Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-06-19
Thirty Yeas Ago.

the first number oil the Burlington rree
Press greeted the public. Since then 1t has
been constant actor amid the shifting
scenes of real life. 1t has had since then
steady influence for good, we trust;-if not,
for i'll 1t has been IA power OF more or less
consequence in this community. Its exist
ence has had close connection with the
life of the place where it first saw the light,
with whose reverses 1T has suffered, and
with whose prosperity it has prospered. Its
thirtieth birthday is a fitting occasion on
which to present some "reminiscences of the
infancy of Jour journal, and of Burlington
thirty years ago, which we doubt not will
interest our readers.
Thirty years ago, our Journal commenced
its existence.
1t was started in life, and edited for some
years with marked ability by Lunar Foot
Esq. now of Charlotte, Mich. The money
for the enterprise was furnished by Seneca
Austin Esq, now of Cincinnati. Its pros.
re-adopt to day, " the political character Of
the Press will be such as the present
interesting situation Of our country seems
to demand, that is, strictly Republican,,
Its L litor announced his leading object to
be to difiuso useful information, sound
moral and benevolent sentiments, an
ardent love Of rational liberty, and an
exalted national feeling
a uepnrptipp has hut tI,o
Free Press remains true to its original creed.
1t is stlll-thJugh the word has now
significance as pirty name which it had
not Observation-Disclosures, and the leading
object of its first editor still auimates its
present conductors
The Free Press WAS from the start an
earnest advocate Of tho Protection of
American manufactures which had then
become an important national question
Its first number contains a call for "a
convention of all who were interested
IN tho promotion Of Americ IN in
dustry in VT, which WAS held at Rutland
on the 9th of June 1927 and by which
William Jarvis, l.. q. Mallary Elijah Paine.
VIM. Hall Of Rockingham, and Hcman Al
len of Milton were appointed delegates to
Il National Convention, having the same
object, which WAS held at Harrisburgh, Pa.
on the Goth Of the next month and which
eXerted very important influence
at the time. Towards derraying the travel
ling expenses Of the delega ties, the county
of Cmttcnden was asked to contribute
forty dollars.
The Free Press in 1927 was an enthusias-
tic supporter of John Quincy Adams, then
President, for reelection, and as hearty
an opponent of Gen. Jackson S aspirations
to the presidency. We find it very early
in its existence exposing the ia lse logic and
combating the bad political views of the
Darlington Sentinel, and complaining of
the W. Patriot for throwing mud
OF exclusively state issues We find little
mention in the earlier numbers, although
the recommendations of the Council of Cen
sors of that year, that Senate be formed as
a coordinate branch of our Legislature, and
that amendments to the constitution be re-
ferred directly to the people, are discussed
and advocated to some extent.
OF the matters Of general interest Of that
day we cannot OF course, be expected to men.
tion many. We notice in the first two or
three numbers quoted letters detailing the
closing events Of the war between Greece
and Turkey - Late news from England"
haI | nT.l dab l.C.
speeches of Henry Clay, and an account of
an eloquent impromptu address of his, when
young man, to public meeting in Lexlng-
ton, Ky, held on the question of - tolera-
ting slavery in Kontucky,"-i which he
urged the " impolicy and injustice OF hold
ing men in bondage" and carried the multi
tude with him items of news and edito.
rails from the " New York Times, " name
which looks very familiar at the bottom of
the copied articles The Times of the present
day, 1t is hardly necessary to say, is entire
ly another paper, IA specimen chapter
from Mr.. Cooper s then forthcoming novel,
" the Prairie, the announcement by the
Vt. Waterman of the arrival of several en-
gineers sent by the General Government to
survey route for proposed canal to con-
meet Connecticut river and Lake Champlain.
and lengthy report, by John l.. Sullivan,
Civil Engineer, directed to Ekanah Wat
son, on the subject of connecting Boston and
Lake Ontario by railway, to run via
Concord, White River, Burlington, Port
Kent md Ogdensburgh, recommending
single railway, composed of one rail elevated
on stone posts below the level of which tho
cars were to be swung on either side,
from the trucks, like panniers from
donkey's spine Mr.. Sullivan 'assu.
mes as highly probable that q durable
single railway of two tracks, one to 70 in
each direction, can be constructed over the
route mentioned for $4,000 mile lie
has seen an account Of ten miles an hour
accomplished, and 90 tons drawn by
steam carriage and he thinks it safe to
allow for an average performance of 40 tons,
six miles an hour.
OF purely local intelligence we find very
meagre supply-and for this we are mainly
indebted to the advertising columns
lhlrty years ago, the Vt. State Lottery,
fourth class, was announced to be drawn at
Rutland, the scheme showing 800 prizes
to $73 ,O0O-and later in the
season another lottery, the first of a New
5eries"' " for the benefit of a road from
Rutland to Woodstock, Capt. Dan Lyon
If the steamer Gen. Greene, announced an
EXCURSION to St Adams Bay to the launch
II the new Steam PackS "Frankliu," on