Morning journal and courier., 1893-10-06
VERMONT NOTES.

VERMONT NOTES.
Genesis of the ssFree soir' Party
Origin of tho Republican Party
".
There was s'blood on the moon" in April,
1846. The Mexican war was over, and
both political parties were beginning to
ask, ''Shall the territory acquired by the
war remain free, or be surrendered to the
slaveocraoy|
1t was supposed that the Wilmot proviso,
which declared that slavery should not |
exist there, had settled this burning ques- |
ton. But the democratic party had fallen |
into the hands of the slave power, and 1t
began to be limited that the Wilmot proviso |
was to be repealed, and 'Squatter Sover-
eighty" established In its stead. Whispers
from the south of stringent fugitive
slave law, which should enable the slave
owner to ''call the roll of his slaves under
the shadow of Bunker Hill monument"
also began to be heard, and it was gravely
proposed that the principles of the decision
in the bred Scott case should be migrated
into the democratic platform.
The feeling against slavery has always
been intense in Vermont. In the Revolu-
ton Captain Ebenezsr Allen gave deed
of emancipation to slave woman and her
infant, captured from the British, because
1t was mot right in the sight of God to
keep slaves" A Vermont judge decided
against the title of the slave master, be-
cause he 'could not show a deed from the
original proprietor-Almighty dodl"
From the day when the name of the state
was first adopted, no slave had been taken
away from Vermont against his will. The
Underground railroad" had many sta
tons and branches in Vermont There
were democrats who would tend their
trains to carry runaway slaves Canada
Douglas convention, and s'resolved" that
slavery must not be interfered with In the
states where 1t existed by law.
At this time the democratic party passed
under the yoke of the slave power, and be-
gan to talk Of concsding all that the
southern wing of the party now openly
demanded. Just then the democratic
convention WAS called to meet at Mont
pelier, and the leading democratic papers
would oe incorporated into the party plat
form.
One "recalcitrant" democrat who had
no ''dough" in his "face," resolved that he
would not submit to the new policy. His
name was L E. Chittenden*. He was q
lawyer, member of the convention. and
had just completed his twenty fourth year
He found that another delegate to the
| convention felt as he did. He was Charles
D. Kasson, an elder brother of John A.
Kasson, afterward of Iowa. The two re-
| solved that if the convention should COM
NIT itself to the pro slavery program, they
| would leave 1t and raise the standard of
free coil They found, after strict search,
| four others who were willing to unite in
heroic measures. These we're Edward D.
Barber, Charles I. Walker, CHARLES K
Field and A. J. Rowsll.
| The six ''recalcitrants" had conference
| in Montpelier the evening before the con-
vention. They agreed to go into the con-
| vention after notifying the state commit
tee of their purpose to Withdraw If the OBJ
noxlous, proslavery planks were added to
the platform. To Chittenden was assigned
heading the revolt
In the morning they called on the state
scommittee and were ttspurned with con-
tempt from the foot of the throne" The
convention assembled, and the obnoxious
resolutions were reported. Chittenden
aroee and announced that if they were
passed he and hts associates would leave
the hall and the democratic party forever,
unless it should be redeemed from its
present vassalsge and returned to its form
er principles and dignity"
This ''incendiary" speech was followed
for some moments by an oppressive silence
and at last by burst of genuine applause.
| An ancient "moss- back" democrat, OF
this "brass mounted" order, then arose and
observed that as 'the boy had spoken his
piece we might as well proceed to bust
nees." The resolutions were put; there
was a subdued affirmative vote and SHARP
"No" from the six ''conspirators." The
Opposition party" of six walked out Of
to raise hiss. 1t failed, and they tool
their departure in profound and unbrok
en- silence.
+ They crossed the street to the Pavilion
hotel, entered their room and 'tyled thu
door," Barber was requested to take thu
chair and Rowell to act as secretary
Field arose and offered the following mo
ton: 81 move" he read, "that we organ
izs a new party to be called the Free
Soil party; that Its platform bs uncompro
missing resistance to the extension Of
slavery or the slave power; that we selec
state committee of five persons; that We
establish a weekly Newspaper to be pub
lished in Burlington, called the Free Sol
Courier; that we assess ourselves fol
money enough to pay for publishing fou,
numbers; that the first number be
issued as soon as possible; and that 1t con
tain our address to the people of Yer
mont"
The motion was passed nem con, anc
thus was the first fres soil party of thu
United States, out Of the loins of which
came the most effective political organiza
ton of the nineteenth century-the granc
old republican party.
Field was appointed to write the ad
dress, and Edward A. Stansbury, an anti
slavery WING, was selected as temporary
editor of the Courier. Each subscribed
$50 to the publishing fund, and an ad
journment was had for an early dinner
The address to the people was completed
by Field before the arrival of the daily
stage vermont had no railroads them
Chittenden was named as chairman anc
Stansbury as a member of the state com
mittee; and they were authorized to name
the three remaining members-two from
the old whig and one from the democratic
party. 4ss
Forty-fve years have passed and all thi
"conspirators' but Chittenden have goa,
over to the silent majority.
In my next I will give the remainder o.
the history of the movement, and the sub
sequent organization of the Van Bure1
free soil party at Buffalo in August, 1948
A, N L.
| ~Much Of the material for this sketch Ia cullet
| from delightful article by Hon. L. e. Chitten
| den, ex-registrar Of the treasury
THE OH RYSAN THEMUM CLUB
To Give an exhibition at Harmo ME
Hall Nnven1 her q. 10
The Chrysanthemum club of this cit,
has decided to give an exhibition of chry
santhsmums this fall and the arrangement,
for the exhibition have been partially DOM
plsted. The exhibition will open in Har
monte hall November 8, and continue fo
three days from 10 q N. to 10 p. m.
The custom of devoting the proceeds t,