Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-04-03

We have heretofore had occasion to call the
attention of our readers to the recently publish
ed History of Eastern Vermont, by Bejamin H.
Hail. and to speak in favorable terms Of the
work. We find the following article in the Bos-
ton Doily Tdrelier. The opinions therein ex-
pressed are so eminently just that We cannot re-
frain from LAYING them before our readers:
"lf the early history of portion only Of one
of the younger States Of this Union makes a
portly volume of 500 pages, To what eXtentmust
not Americas printed annals extend A? One
wonders whether such books can be rcad-won-
dcrs at first, mean, but reflection teaches that
good books are sure to make their way through
the most voluminous of crowds, while bad ones
can have but small chance of being read even if
there should he but few books obtainable The
fear, sometimes expressed, that books will be-
come too numerous to be read is idle. unless
they should all be dull,-whch heaven forbid,
and of that class to which belonged the volume
said by Mr.. Jarndyce TO have been so bad that
not even Mr.. Crusoc could have got through it
on his desert island, and had it constituted his
entire library. Mr.. Halls volume, though very
large is not dull but is quite the reverse of dull
and we do not think it would be easy to write
stupid book of which Vermont should be the
has its idiosyncracy, and our States help cstab-
lish this rule, and Nermonts character is prob
ably more strongly pronounced than that of any
other Northern State. Her early history is sin
gularly romantic and portions of it are what
the censorous would call, remarkable for their
display of lavleSsncSs. though We are of opinion
that there is not a solitary incident of the kind
III her annals that might not be paralleled from
those of countries that have maintained
reputation torrigid decorum. Ii is not the thing
done, but the manner of doing it, that gives rep
utation TO States and to men. The character at
bottom is the same hut how different the repu-
tation, though the words and the things are
frequently coriounded BY both writers and talk
crs. 1t was the peculiarly of Vermont that she
was made in Revolution, and that correspond
ingly with her part in the struggle for American
natlonaltN-and that part vas both Il patriotic
ana an heroic one-waS her own struggle toT en-
l>tence with the most ancient bus one IF all the
members OF the nrst complete American Union.
We are SO accustomed to look upon New York
Is having some thing of the imperial about her.
as being the Empire State, that we cannot east
ly understand how ii was thai she did not crush
the Nermonters AT once but the New York of
those days was feeble community, with no in
significant portions Of her territory occupied BY,
or under the command of, the royal forces
The Nermonters, too were a bold and stubborn
race who, if they occasionally took liberties with
the things of other people, were resolved that
nothing should be done against their liberties.
How far they were right according to the strict
letter of the law We shall not undertake to say.
for practically that has nothing to do with the
matter, which was to he decided. and was deci
ded, by the strongest hand. as all disputes ever
have been settled from the beginning Of time, and
as they will be so long as time shall endure
Circumstances made Vermont the stronger par
~ III the contest, Just other circumstances
made the Thirteen States more than match
for Great Britain though the former seemed TO
the nv nan eye sadly outweghed 1t was well.
too, that Vermont succeeded and that a new
State was thereby added to the American Union.
the first, indeed. that was so adcd in 1871. The
tendency of Vermont life was to extreme liber-
~, from her geographical position. and that ten
dency was much increased by the circumstances
of her long contest with New York. which con-
test was itself in no slight degree affected and
colored by the course of the American Reyolu-
ton, the two events, considered properly march
ing together. Ethan Allen was the tvpe of YER
mont, the spirit of that land made flesh. and ex
hitting to the world perfect picture of its high
er and It's lower characteristics, its heroism and
its infirmities
MIR. Halls book is in certain sense, the his
tory OF the contest between New York and Yer
mont, which is almost invariably referred to as
one that happened between order and utter law
iosSness If that were its character, and law
lcssness triumphed, what has followed during
the two generations that have passed since that
triumph was accepted as an irreyersible fact, is
most consoling to all persons who are disposed
tbtakc gloomy view of society. OF all our
States, Vermont is at the same time the most
liberal, the most orderly, and the most conscr
vative in her political life. Some few facts. 70
be sure might be quoted as making against this
view, but we speak with reference to her entire
history, which fully justifes all that we have
said. In respect for law in regard for law, in
regard for order. in freedom from crimes of the
graver sort, in the safety of life and property.
IN the general intelligence of the people, and in
all those respects which indicate high order of
civilization, Vermont can claim to compare adj
vantageously with any community that now ex
lists, or ever has existed. In her political insti
tutions she is eminently liberal in her political
practice she is diScreetly conservative. She was
1.-THE star that never set in the DAYS of the Whig
party, and yet there never was a Democratic
State with more liberal polty, or that pursu-
ed a more enlightened practice. Certainly, if
Vermont was begotten in disorder, which we do
not admit was the fact, the sober, moral, upright
HE OF her people shows that legitimate modes of
birth are by no means necessary for the purity
anu struHBtn Oh states. Her Amerlcanism, too,
was strikingly tested in the Revolution, under
conditions that We're very trying, and such as
were not known to any other part of the coun-
try The character for patriotism then won by
Vermont has ever since been maintained.
There is great deal of miscellaneous matter in
Mr.. Halls volume, throwing light upon the ear
~ history OF Vermont, illustrating our Revolu-
uonary history, and making us familiar with
state of things that has either passed away. or
is rapidly vanishing There is much intorma.
ton concerning many Vermont worthless, whose
deeds should be kept before their countrymen
who have profted much from them. Every mage
Oh the book furnishes proof that Mr.. Hall is
CONSCIENTIOUS. a pains, taking, and a hgh-mind-
ed writer, DESTROYS only of stating the truth and
able to state it in language appropriate to the
SUBJECTS on which he has been SO successfully
employed.
HE MoRMoNs.-Col. Johnston, in his latest