Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-05


The interests of nations are decided up
on battle-plains, with waste life and trea-
sure that might seem for the time being to
suspend the more gentle and individual
emotions of humanity: but we find this is
far from being the case, for man with his
Tultitudinous faculties works out his vari-
Gus and stirring personal interests in the
midst of the most appalling obstacles. The
love-god folds a scarf, a locket, blossom
or billet doux under the cuirass of the sell
der, and he is doubly brave in that some
beloved or beautiful being trembles for his
destiny. Men learn to take life in detail,
and thus no one point becomes the all en-
crossing one, and thus we are useful-con-
tent-cOmmOn piace-with here and there
hero, who has the power to spurn all things
inconsistent with the greatness of mission.
We revel upon the present at the expense
of the future-prodigal of to-day, and feed
ing upon husks tomorrow.
At the period of which we are treating,
there were many in this region, as well as
in other parts of the country, who remain
ed inactive, notwithstanding the stress of
the times. Some of these were secretly at
tached to the cause of the country, and 9TH
ers not the less favored the British Among
the first of these was Baptist preacher of
the name of Montonier, who sometimes per-
formed missions not inconsistent with his
profession, but still of more importance to
the American army. He had more than
once been sent down to New York by the
Commander-in-Chief to elicit information
relative to the movements of Sir Henry
Clinton. On these occasions he sought out
the persons of the faithful exhorting them
to sobrlety, and attention to the concerns of
an eternal world, the more that the tempta-
tons and perils of military liiSJendered
the warfare of the Christian douby urgent
, If to screen the purposes OF an emlssary,
willing to do something in the cause of pat
riotism, he sometimes assumed an extra APP
pearance of cant, he may well be pardoned
, therefor, and the nasal twang, if not altogeth-
er natural to him, the better concealed his
designs; he cared not for the contempt cast
upon himself, so long as the cause OF God
and Country were advanced.
He had been to New York, and now on
| his return met the messengers from Rema-
, pc bearing the intercepted dispatches down
to the city. The preacher was galloping a
Y long the highway at speed supposed I'M
S suitable to his PROFESSIONALISM the fresh air,
t the exercise, as well as success of his agen'
: cy for Washington, had impaired vigor
and manfulness not often exhibited by a
!. man careful to preserve all the externals o.
e his Office. Now that turn of the roao
d brought him in full view of the tory mes
sengers, he became aware of his unclerlca
e speed, and proceeded at once to subdue thu
o preponderance of the outer man. He rein
h ed in his horse in front of the men, saying
l. Even as the apostle Philip exhorted an'
e instructed the Eunuch riding in a chariot
e what hinders that we should here turn asid
ST and worship Let us pray, my brethren
g. remembering the Lord while It is day. les
rs the night coms when he may forget US