The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
WRITTEN FOR THE CALIFORNIAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF OUR COUNTRY


with thrilling interest, the progressive growth
and Improvement of his country +; and as he
casts his eye back upon the roubous scenes of
-, the Revolution, and the period which mmed-
ately succeeded it he will feel venevalion Tor
abe patriotism of his fathers, and foi the wisdom
and integrity Of those great and good men who
conducted the ship of state safely thro' the
shores and whirlpools which threatened it's de-
struction. And it would be passing strange, if
he did not occasionally contrast the character
and conduct Of those devoted patriots, under
whose auspices our country's freedom twas OBJ
tanned and her constitution established prin-
cIples best calculated to promote the happiness
of her citizens, with those mercenary spirits
who now control the executive power Of the
nation and who have rashly dared to trampe
upon that constitution Which was produced bv
the united wisdom of the fathers of our alton.
When the Revolutionary War was ended, our
country's freedom was but half attained. True,
the British yoke was broken, and we could
proudly say that we owed allegiance to no for.
eign despot : but anarchy, the worst Of tyran,s
threatened TO lay our country again in chains,
and caused Washington and his uslrous u.s.
sociates more deep anxiety than did the des
parate struggle with the power of Engand.-
They saw the fruits of an e,gh. years war a.
bout to be destroyed. They had risked their
lives and spent their fortunes and thousands of
their fellow citizens lad fallen by the British
bayonet, to achieve a liberty which would lie
aalreless if unprotected by law yes, which
would he ten-fod worse than the bondage of
England. Thro' their united and unremittng
exer,ions the present constitutions undn- .-.'' s.
c~"-.y he's So nuppiy grown and flourish
ed, formed and its adoption procured.-I
Previous TO it's adoption, severn! events occurred
which served to show the necessity of The con
sution and of more vigorous administration
of the laws, among which may be mentioned,
what has been generally called, Shays Insurrec-
ton. An aged Gentleman now residing in
this town who took all active part in putting
down that rebellion has given to the writer
of the incidents connected with it of
which he witness, very near in
the words following - /
After the close Of the revolutionary war, a
great many people were dissatisfied because they
had to pay taxes, and because they were forced
to pay their debts They were particularly OPP
posed to courts and lawy ers justices and sheriffs
because they were instrumental in forcing them
to pay their lebts,an making them obedent TO
law and government; for these disconnected
people could not bear any restraint, and as they
were generally owing those who were more in
i,lstrious and wealthy than themselves, they
thought themselves justified in refusing TO pay
their debts Some few men OF property and ia
Tents but of no principle, encouraged their resist
ance, aud at length, large numbers began to col
lect together in tho South part of Vermont and
New Hampshire and as they marched down,
many in Massachusetts joined them shays
was their principal leader, and commanded one
party which came down on the East side of
Connecticut River, while another party under
fthe command of Day was on the other side
When they began to band tog, Their Gov. Bow
doin made requlsition tho towns for 1000
men, and the old Patriots of the Revolution n
gain shouldcred their muskets and marched to-
wards Springfield, for the object of Shays party
was to take the Arsenal at that place, and get
the which were stored in it. But the
Hampshire Brigades under Gen. Shepherd were
on the ground first, and had he Arsenal well
guarded. did not march with my company,
but vert on n few days afterwards. 1t was in
the winter of 1897, the seighing was good and
towards night man overlook me With sleigh
who asked me to ride. l soon found out that he
was Shays man, but we got on to good terms,
and mutually agreed not to fire at each other if
we met IN an engagement We but up at a
small tavern near s Springfield filled with Shays
men, ana was the only government man "a
mong thein nut soon went to bed, and car
Tied my gun 10 bed with me, for fear they |
would get it away from me. Next morning /
wenton and joined my company, and we were
paraded on the common in front ofthe Arsenal
and waited patiently for the approach of the en-
envy who we heard not far distant The
snow was of considerable depth, and tLey
could not approach us except in the road, and
of course we had the advantage, as we were |
drawn up in order of batle with our two field
pieces in front. We sent them flag and called
upnu them to disband. bur they sent back word,
that they intended to sleep in the barracks be-
hind us that night, and soon after they appear
Ell in sight marching along two and two in the
road. Gen. Shepherd directed gun to be fred
over their heads but it had no effect, and they
continued their march. He then directed gun
to be fired first to their right and then to their
lett, but thew communal their march as hafnre-I