Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-18
Burlington, June 10, 1850.
For the Free Press.

.H,sSrs. Editors;
perceive that Patriot" in the columns Of
your young contemporary, the Times, is seriously
distressed because the sacrlegious word bones"
was applied by you to the supposed remains Of
Gen. Ethan Allen, recently discovered in Green
Mount Cemetery. He is also afflicted because the
bones" were placed in box, and re inferred I'M
der the foundation Of the monument, and he sug-
gests desirable very different plan of proceed
| ing under the circumstances He would have had
all the Wondering remains exhumed (and he
would not call them bones" at all but probably
osscous sepulchrnl "reminiscences" or some thing
| still more sounding) lie would have them cx-
posed to public view for period that " thousands
| of ,ndpiduals" might 4" bedcw them with the tear
| of grateful remembrance. These " individuals"
by the way, all expectcdto live for halfa CEN
fury to come and then arc to damage their reputa-
tions by the mendacious assertion " that they
had seen the right arm which bore that trenchant
sword (meaning the right arm and sword of Ethan
Allen, who died fifty years before they born)
and to testify to the fact (which is no fact at all
that after three and years of sepulturc
the locks of the hero, unwasted and undimmed
were bright and radiant Twas Gen Allen a red
haired man y as with the dew drops of that event
full morn when he demanded the surrender of Ii
conderoga." Then, as we may infer from his use
ofthc word ''ashcs," for one who is so particular
| about word must, of course, them with per-
feet precision, patriot would have the remains
or so much of them not washed away in the
salt water frcshet proposed-burned, and would
place the "ashes' in "slver vase
Now, Messrs Editors of the FREQ Press, we all
remember with grateful pride the indomitabc
character of Ethan Allen, and his labors for the
independence of our State and country 1t lis just
possible, I suppose, that tho Committee who
have given year or two of thought and attention
to the memorial entrusted to them to devise and
erect or that even your own irreverent selves,
regard his memory with some degree Of reverence
but for such suggestions as the above, cannot
have much respect. They must awaken the sense
Of the ridiculous in every one who reads them.
Imagine the scorn with which the stern old hero
would read, if it were possible for him to do so,
the "hifalutin" tribute to his memory of thi.
doubtless well-meaning, but not over -considerate
patriot" Would he not say, if he could return
to give his own opinion on the matter: "You can
show respect to my memory in no way so we'll, as
by letting my bones lie, undisturbed, where they
were laid by my kindred and neighbors and fellow
soldiers, whom was through with them; give me
no "bodewing," no silver vases; but, If you will
let the massive granite rise above my grave, and
beneath it lot my dust still mingle with the soil
loved and fought for"
Whether patriots" communication is worth the
space of this rejoindcr you, Messrs Benedict, must
judge but at any rate, think you will agree
with me, that the insinuation, which is the "nubH
of that communication, that Mcssrs. Pomeroy and
Marsh, the Commissioners, Messrs. Morse and Har-
rington, Judge Pcnniman, yourselves, and others,
have been the contrivers and par ties to a gro.
fraud, and insult to the public by clandestin-
ely transferring the bones Of soldier, dug up in
grading for the Fair Ground, a few days SINCE to
the burial place Of Ethan Allen" may certainly be
received by all with silent contempt.
Yours truly,
GREEN MOUNT.