Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-14
Giterarp Selections.
IRA ALLEN.

gers, or the Tory's Daughter, there Is
a scrap of history worth reading and
preserving. The scene is laid in time Of
our Revolutionary war. Burgoyne was
marching southwark, and danger was
imminent. A meeting of the " Commit
tee of Safety" was called at Manchester,
VT, to inquire what should be done, and
various propositions were made, almost
in the dark as to any practicable move
ment. The colony was without arms, or
munitions of war, even if they could
raise men to meet the enemy, and there
was no authority to raise money by taxa
ton. The meeting was composed of
strong and sterling men. There was
Olin and Paul Spooner, Rowley and
Matthew Lyon, Benz. Carpenter, Ira AL
len and others, and over all presided the
sagacious Thomas Chittenden. Such
men would not sit idly by and see the
naughty Briton triumph, and they arose
one after the other and made propositions
based on voluntary subscriptions. One
proposed raising one company, and an
other more sanguine, two, when Ira AL
len arose. But we will let Mr. Thomp-
son speak for himself.
"And go for neither, Mr.. President
said Ira Allen, stopping short in his walk,
and turning to the chair. For 1 be-
lieve the council, on little reflection,
will conclude to do something more wor-
thy of the character of the Green Noun
tain Boys, than the raising of the paltry
force which even the best of these propo-
sitions involves. And l doubt not the
means of so doing may be soon and abund-
antly supplied, without infringing the
constitution or distressing the people.
And l therefore move, sir, that this coun-
Gil resolve to raise full regiment of men,
Forthwith appoint their officers, and take
such prompt and speedy measures for
their enlistment, that, within one week,
every glen in Vermont shall resound with
the stir of military preparation
"Chimerical p said one, who, in COM
mon with the rest of the council, seemed
to hear with much surprise, proposition
of this magnitude so confidently offered,
when the doubt appeared whether even
the comparatively trifing one of Clark
would be adopted.
Impossible, utterly impossible to raise
pay for half Of theml" responded several
others.
Don't let us say that till we are COM
PEELED to do so,'' said the patriotic Car
penter, in an encouraging tone. "This
jumps so well with my wishes, that I
would not see it hastily abandoned. For,
although I confess 1 do not pretend to
see where the requisite means are to come
from, yet some new light, in this respect
may break in upon US by another day
And could we but see our way clear 10
sustain this proposition, we should feel
like men again"
Amen to all that" respondent Clark.
And as the hour for adjournment has
now arrived, move that our young col
league, who offered this proposition with
SO much confidence in the discovery of a
way to carry it into execution, and who is
said to be very fertile in expedients, be
appointed a committee to devise the ways
and means of paying the bounties and
wages Of the regiment he proposes tc
raise and that he make his report to the
council by sunrise tomorrow morning
Second that motion, Mr.. President,
cried Lyon, in his usual full determined
tone Of voice and strong Irish accent
II go for the whole of Mr.. Aliens propo
sition, means or no means. But the mean
can, must, and shall be found, sir W,
will put the g1ntlrnarl'o brains under tn,
Screws tonight" he continued loosely
tnrning to Allen; "Aud if he appear
here in the morning empty handed, h
ought to be expelled from the council
Az, and I'll move it, too, by the two bull
that redeemed me r'%
| accept the terms" replied AIler
bowing pleasantly to the former. " "Giy
me q room by myself, pen, ink, paper
ana lamp, and will abide the cond
ton"
For your lamp, Mr.. Allen, as YOU
task is to discover money where there
none, advise you to borrow the wonde-
full lamp of Aladdin gayly added Row
Mathew Lyon, who very soon became rop1
noted as a leading partisan in the legislature
Vermont, and subsequently more so as member
congress from Kentucky, having, as before in
mated, been sold to pay his passage from Irela
70 Connecticut, where he landed, ard afterwar
redeemed by the payment of a pair of bulls to I
purchaser, by a gentleman of that state, for wht
ne was permitted to labor, at liberal wages,
t1is novel kind of Indebtedness was CANCEL,
And as this bold and singular man entered up
me scenes of life as q successful freeman, he v
mna Of boastirg of the romantic manner in viii
Is became one, while the expression, " By
kNo bulls that redeemed me-" became his favor
oafh on all occasions.