Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-07-05
THE GREAT GATHERING.


Ii is dtlicHt to give nurranrc TO tie pride
and satisfaction VIZ experienced at sight Of
the countless nu'iiudr e sterling wings who
ionored ojr town win their presence on
Wed, rsday Of las, week. We had scarce
known wha, to expect, We hoped indeed
that we should sro the evidence Of feeling
among our friends, which like that of 1910
would sweep over all resistance and give a
cheering carnes, Of victory. But the aie-
ness of the call for the Convention led us TO
fear that orr brethren would not awake in
time TO do themselves and their principles
Justice. How great was our diSappointmcnl.
the events Of that memorable day will sudi
GENTLY indicate.
I, seemed Ms If the popular feeling, back
ed for a while in its ohjrct, by tlir uneXPcc'
ted trcarhcrv Of ono ii its Instruments, had
burst forth with power all the more over
whclnng and rcssllcss for the Obstacles
presented To its career. Instead Of being
con,en'eh with cqnll the astonishing de-
mons,raion Of Jane 26, 1911, it seems the
wings of Vernon, had determined that il
should be totally left in the shade. And this
too, as it we're upon moments notice.
As early as four o'clock on Tuesday the
delegations began to come in. The mmons'
train of Wagons from the East we're seen
from the Square, crossing the College Green
on their way down Pearl Street. They
were more than bali an hour in crossing the
end of College Street. They were headed
bv the Woodstock Band, who hcraIdcd the
procession with most enlivening music. Al
the moment this long train entered the
Square, the notes Of a band at the SoutI
ives, corner, gave inlimation that another
,hrong was approaching. Then came up the
dclegn,ion from Rutland and Addison will
the Midllchury band in front. They cam'
in wagons, double and single, in omnibus
ses, in every species of carriages that coul'
be guessed at. and verify, their name was h.
gion. These didn't promise very well for
failure" But this was only the beginning
People kept coming in squads" on IheI
own hook" necessarily until about six
when the peopic of old Washington were am
nouncrd. At their head rode the Monlne
lier band aud Glec Club, ful Of spirited air
and mcomparahe songs, which drew fort
unhounied applause. We don't vouch tia
the last OF this intcrminable string Of wagon
ever got into town. for when the van stoppe
nj the Nrrlhward corner Of the square, tn
other end was ont nf si2ht some where IT
Pearl Street, we don't know where. An
there they sat, as long rs we had time I
watch them, waiting ill their predecessor
could be packed cray to make room 70
them.
BY this time, whl, with the procession
and the chance Corners, all the calculation
previously made, were set at nanIht I'll
houses had taken the full number agreed f
and some over. When about eight o'clocl
news came that the Burlington had got int
port with some people on board. Down "
went and sure enough there were " son
people." Fourteen huadrcd and RiHctU. IN
on that single boat, had come to swell II
crowd already barely housed among u.s.
Where to put such a host at that time, !
man knew. Bot after some inquiry it W
found the only cxpedlent to march them ,
10 the Churches for shelter over night. III
Unitarian. Congregational and Method
Churches were filled as well as the lar
building lately erected by Doctor Peck, al
tina, Of Mr.. Merritt. Still the s,ragglcrs ke
dropping in one at time, and where tn
went We could not learn. How many stra
gers slept in town on Tuesday night we
not know but in 1910 nP to ten o'clock
the night before the Convention upwards
three thousand had been hllctcd ont, Il
there can be no doubt that the number HOT
ed in town on the night Of the 26lh was nei
" double that Of the corresponding night
1910.
On "Wednesday The morning dawned d
lighlfuly, with cool breezes and S nshine.
Many had come in from the neighbour
.,owns carly in the morning, and the villa