The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-09-10

LIAM SLADE and Hon. MARTIN VAN Blu
RES, on the occasion Of the completion Of
the Monument to Sias Wright, on the 27th
ult They were necessarily omitted in the
hasiy report of the proceedings which we
published last week.
Remarks of Gov. Slade.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The call on me to
preside upon this occasion has taken me
wholly by surprise. had not the slightest
thought, when ! came here, of occupying
any other position than that Of a silent list
ener | need hardly say. therefore, that I
find myself wholly unprepared 10 open the
exercises of so great an occasion,
whether consider the character of the vast
assembage which is before me, or of the dis
tinguishcd individual whose memory We have
come here TO honor.
look upon this assembly, and M 10 this
monument with emotions 10 which il is diff
cult TO give uttcrancc Behind me is this
beautiful shaft, sacred to the memory of our
distinguished frend.-of the leading trait in
whose character, its severe simplicity is a
true and striking emblem; while the vast
asscmblage which surrounds it, presents a
living exemplifca,ion of the same character
The cold marble, and these living, speaking
countcnances alike utter a euloay most fit
ting and appropriate to this occasion. 1t
would be in happy harmony with the true
spirit OF the occasion. and, most cmphati-
caly, with the spirit of the lamcnted dead
were the whole ceremony TO consist in the
laying of the cap stone, followed by a survey
Of the monument until we could gather into
our minds all the elements of its great mcd,
and then the raising of our hearts in silent
alteration of the Being by whose inscrutable
Providence, our friend was suddenly cut
down, in mid life, and his usefulness. Such
silence would speak language more i'm
pressive than any thing the voice can utter !;
and Yet the heart seeks an audible utterancc,
and the accustomed prophecies Of occasions
like this, demand it.
1t is no idle curiosity that has brought TO-
gether this vast assembly, It's gathering is
a grateful and spontaneous tribute Of popu.
lar affection. The People are here : the
people. of whom SLAs WRIGnr WAS en-
phatically one. These old neighbors and
friends knew him, and loved HIM they
saw LIN in his boyhood simple, modest I'M
pretending and hey marked tic develop
ment of these traits Of his character, as they
grew with the growth OF lis great intellect.
and became the peculiar grace and ornament
Of his matured and vigorous manhood. There
was truly republican simplicity in him,
which attracted all hearts. lie mingled
freely with all-not wifha an AIR OF co"descen.
S'on, but IN the spirit OF iraternal, unaffected
Good wl'i' ne recognized IN every man
oro'her' and ielt that there was something
IN ms essential manhood, lar above ana be-
yoha me accidents OF hirth. or station, or
worthy possessions, That was worthy oil re-
SarI'
o all ms he was framed IN carly NO.
ne had PLAN and humble, yet vrluous
nome lie imOioed us spirit aAd grew up
under lis influence And he was reared a
mons people OF a congenial spirit 1t Will
forever ne 10 10 the honor oil Neybridge that
her social moral and poli'cdl influences so
largely contributed to mould the character OF
the iu'ure man and statesman. lie could
hardly have gone to better school, and
there could not have been u better scholar.
Weyorldge turns out today, to honor the
memory oil man who was emphancallyione
OF her own children.
There was one influence here which de-
serves special notice: 1t was the influence
OF The Sanctuary, which long stood upon the
very ground where we are now gathered