Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-08-28
RHODE ISLAND AND HER GOVERNOR.

PROVIDENCE. Aug. 1lth, 1861.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Rhode Island, you know COM
pared to some of her sister States, is nothing
more than good-sized garden patch but her
citizens wish it to be distincly understood that
she raises the talest kind of "taters" and that
in all the elements which go to make prosper
Gus community, she is the peer of any other in
the land. The Legislature has just closed an
extra session, holden in this city, convened by
the Governor for purposes incidental to the war.
We visited both branches on Friday, and were
much pleased with the Legislative ability dis
played by the members. When we entered the
Senate chamber, the Senators were taking re-
cess, and we found His Excellency Go iernor
Sprague chatting with members in the most
democratic and familiar way. He was sitting
Just outside the bar, with his heels elevated
higher than his head, rolling cud of "ine cut"
like a sweet morsel under his tongue, and expec-
torating narcotic juice at convenient intervals.
Gov. Sprague is very youthfu-looking, we
should say not over thirty is modest and unas-
suming in his manners, and wears spectacles.
You will remember that his first election was
the result of a contest almost without paral-
lei in the history of the country but his patri-
otic devotion to the Union and the Constitution,
his energy and iberality in equipping and send
ing forth the splendid regiments of brave Rhode
litical opposition. With his youth. his almost
princely wealth, his care for every want of the
soldiers, and his personal bravery upon the field
OF battle, he has spruug at single bound to a
position that any man might envy, and thrown
about his brief career an interest which finds Il
response in every patriotic heart throughout the
land, and which will send his name down to fu-
ture generations as one who gave the vigor of
his youth, the amplitude of his fortune, and
loyalty of his heart, to the defence of his coun-
try's honor. God bless the youthful Governor of
dear little Rhody!
Notwithstanding, however, the popularity Of
Gov. Sprague, he doubtless lacks that maturity
of judgment which years only can give; and
yesterday he received gentle snub, in the de-
feat of one or two measures he mad recommend
ed to the Legislature: one was to give the Ex-
ecutive the privilege of appointing ody-guard
to His Excellency, the necessity of which mea-
sure was not apparent to the members of the
"great and general Court" and therefore failed
to pass as did also the bill of his recommend
ing TO reduce the bounty offered to soldiers en-
listing for the war. In discussing this question
one or two members took occasion to compli-
ment old Massachusetts.
| We had the pleasure, also of looking upon
the g.nial, yet manly, face of Gen. Burnside
Next perhaps, to the Governor, he is the most
popular man in the State: his praises are on
every tongue.
Did space permit, we could speak of other
noble sons Of Rhode Island engaged in the late
battle, who have won for themselves laurels
that shall never fade.
There seems to be but one feeling herein
the Legislature, and among the people, and
that is that Rebellion and Treason mnst be put
doion at ,ohdteuer cost. Business may be ruined,
fortunes melt away, and precious lives be lost
but the temper of RHODE ISLAND is, lay them
all upon The altar, if the country shall demand
the sacrifice. Providence is splendid city, and
Rhode Island a model State. "Bully tor her. ,
Yours truly, WINNIsMNET.