Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-14
A Couple of Old Letters.

We have received from william i, Baxter,
esq, 81 Ohicago, permission 10 copy couple
Of letters taken from his extensive collection
uf Vermont manuscripts, which are accord
ingly conied below, They relate TO the some
what stormy time In Vermont politics pre-
ceding the break up Of the Wing party, The
writer Of them Hon. Solomon Foot OF Rul'
land was in his day a leading figure IN yer
mont In his early manhood no was Tor
several years tutor In the University OF
Vermont. lie studied law, was admitted to
the Rutland county BAR represented Rutland
in the General Assembly In ls3I3o ana
1919 and was speaker for three terms,
1897, 3s and ~, He presided over the
immense Wing mass convention which met
In Burlington In the memorable hard cider
and log cabin campaign OF 1870, when
elected William Henry Harrison president
lie represented Vermont in congress for two
terms, 1897; and at the date Of the first
letter addressed TO Hon, Porter Baxter OF
Derby Line, was candidate for the United
States senate, to succeed Senator >, Phelps,
who was serving his second term In the sen
ate Vermont was then divided between three
political parties, the wings, the free demo,
Gratis" formed by fusion Of the free soil
ers and anti slavery democrats, and the "old
line democrats, and doubtful things are
uncertain. - Mr. Foot carried the legisla'
tnre By u good majority and he became a
leading senator and the president pro tenn
pore Of the senate, lie died in 1866, dur
ing his second term as senator.
Ills second letter below was written dur
ing the exciting national campaign which
resulted in the election Of Franklin Pierce
Of New Hampshire The self.conseous and
self sat SIZED old hero OF three wars, Gen
Winfield Scott, had been nominated by the
10, ham th4
Webster men had made an earnest canvass
In the eyes Of the majority of the anti'slay
rrv men OF the north Mr. Webster had be.
come fallen angel The admiration eNcit'
ed by his great speech for the union In re
ply TO llayne and his previous opposition
10 the extension Of slavery into The terri
tories. had turned TO diStrust and adherence
when he threw his influence against the VIII
mot proyiso, excluding slavery into the terri
utorics, and advocated a stringent fugitive
slave law. He was charged with betrayins
the anti. slavery cause in order To secure
southern votes 70 help him carry the nomina'
ton for president in tho next national wing
convention. The passions which ten years
later burst out in the flames Of the Civil
war were already in high heat Webster
I ism in Vermont and largely all over the
north meant treason to the cause Of free.
dom and base trucking 90 the slave power.
The feeling in regard to IL finds expression
/ in senator Fuot's second letter below The
/ Webster wings in many states got their inn.
I ings later when under Mr., Webster's lead
I they bolted the nomination Of Scott voted
I for Franklin Pierce, and helped him to carry
all but four states Of which Vermont was
/ one.
/ The Mr.. White against whose appointment
{ Senator Foot protested unavailingly was
pliny H. White. who edited the semi-weekly
/ Eagle NJ Brattleboro, in 1859, and became
well known later as clergyman, historian
! and writer in various lines, The Mr., Mich
OILS referred to was perhaps William T. Mich.
/ els Of Rutland, who later was colonel OF
| the Fourteenth regiment OF Vermont Nolun'
tccrs lie was an assistant clerk Of the
/ house in 1858.