Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-02-24
Reported fo- the Free Press
THE LECTURES Al WINOO>kI.
NJ Edmund.' Iecfure.

Notwithstanding the snow storm 4 Saturday
evening. 81 announcement OF d lecture by M
Speaker Ed4anIs gathered into cosy little Eaz-
te $ Hall its full complement Of persons
Ny Edmunls 1cf-,,ss1 his audience, rather than
,.-,ll-e9. .u the Early History of Vermont, He
sp5k fret. of history IN general. as the source
from w-l-1 lsa-r the lessons Of the past for our
instruction and guidance II Jliv future and Ikeu-
ed the present generation to the centre Of a vast
caravan on an Eastern desert, passing over the
summit Of some eminence, from which the way
worn travellers look forward to bright and sunny
plains dotted with cool fountains and shady palms
h77s-ils. -is. contrast O. the arid wastes they
have just trav,rsed. lie briefly reviewed tle ear
" history Of me continent comparing the present
aspect Of the country with the scene which greeted
the ewes Of columbus. as be looked from the deck
Of his little vessel on the morn Of his great discov-
e-v.-no villages, no farms, no rleu, even,-as the
Europeans of that age denied the humanity Of the
Indian, just as our southern ueigbbors deny that
Of the negro, to-day.
At more length, the speaker or Speaker then
ssetched struggles Of the early settlers Of our
state with the strangers who claimed under grant.
from New Hampshire aud New York. When the
latter appeared to take possession Of what they
called their property, they found it already oocu-
pied by hardy pioneers, who thought that the men
who had cut down the trees laid the roads, and
built the churches and school-houses had title
enough 10 the land. and so declined 70 give It up.
Tie claimants then took the next step, which fool
ish people who get into trouble usually take and
went 20 law about it. suits in ejectment were
easily determined, where only the plaintiff appear
ed; but when the sherifs arrived in these parts
with writs Of execution, the sturdy settlers, il
language more forcible than elegant, told them TO
60 thunder and it is but just 70 the officers to
say that they generally went.
These territorial disputes were hardly adjusted,
before the bravery and forttude Of our foreathers
was subjected to a new ordeal While the scattered
and dcfenceess settlers Of Vermont were surround
ed by powerful enemies and exposed to the horrors
Of indian invasion on the northern frontier, the
protection Of Canada was offered them on condition
Of a nominal dependence on and allegiance 10 that
province But our noble ancestors riumphantly
resisted the seductive temptation, and Mr. Z.
asked his audience to reflect, for moment, on tie
sublime beroism, the true Anglo-Sa1on grit, and
courage, and purity, which they manifested in
this respect
Finally, Nj. Edmunds considered the social de-
velopment and progress Of the state, and the in
fuencs, on the character Of its people and insttu
tions of the severe early trials through which it
il passed. 1t was remarkable, that while the his
tory Of most states characterized by great po-
litical and social revolutions, the record Of our
own shows constant, steady, onward movement
from position originally high. He closed with
an eloquent exposition Of the moral lessons which
the early history of our state affords.
Mr.. James Read of Colchester will lecture next
Saturday evening.