Bellows Falls Times

Bellows Falls Times

BELLOWS FALLS, JULY 6, 1866.

Political Notes.

The all absorbing topic in Vermont is the Senatorial contest, and most of the County Conventions that have been held have in some manner indicated their preference, and in some instances very decidedly. The democratic party has never been large enough to create much disturbance in the political waters of Vermont, and in some respects therefore the present agitation is a novelty for this State. In some cases the primary meetings or caucuses have been attended by exceedingly large numbers, another unusual circumstance in this State, where generally the people have allowed them to pass off in the utmost quiet.

Windham and Windsor counties have both held their conventions, and both nominated candidates favorable to Mr. Morrill.

Orange county held their Union convention last week. They are strong for Morrill, of course, and nominated for Senators Hon. Burnam Martin, of Chelsea, and Hiram Barrett, of Strafford.

We are glad to record the nomination of Mr. Martin. He is among the able and best men of the State, and we rejoice that he is to be a member of the next Legislature.

Franklin county held their convention last week, and nominated Albert G. Soule, of Fairfield, Bradly Barlow, of St. Albans, and Joshua Clapp, of Montgomery, for Senators, and they are understood to favor Mr. Morrill.

Rutland county held their Union convention on Tuesday of last week. The Senators nominated are Pitt W. Hyde, of Castleton, John Howe, Jr., of Brandon, and Seneca M. Dorr, of Rutland.

The convention expressed no preference on the subject of U. S. Senator, but a resolution was introduced condemning the Rutland Herald as being "in favor of Judge Poland, and against the Hon. J. S. Morrill." This resolution was laid on the table by a strong vote, but the Herald, in its account of the proceedings, says, they "do not undertake to make it appear that the vote of the convention upon the question should be taken as any expression of that body upon the senatorial canvass."

The Herald regards it as a rebuke to intolerance, and is doubtless correct. It also says that six persons immediately came into their office and subscribed for the Herald on account of this action. When the day comes that individual members of the Union party cannot tolerate an honest difference of opinion among themselves, its days of usefulness will have departed.

As to the senatorial preference of Rutland county, the Burlington Free Press says two of the senatorial nominees are for Morrill, and the other, (we believe it means Mr. Dorr,) will vote for the preference of the county. The Herald, however takes a different view.

In Chittenden county the primary meetings were held, and the election of the delegates to the county convention announced with as much particularity as would be the election of representatives to the legislature. The Union County Convention was held on Saturday, and adopted resolutions strongly in favor of Morrill and Edmunds. Several motions were made to reject and get rid of these resolutions, but they were all voted down. The senatorial nominees are Hon. Russell S. Taft, of Burlington, Gen. J. L. Barstow, of Shelburne, and E. H. Lane of Jericho.

The two first were nominated by acclamation. Mr. Taft, it is understood, would prefer Poland, but will abide by the expressed preference of his county. Mr. Taft has been a good Senator, and we are glad to hear he is to be re-elected.

He introduced one or two excellent measures in the Senate last year, which finally failed, and which we hope he will be able to carry through this year.

In the town of Milton, in Chittenden county, the Union caucus was attended by nearly two hundred voters. Two moderators were chosen, and one side, (claimed to be the minority,) adjourned the caucus to another day, and the other side still "continued the meeting and elected delegates to the county convention. The other side met the next Monday and chose another set of delegates, but afterwards concluded not to claim seats in the county convention. The vote for moderator at the first meeting was, for John W. Brown, 99; C. C. Witters, 80. It was not the senatorial, but local matters that brought out the crowd, the question being as to whether a Mr. E. Barrum, (not P. T.) of that town, should be run for the Senate.

Colchester held a union caucus on the 28th, and elected the Poland ticket.

The Addison county convention voted unanimously for Morrill and also for Ed. munds. For Senator they nominated Lucius E. Smith, of Monkton, and Marcus O. Porter, of Cornwall.

The St. Albans Messenger heretofore reckoned for Poland, has come out for Morrill.

The St. Johnsbury Caledonian, claims Caledonia, Essex, Orleans and Lamoille counties as solid for Poland.

The Union papers in Vermont, now stand Morrill 16, Poland 6.

In the city of Burlington they ran two tickets for delegates to the county convention, and opened the polls for their election at 7 o'clock in the evening, and kept them open till half past nine o'clock. One ticket was headed "Morrill and Edmunds ticket." and the other. "For U. S. Senator, G. F. Edmunds." This last was understood to be the Poland ticket also.
The total vote was 409, tho Poland and Edmunds ticket being elected by 41 majority. The vote was,

Edmunds and Poland, 220

Morrill and Edmunds, 189

The Free Press charges that foreigners were brought in to vote for the successful ticket who never voted a union ticket before, and who are notorious democrats, and that "Water street was raked for democratic help for Poland," and that they did not dare to put the name of Poland on the ticket, although they had claimed the city for him, four to one. The Times, of that place, denies these allegations, and say none but good union men voted. The Poland central city ticket was also elected, some of the old committee being left off, as the Times says, "on account of their laborious and effective services in the Morrill interest." We mention this last, not because it is important, but merely to show to what extent the Poland and Morrill feeling is being carried in some parts of the State. As will be seen by the proceedings of the county convention, the "rural districts" were heard from and overbore the "city."

The Burlington Free Press says that of the 7 delegates to the Chittenden county convention, they stood Morrill 70, Poland 27.

Walton's Daily Journal counts up the Senate as follows: Nine counties for Morrill, with 21 votes: 4 for Poland, with 6 votes, leaving Rutland with three votes to stand as doubtful.