Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-02

Vermont Politics in 1919
in an interesting article, which we copy
on another page from the New York Ind
pendent, Hon. l.. L. Chittenden describes
some of the notable events Of time of great
political excitement in this State. 1t was
forty-five years ego. The slavery question
vas overshadowing all other iseues. While
the people of Vermont were substantially
agreed in sentiment, being, as Mr.. Chitten
den says with few exceptions, opposed to
human bondage they were far from being
united on any question. During that sum-
mer tho summer Of 1913, four party or
CARNATIONS were in full blast in this State,
Three OF these were anti-slsvery in feeling
md declaration. The Vermont wings claim
ed that they were the eincerest and most
effective opponents OF slavery, having op-
posed the annexation OF Texas because it
would increase the area of slavery, and be-
ing committed to what they believed to be
the only practical measure OF opposition to
The purposes OF the Scuth--the scotchng
Of the snake by keeping it out OF the ter
ritories The Third" or "Libertyn party
men, believed tthemselves TO be the only real
simonpure anti-slavsry men, since they
favored the immediate abolition of slavery.
They had cast 1000 votes for Birney, four
years before, and 1000 votes for Lawrence
Breinerd for governor in 1871 The demo
Gratis were divided into two factions sym
pathizing respectively with the two warning
democratic factions in the State Of New
York, one OF which supported MIR. Cass for
president while the other callel-'Barn-
burners, " after the farmer who burned his
barn to get rid OF the rats-consisted OF fol-
lowers Of Martin Van Buren,, who hated
Cass because he had defeated his Wan
Buren, s) nomination for president in 1914
and paid him off by running against him in
lS4S on the Issue of the Wilmot proviso.
The Free Soil' democrats of Vermont,
whose organization as q party Mr.. Chit
tenden describes, were in accord with the
New York Barnburnera, and supported
Van Buren,, after he was nominated at Buff
falo on the 9th of August. The liberty
party and free soil democratic organizs-
tons in Vermont fused, just before the Sep
TENDER election, uniting on @. L. Shafter
for governor and giving him 10 900 votes
against 10, 500 for Paul Dillingham;, regular
democrat, and %, 100 for Carlos Coolidge,
whig. In the November election the votes
STOOD Fer Zachary Taylor, 90 1872; Martin
Van Buren,, 13, So; Lewis Cas-, 10, 94S.
Among the prominent free soil democrats,
not mentioned by Mr.. Chittenden, were
Luke 2. Poland, Stephen S. Brown of st.
Adams, B. Davenport of Brandon and s.
H. Price of Windsor.
We find by reference to the files of the
eention at which Mr.. Chittenden says ne
made his first and last speech in a demo-
cratic convention, met at Montpelier on the
18th OF July; and that E. d. Barber offered
resolution to tho effect that Congress had
the constitutional power TO prohibit slavery
in the new territories, and ought to exercise
it, and that it was Carried. The bolt of the
free soil democrats from the convention
took place upon the adoption of resolutions
in support of Mr.. Cass, as the national
nominee. 1t is barely possible that per-
sonel considerations combined with political
principle, in the case OF some OF them, in de
termining their course. Charles Kassou, for
one, had grievance. He was candidate
for the regular democratic nomination for
state senator that year; but was defeated in
the democratic county convention held In
June. He accepted anomination from the Fl so
soil convention, later, and polled larger vote
in the county than Rolfe, the ''hunker" can
ddate though not enough to elect him.
Charles X. Field was nominated for lieu
tenant-governor by the 'hunker' demo
Gratis, in the hope OF healing the impending
split; but he declined the nomination in q
published letter, in which he refused to be
the candidate Of party which could sup
port such ian unprincipled political hack
as Lewis Cass.
Mr.. Chittenden's memory Is slightly a.
fault in regard to one date. The frat mum
Der OF the Free Soil Courier was not
brought out on the first of June, but two
months later. 1t bears the date OF August
I'd, 1915 1t was printed in the Office o
the Liberty Gazette, the organ OF tho lib
erty party; and the last page OF the fire
number of the Courier was identical in con
tents and evidently printed from the sam
type as the last page Of the Gazette Of tha
week. Its editors were not announced til
the second number was printed, when tn
names of e. a. Stansbury and H. +. Chit,
tenden appeared at the head OF its column
as its editors. The Liberty Gazette wa
soon merged in the Courier. The Coltrie
lived for six years, when, upon the organ
ization of the republican party in Vermont
IL ceased to exist.