Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-18
TIE FAMOrs $40 OF 1870

THE FAMOUS S19 OF 1870
VIII the press of Vermont kindly pub
lish this inquiry; Are there any survivors
of those i'm this State who voted the Lib.
crty Party" or anti-slavery ticket James
q. Birney for President in 1870?
Their number which afterwards became
famous in connection with the growth Of
the liberty party in Vermont was 3d.
They cast no vote at the State election
Of that year. and IL was very remarkable
That in the few weeks intervening to the
presidential cotton and on the great ex-
element prevailing between the whig ard
democratic parties that they should have
rolcd the first distinctive anti-slavery
vote in our state. With no State organ-
ization, 1t was really the spontaneous OK
preston of a few independent voters of
that day Among them there could rot
nave been one who had the reuGlest
thought that slavery in this country would
be abolished in a little more than two de-
cades. 1t is not probable there is living
to-day any Of that number. II is posi-
be that the late Hon. Daniel Roberts of
burlington was the last survivor Ii 30
happened that the writer hereof addrcs sed
and mailed a note of inquiry TO Mr. Rob
erts on this point, and. as it proved, the
note was written at the hour OF his death.
Later a member of his family kindly an
swcrrd the note but could not give the
desired Information, Nor could the Hon.
mer friend and partner of Mr. Roberts.
These circumstances favor the idea that
he may have been one of the 319 In $50
he was a resident Of Manchester. one
vote was cast for Birney ia that town
and he was one of those who had no fear
of voting alone.
Tie total official vote OF our s ate at
that election was, Harrison 22.440; van
Buren, 1901; Birney 3l9, and only scat
tering. This vote will be found in Wal
tons Vermont Register of 1871, and Is the
only presidential vote b. towns which |
row recall as ever having been published
in Vermont register Apparently there
are some errors as to towns but the Of
fetal canvass as to totals is no doubt cor
rect.
Mote than ono third Of the liberty party
vote vas polcd in the two counties of
Orange and Washington. I, and 65 respect
NcIy.The largest vote in any one town
was Randolph. %, but Brookfed gave Is
and STAFFORD Is. In Washington county,
Waitsfrld cast IS. Barre II, Waterbury 20.
FaYston <, ana Montpelier .. In olhe'
sections of the state Dorset gave T.
Shaftabury q Westford II, New Haven II.
Berkshire II, St. hlbans 10, WeynlCge ",
Londonderry g. Watervlle 2, PutneN l.
Brooklnc t. Mt. Tabor (. Low ell S, Albany
6, Barton s. Bethel 4. Woods oclI 3, num-
Der OF towns 2 to ) each. and 3 GOWNS one
each: in all IS towns wore represented.
slavery scntimei-, or liberty party, az II
vas called was rapid. and in the next
year. 1871. they cast 3C9l votes for Illus
Hutchinson OF Woodstock for governor,
5G22 for Shatt'r for governor in 1S44 but
could not quite reach that for Birney
against Henry clay for whor. Vermont
crs had grelt admiration In ls4N there
was a landslide in New England and Now
York of democrats and some wings TO the
free soil party. largely caused ny the Two
democratic factions in the latter state
known as Hunkers and Barn-Burners'
and in that year the free soile's IN YER
mont polled 13, S37 votes
j Preceding and fol owing this decade.
such men as John Quincy Adams OF Mas
saChusetts. William Slade OF vermont
Joshua K Giddings of Ohio and John +.
Hale of New Hampshire, were hShting
the nnti-slavery battles in Congress on
such questions as the Seminole war in
Florida, the Amistad slave case. the right
Of petition, etc.
have been led to the above inquiry and
Renaissance ny reading the proceedings
of a Free Soil reunion held last August
at Gree ntield Mass, for Franklin county
of that state. It appeared that this re-
union association was formed II years
ago with nearly go members. though only
II were present at their last meeting, and
this reminds me that the first political or
gHnizaton known as Free Sellers was
showing another advance step of the anti
slavery sentiment in Vermont 1t was In
1SiS that six delegates in the democratic
State convention at Montpelier boltei the
pro-slavery action of that body. They
were ed ny l.. f. Chittenden of Burling-
ton. The other five had chosen him Tor
that purpose. though the youngest, the
band. being only "a, and Handsomely, ef-
fectively and faithfully did he make the
spcech Of revolt. The six boilers were l..
+. Chttendon. Charles *. Field of New
. fame. Charles /. Walker of Bellows Falls.
| A. j. Rowell of Troy, +. u. barber Of
| Brandon ard G. d. X sson of Burlington.
After MIR. Chittendens speech tn gentle
mon Immediately retired to a room in the
Pavilion and there Mr.. Field moved the
/ organization of new party to be called
the Free Soil Party" his motion, which
was in writing further declaring uncom-
promising hostility to slavery and the
ways and means by which the pending
campaign should be conducted. The mo-
! ton was adopted unanimously, and thus
was first organized in Vermont the Free
Soil Party of the United States, as It an
tedated the National Free Soil convention
at Buffalo by several weeks. Tho above
named gentlemen are yet well rem mher-
ed by many now living, for their line ahlj-
tics fidelity and faithfulncss to principle
The Hon. l.. f.. Chittenden, register Of the
treasury department under Lincoln. Is
still a resident of New York city, author
of several interesting books, ana is the
OILY survivor
1t is announced that book is soon TO
b. published giving the origin. history and
promoters of the republican party Of New
England This means the Frcmonters of
1886, and here, too, Vermont will be found
"on the firing line" In 1854. several state
Moitpeiior the wings having held theirs
At an early daV in luna at Rutland. In