The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-08-21

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six hundred houses, and with them his academy
and dwelling house, and every cent he was worth
in the world.
We next find him as professor of Mathematics
and Military Tactics at the richly endowed College
Of Jefferson in Mississippi. Ofthis College he was
repeatedly offered, and urged to accept, the Presi-
dency, but declined; the climate not agreeing with
the health of his family.
In 1884 he returned to Norwich, where he pur-
chased house and small tract of land, where his
family have ever since resided with the exception Of
few months passed in Illinois, while he was Chief
Engineer of the great public works undertaken by
that State. After residing short time at Norwich, he
was urged by some of his friends to apply for the
situation of Professor of Municipalities just then va
Gated in the Navy From desire to see some
thing of the world he was induced to follow their
advice, and without difficulty, after having passed
the rigid examination required by the Navy De-
partment, he obtained the situation, and was order
ed to the W'est India squadron, under Com, Dallas,
where he continued about twelve months. lie
acquired, during that PERIOD much practical inior
nation in relation to the character and wants of
that portion of the public service which, should he
with more judgment on that subject than most of
the members, who, in general, are lamentably ig-
noran of every thing connected with Naval mat
tiers.
IN ho Noyv toll a.,
neer, having become known and appreciated, he
had frequent applications to engage in the different
public works then in progress. The offers made
to him being very advantageous, he resigned his
Office in the Navy and engaged himself as an En-
gineer in the Utica and Oswego Railroad. He
continued there until the revusions of 1887 stopped
the works. That part of the road located between
Utica and Rome, however, was made under his
supervision, and will remain as an evidence of his
talents and skill in engineering. We next find him
employed as an Engineer on the public works in
Illinois, where he continued until the second re-
vulsion of last year put stop to their progress,
when he resigned his situation and returned TO his
farm in Norwich.
We have given hasty and rough sketch of Gen,
Ransom in connection with his civil pursuits. Ne
will now exhibit him in his capacity as an officer
of Militia, in which situation he is unrvalled for
skill and intelligence. When he was in the Mill
tary Academy at Norwich, it was usual for the of
fcers of the militia in the different portions of the
State to apply for dr-masters, to drill them at
their meetings for instruction. Ransom was gen.
orally selected as one. Such was their admiration
of his skill and intelligence that he was repeatedly
urged to take Office in the militia At length
volunteer company attached to the Sd Brigade was
raised in Norwich, and he was elected Captain
When the election for 1t. Coouel of the Regiment
came on few weeks subsequently, he was elected
Colonel over the heads Of the officers above him
and at the solicitation of most Of thcm such was
the anxiety of the officers to secure a skru
and efficient commander. Two years after
wards he was elected Brig, General; and on the
resignation of Gen. Phelps, Major General Of the
Division, whilst acting as Colonel of the Regi-
ment, he was selected by the Governor and Coun-
Gil to revise the militia laws, and prepare plan
for an entire new organization of the militia This
plan, one Of the best ever presented to our leg
stature, and which, had it been passed, would
have placed the militia upon a footing of respecta-
bity and efficiency unknown in any State in the
Union, was unfortunately not adopted by the leg
stature, owing principally to its features being too
democratic to suit the arisocracy in the house, who
expect all the burden of military duty to fall upon
him who least afford to bear it, the poor labor
er. The law of 1889 is, however, essentially page
for page this bill, excepting that the old system of
exemption was retained, and men were still requir-
ed to do duty without pay.
We have now fellow citizens, given you few
passages in the life of a democrat Ne have shown
you the poor, penniless apprentice hoy, acquiring
an education by double. labor. Ne have shown
you by what progressive steps he arose to honora-
bic and lucrative situations both in civil and mill
tary life. JIje consider him as practical iustra-
ton of the beauties of our republican form of gov
ernment in which talents & industry take the place
OF DlOOu anu wealth.. we nave cNnlDltcu MN 10
you as the poor boy struggling to acquire an edu-
cation by toll and labor; as the respectable teacher
Of science in our academies and colleges; as the
skful and scientific engineer of our public works
the practical naval officer as the highest officer
in the militia known by the laws of this State or of
the United States as univaed in his skill and in
telligence as tactician; as the author of sys-
TEN of tactics and of militia organization which
would have relieved the poorer class of the COM
munty of many of the burdens which now bear so
oppressively and unequally upon them, and conf
PEELED their enemies and antagonists the rich, to
have borne their portion; and finally, we present
him to you as plain, unassunng democratic far
mer
Choose, fellow citizens, whom you will have to
represent your interests in Congress. Gen. Ran
som. who is the friend of the poor man, sprung
himself from the humblest of them, and of course
interested in preserving their tights pure and unsu-
lied by the communicating and pestlerous influence