National Opinion

Republican State Convention at Burlington.

BURLINGTON, Vt., July 1, 1868.

The Republicans of Vermont are assembled in Convention in the City Hall in this place for the purpose of nominating candidates for Governor, Lieut. Governor and Treasurer to be supported at the State election in September next, and two Presidential Electors at Large to be supported in the coming Presidential contest. The call invited the Republican Union voters of the State, to be represented in the Convention by delegates to be chosen upon the basis of one from each town, and an additional delegate for every one hundred and fifty votes cast for the Republican candidate for Governor at the last State election.

The interest in national politics, especially, has called here many of the prominent men of the party who will be active in the coming Presidential campaign. Among the number are Lieut. Gov. Thomas, Ex-Gov. Fletcher, T. W. Parker of Bennington, Gen. Grandey of Vergennes, S. M. Dorr of Rutland, John W. Stewart of Middlebury, Pitt W. Hyde of Castleton, Hugh H. Henry of Chester and B. D. Harris of Brattleboro.

At 11 o'clock the Convention was called to order by Gen. Grandey of Vergennes, Chairman of the State Central Committee, who introduced Col. G. G. Benedict, Secretary of the Committee, who read the call for the Convention. After the call was read, Gen. Grandey nominated for temporary Chairman, Major Wm. Rounds of Chester, who was unanimously chosen. Col. Benedict was then chosen temporary Secretary, and a Committee upon Credentials was appointed and proceeded with their duties.

The committee soon after reported a correct list of delegates, showing over two hundred present.

The temporary organization was then made permanent, with the addition of a Vice President from each county, and an additional Secretary. The permanent organization was then as follows:

President, William Rounds. Vice Presidents—Addison County, Judge Munsell; Bennington, Norman Mellinton; Caledonia, George Ranney; Chittenden, Joseph Marsh; Essex, Josiah Grout, Jr.; Franklin, L. A. Dunn; Grand Isle, A. D. Story; Lamoille, A. D. Wood; Orange, L. Gilmore Bigelow; Orleans, George L. Sleeper; Rutland, Geo. W. Chapmar; Washington, C. Carpenter; Windham, David Arnold; Windsor, Ex-Gov. Fletcher. Secretaries, G. G. Benedict, Burlington, and Luther O. Green of Woodstock.

A motion to adjourn over till afternoon to allow the county delegations to choose nominating committees, called out considerable debate. The general expression was favorable to the renomination of the present State ticket. It was stated that if there were any minor differences this year, they would be laid aside and the party be united as one man for the Presidential struggles. E. C. Reddington of St. Johnsbury was especially vigorous in his denial of the insinuation that his section of the State was opposed to the re-election of the present State officers. The motion to adjourn was then unanimously defeated and a motion prevailed to proceed to the nomination of candidates for Governor, Lieut. Governor and Treasurer for the September election. The following was then nominated and unanimously elected as the candidates:

For Governor, Hon. John B. Page, of Rutland.
For Lieut. Governor, Stephen Thomas of West Fairlee.
For Treasurer, John A. Page of Montpelier.

The State ticket was thus nominated, and endorsed by loud and hearty applause.

A motion then prevailed for a ballot in open convention for candidates for two electors for the Presidential election. The name of Hon. George W. Grandey of Vergennes was then proposed as candidate from the Western side of the Mountain, and also the name of Hon. Pitt W. Hyde of Castleton. The ballot was then proceeded with, and the Convention voted that when it adjourn, it do so to reassemble at 2 o'clock. After a slight discussion, the present members of the State Central Committee were unanimously re-elected to serve during the present year.

The President then announced the following as the Committee on Resolutions to report at the afternoon session: Messrs. T. W. Park of Bennington, A. N. Swain of Rockingham, C. W. Willard of Montpelier, H. C. Johnson of Vergennes, S. M. Dorr of Rutland, George H. Bigelow of Burlington, and E. C. Reddington of St. Johnsbury.

The following was then announced as the result of the ballot for candidate for Elector from the west side of the Mountains:
Whole number of votes, 135
Necessary to a choice, 68
Gen. Grandey had 108
Hon. Pitt W. Hyde had, 25
Scattering, 2

Gen. Grandey was then declared nominated.

Hon. E. C. Reddington of St. Johnsbury was then proposed as candidate for Elector, but he peremptorily declined, Hon. Horace Fairbanks of St. Johnsbury and Hon. Julius Converse of Woodstock were then nominated, as was also the President of the Convention. The name of Mr. Converse was subsequently withdrawn and the President declined the proffered honor. The name of Col. S. E. Pingree of Hartford was then proposed and called out considerable debate, which was verging toward a personal matter, when it was checked by the Chair. Mr. Henry of Chester referred, in advocating the claims of Mr. Fairbanks, to the course of Judge Carpenter of Northfield, as bondsman of a defaulting Treasurer, and called out a reply from the latter gentleman in the way of a personal explanation. The motion was then made, and Hon. Horace Fairbanks was unanimously nominated by acclamation as elector from the east side of the mountains.

The Convention at a few minutes before one o'clock then adjourned until two o'clock.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Convention reassembled at 2 o'clock, and was called to order by the President. The Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions submitted the following.

THE RESOLUTIONS.

Resolved, That we hereby endorse the action of the National Union Republican Convention in the nomination of Ulysses S. Grant as candidate for President, and Schuyler Colfax as candidate for Vice President, of the United States, and we pledge the ticket a cordial support.

Resolved, That we fully approve of the resolutions of the late National Union Convention, and adopt them as our own.

Resolved, That we hold that a true republican government is a government in which all the people have equal civil and political rights.

Resolved, That we heartily approve the nominations made this day, and we recommend them to the earnest support of the Union Republican party of the State.

Resolved, That in order that Vermont may give her largest possible Republican majority at the September election, we urge upon the State Committee to make a thorough canvass of the State, and we further recommend the immediate organization of Grant and Colfax Clubs as far as practicable in every town.

The resolutions were heartily applauded when read, and after brief speeches from T. W. Parker, C. W. Willard, Lieut Gov. Thomas, and others, the resolutions were adopted with great enthusiasm, and the convention adjourned.