Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-13

Livingston, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Cha
tauque-although | say il embraced this
vast territory, il numbered only 10 town
ships. The same territory now contains
2lS townships. What the exact population
OF all thls vast region was at that time can
not exactly say, as the present practice of
taking the census did not then exist. But
know am safe in saying that the entire
white population west of the Gencsee river
at that day was less than sixty. Another
thing know, that in the fall of 1901. near
ly two years after | came into the country.
an official census was taken of all the voters
there were in the entire territory / have
mentioned, aud after hunting up all that
could be found, including the three classes
as the law then was, 100 pound voters. 40
pound and 40 shilling voters, and, after put
ting them all together, they footed up exact
ly 2,S35.
do not remember how many voters there
are now in the SINE territory, but the white
population is rising of fer huadrcd Thousand.
About $4,000 of whom are west of the
Genessee river where there were less than
sixty when first came into the country.
| have said, Mr.. President and gentlemen.
that Western New York was to me cher
ished name. 1t is so. And | feel that
should be wanting in 6lial affection if
should fail TO acknowledge it. 1t was in
Western New York that matured TO man
hood; it was there that | not only labored,
but partook of the jolly gatherings around
the sugar-kettles in the sap-bushes of the for
est-at the raising Of the log houses, and in
many various convivial iroics
1t was in one of those rude structures in
Western New York, that married the wife
OF my yon,h-she who is the mother of my
sons andmy daughters-she who has shared
in my cares and my tolls, in my prosperity
and in my adversely 1t was Western New
York that gave birth TO all my children
and there too a majority of them still reside
And it Is the clods of the valley of Western
New York, that covers the bones of my
father and mother. Peace to their ashes =
| say again Western Ne,c York-A chcrish-
cd name.
But, gentlemen, / must not forget that /
am now a resident of the city of Albany
or in other words, resident of Eastern
Nctc York. And if | say too much about
Western NeD York, my neighbors will think
| am pacing my affections too far from
home. So | must begin to show you that
the good people down East there, were do
ing things up pretty nice when your country
up west here, was only bowling wilder
ness.
For that purpose have brought along in
my pocket, a document in the shape of a
newspaper, which was printed in the city oil
-Ait."r, at the capitol OF this groa, state
about the time | came along up into thi:
country.
This paper is dated in May, 1874 And
although have no particular encomiums &c
bestow upon it, on account of the whitenes:
Of the paper or the size of the sheet, yet
can brag of its being published twice week
(Here Mr.. Joy exhibited the Albany Gazette
published at the time he stated 1t was re-
ally relic of antiquity-what we SHOULD
now call Z by 8 sheet-printed on papel
almost as dark and as coarse as common
wrapping paper.)
Before | proceed any farther with the OBJ
ject had in view in presenting this paper
| must speak few words in aiIectonate re
membrance of its principal Proprietor ant
Editor-Charles r. Webster, Esq. Mr.
Webster was to Albany kind of DR.. Frank
lin. lie established the first newspaper ev
er published in that city.
| have seen his first prospectus-t bear
date in 1852. | wish | had it here to ex
hlblt 1t is curiosity-so innocent--s
simple, and yet so sensible. | can recol
; ect little how it runs. 1t is headed-"T
,, the inhabitants of the city of Albany am
the adjacent country round about The
it goes on to portray the great advantag
which such an opulent city as Albany woul
: derive from weekly incorporation tn
! the country round about would be benefit
ted by it. Among these advantages ca
name a few which he mentioned First h
says:
: at points to the poor man where TO g
J and lay out his money to the best adyar
tage"
} at brings customers to the mechanic
: shop"
at tells the farmer where he may add t,
or dispose OF his stock on the best terms.
: at crowds the merchants store wit
> chaps"
Such is the origin of the Albany Gazet
g which now hold in my hand.
st It's Editor was so gentle, so urbane in h
d manner, so meek, kind and aiIectionate t.
n wards all classes of the community, that Il
e community in return, by kind of spont
neous affection, gave him, while yet compa
s. atively a young man, the cognomen of u
l. Gle Charley. If there are any merchan
d here of 80 to 35 years standing, who use
in their early days to buy goods in Alban
, dare say they well remember how excee
- ingIy mild and polite Uncle Charley W
rs when they were picking out at his sto
$ Webster's Spelling Books, Webster's Aim