Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-25
AN ELECTION 80 YEARS AGO.

AT Jne session OF Jle vermont leRlSla-
ture that cOnvenes Wednesday, the So Of
October, there will be only II Demo-
Gratis intead of 81 two years ago. In
eight of the towns making a choice of a
Democrat the gubernatOrial vote shows
at the least plurality for the Republi-
can candidate. Elections in Vermont
are usually straightforward. and no sus-
picion of trickery or intrigue attaches to
the conduct of each party. But an cleo
ton was once carried in the State by
measures which were vigorous at least,
and although under the full sanction of
the law, the occasion excited wide
spread comment and interest as the first
of its kind ever witnessed in this coun-
try. 1t was during the second war with
great Britain, when under the stress of
the embargo and other conditions, the
federal party which was opposing the
war, grew to such proportion in the
State that Vermonters, who were hot for
the second fight with the mother country,
feared that it would control the State
election in September of the following
year. 1t was more especially possible
from the fact that large proportion of
the supporters of the war, were with the
army in the field and would not be home
to vote. In view of this fact, the legis-
lature of 1872 passed law providing that
any freeman of the State, in the service
of the United States as an officer or SOL
dier, might vote for State officers or
members for Congress in any town in
the State he might happen to be in, on
his proving his citizenship to the select
men and justices of the peace.
The law slumbered peacefully away
until the next fall when United States
Senator Jonas Robinson, who was then
at his home in Bennington, wrote to Ma
ior General Wade Hampton, then COM
manding the United States forces in this
State. Among other things he said:
"We consider it rather improbable that
the soldiers under your command will
march out of this State until after the
4th Of September next, and the legisla-
ture having provided by law, that all
soldiers, who are freeman in the State,
should have right to vote in any town
in the State where they should be sta
toned; our friends here who are lead
ing characters, believe that the exercise
of their franchise as freemen will decide
the election for governor and one branch
of the legislature.
Those who have enlisted being princi-
pally Republicans, we haYe to solicit sir
from your clemency that every facility
may be given for the soldiers on that day
to leave the camp by companies and re.
pair to the neighboring town to give in
their votes. Through this medium is
our only hope of preventing the State of
Vermont from becoming one of the east
ern confederacy sgainst our govern
ment."
December 18th, 1912, the following or
der was issued at Burlington by the
colonel of the 18th regiment. 'All the
officers of said regiment that are free
men Of Vermont and all others that have
right to take the oath, are requested to
attend the freemans meeting at the court
house at II o'clock this day, in order to
choose a representative to Congress-"
As a consequence of all this, the Re-
publican ticket (Sons of Liberty) re-
ceived majority but little over 200, and
it is undoubtedly true that its success
was due to the return of the soldiers to