Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-14

HENRY WARD BEECHER.-The power of this gem
tcman to attract was again attested in the gathering
of nm audience of some twelve hundred to listen to
his lecture, "The Commonwealth at Greenfield, on
Monday evening. The lecture is not one of the latest
written by Mr. b.. the same having been first deliver
ed four years ago; but with our boosted advances in
social and political affairs none outgrow the thoughts
of this gifted man yet longer time written Or spoken
The principle affirmed by the lecturer, was that no
form of government is casual or accidental but rather
each an expression Of the character Of the more in
tellgcnt portion of the governed This latter class in
the kingdom (kings doman) being the few and all
under patronage of the sovereign despotism the re-
suit and light regard for the rights of the people is
inevitable. Hence in the election of the entire body
of the people and universal suffrage only, can the
Commonwealth (weiare of the whole) be established
The recognition Of the infinite in even the humbest
of men, and provision for the best development of all
can alone secure property and permancncy to any
form of government; and the statesmen who overlook
this prime element, occupy themselves to no good
purpose in the obtaining of abundant material resour-
ces or favorable commercial relations through smooth
y-worded compromises with oppression in any form
The spirit Of hierarchy, Of arstocacy as also that of
monopoly took airing at the hands of the speaker;
and the obnoxious features in EACH and the means of
controlling them all in the Commonwealth, were clear
ly defined. The whole lecture was garnished with ant
illusions to passing events and ever the "pecu lar
institution" came in for share of his "thunder"
Mr. Beecher, it will be recollected by some, COM
menced his career as lecturer in this village. When
student at Amherst college, lie was invited to deliver
lecture on Temperance, receiving therefor ten dol
lars and his expenses, we think. By walking from
Amherst to this place, forty miles, a small sum was
saved from expenses wheewth to purchase books for
himself lie alludes with pleasure to this his ay of
small thngs;" and felt, as he says, good degree of
satisfaction in this early effort being content too with
the remuneration. Doubtless at this time us preach
er, lecturer and writer, his influence is more widely
extended than that Of any man in this country. As
lecturer, he sets at defiance system tsys;cms are
his abomnatiou) respectable as that of 'ready-
pay" and evidently esteems his productions some
thing better than cash article His services are
only rendered secure by enclosing, early in the season
one hundred dollars, with request that he w Il an
nounce when he can deliver lecture ut a specified
pace-the retention Of the funds to signify that he en-
iertains the proposal at all, Thus credit of from
three to six months being often given, by parties pay
ing the cash. to him who Is to furnish equivalent.
A TASTEFUL CoMpLIMENT.-Our friend Charles T..
Alexander understands the wants and weaknesses OF
human nature wonderfully well. lie touched our ten
der point the other day in leaving on table large
and wel-cured venison ham, which we Gnd upon u
somewhat critical examination exceedingly tcosome
What blessing it is to have good neghbors TO send
In something eatable these hard times. II ANY one
would like to know the delicacy of II venison ham all
they will have to do is to call in some morning-ai
Alexanders and buy one. While you are about ii
you may well get few choice groceries which you
will find there to 60 with it,
Mrs DAMON, an account of whose death under