
vIso resolution of the most positive charac-
ter; but upon the question of.retifylng the
nomination uf Cass discussion was stltied,
and the fierce and boistsrous spirit or
hunkerism carried the day. Whereupon the
remonstrauts retired in body, and the
subj oined proceedings were had:
| AT a meeting of delegates to the democrat
| &c STATE convention, representing towns III
franklin ,Nhlttehden, LamoiIIe, Addison,
! Orange. Windsor. Nutiand, Bennington,
! Windhsm amt Grand lso counties, holden at
| Montpelier on the nth OF july inst, Luke T..
| Poland was appointed chairman, and William
| w. White was chosen secretary. The follow
! ing resolutions were passed unanimously:
'R6sotrcd, That in tho opinion OF This con.
vention Congress have the constitutional
power TO prob bit The Introduction or slavery
| INTO the Territories belonging to the United
States in which slavery does not now exist,
while such Territories remain under the juris-
diction of Congress, and that it is the impera-
tive duty OF Congress to exercise that power
Immediately.
| 'ReSolred That the democratic party Of
J Vermont. by repeated resoIut ons OF state and
| county conve .tlons, stands pledged to oppose,
10y every legal and constitutional means, the
all lf al tlsa Of I.rr tf.ria
of the United States now free, and that We
here reitsrate that pledge
On motion Of :. ;. Brown, voted that a
convention Of free soil democrats. and all
others opposed to the extension of slavery into
territory Of the Uni ed states now free, be
called to meet at Mlddlebury on the first day
of August next, to make such nominal ions
and TO transact such other business as shall
be deemed advisaoIe at that time.
ION motion, :. ii. Price, r. ID. Barber and
j. {. Haswell were appointed a committee 10
prepare for the signatures of the members OF
this meeting, an address 10 the freenen of
Vermont.
ON motion, COMMITTEES OF correspondent &C
was appointed, consulting of t.. ID. Barber,
MddleOury; l.. G. Kellogg, Benson; G.. J.
Walker, Saxtons River; =. Ii. Price, Windsor
Silas Wilcox, Bennington; l.. L Chittenden
burlington; Jeptha Bradley. st. Adams; j. VI
Flint, randolph, and l.. l.. Poland, Norris
After remarks by several gentlemen the
meet NJ adjourned.
n. =. POLAND, Chairman.
"WM. w. WHITE secretary"
To tho foregoing is expended stirring
address to the frsemon OF Vermont dated
Montpelier, July II, 1918, in which, after
distinctly setting forth the general issue,
they ,ay: "And in the spirit Of concession
due to the emergency Of The crisis, as IN
volving great peril to the interests Of free
dom and humanity, we are anx ous, for the
purpose OF securing tho great objects aoov,
announced, TO make common cause with al
the friends OF those principles we therefor.
respectfully invite all the frssmsn OF th,
State who agree with us in the principls
we have adopted = to mest US II
q mass convention at Middlebury, on the frs
day of August next, TO make a State or
| ganizatioD, put In nomination a Stats
D tcIet AMI take such measures with refer
' encs to tho approaching presidential election
' al may then seem bsst calculated to promot,
= tbs great object for which we propose &c
[ unite our councils and efforts -
Tue signsrs to this address are as follows
v S, S. Brown, j. G. Haswel, l.. p. Poland
q William W. White, Charles Robinson, b
r Davenport, L. j. Bliss, Jeptha Bradley