Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-02-27
Sketch of the Late Hon. FCrfand +.
Merrill,


nv ppv NyN II. LORD.
To record the virtues or dellneate the char-
acter OF one, whom II IS pleasure 10 remem,
Der as an invariable friend, IS always grateful
task. Even IT the hand OF trlchashiP ihchnss
to magnify the eXce'IthcieS anu pa'l,ae the
faults OF its object, yet justice ana truIn are ny
no means perverted Whet 'n' iriG"uN Penc!.
That gives warm tone 10 'ne eNce''gn, uo'ts 1t
paints, shades or retlres in'1 s"e Instant pre-
specllve all the sharp ana ue'ec,iNe ie"'ureS;
" hlle from the decisive auaSo o' iie s9creu
Protecorof the English Commonweoltn "fe"
me as 1 an" we learn the necessity oI Peliect
uuthiulness IN all delneauonS OF choracter' We
are also confident that ohly Tue pen Vi d" @ 9u-
mlrng ana loving biograPh'r can uo even '','N
Tor Its subject. Enmlty Wouiu uace ON! ''c
seams and blotches OF one lie, lhuilerGhce
would iail to discover the neau'IeS' "nhe
friend alone can get the real expression OF the
soul, ana transfer to inc canvass OF 'ne sNetcn
'hose truly hoble qua ltleS Whch III al Wot''N
men, ar their greatest ana strongest quohutS
and when always lie hidoch deep rom the
preJudlced crltIc, or ore co'ereu Win I1ul's 10
the eye OF superhcial duqupNlarcP' trust,
theIeioIe, that 'he StronS PeisUh"l ftb"'u ever
Iei' lor VT Nier'I'' VIII hoV GlSqu",'! n'F Io'
representing MS chaiac'er iui'l! enu ,ru'.'uIN'
erranu r. MerriI was oorn III HIo"'Pe!ic'
on the -f'h Gay oI Oclo0er, Iolt re was 'nV
eldest son OF Hon lim3thy Merrill lis iather
was renaple counc'lof ana Prupent anu
truS'WoL'"! ia"}eI III 'ie 'p"n Ut -tou'l''"o'
anu uur,"S 'nc i''er part o' MS n'e VIZ a"-
hu"'i c'eO'eu 10. 'iu''l years cisiN U' VI. ii""o
OF heprcSgh'atlVeS' Ghiii MADE secretary oi
Htate' "nic' ohlce ne neiu at ,ae ,'uiu vi ms
uc"'n' he uIc" III tne !eai l''1 "t 'ne "Se VI
nIt!-hNe' il'S SUI 'ne su'Ject Vi 'i'i1 SNo.."'
Il
ana truly Na'uaolG associate at us carr! an
age as ioI''eeI III tnc Ticr'cai uut'cS co,''g0'1'
WIN inc hsS'Siature' upon MS '"'ner u''''I
ne was MS iiile.!ia'e succeSso' II, ."o 'S'' vi
the widowed family anu IN MS puouc anu pro-
lesSionai IaoorS. IN lhe year looo, ne was
elected Engrosslng Clerk ot the House OF Rep-
resenlatives, and two years after he was made
Clerk, in which office he remained Until 1919.
Upon his retiring from the Clerkshp OF the
House. in which position he was eminenily sue
cesslul and popular, he was chosen Secretary OF
State. lierecclved four successive elections to
this office, and was finally at the fifth election,
defeated by the celebrated coalition between the
pure national democrats and the poor sectional
abolitonsts,-an election which demonstrated
how much stronger is the cohesive power OF
office seeking than is the attraction OF professed
| political principle. On that year the sce1tre
fell from the nerveless grasp OF the old Wing
party, and the 'star which never set" suffered
a disastrous and final eclipse That party never
fairly recovered its power 1t fingered a few
years in coy dalliance with the party by whose
means the democrats had overthrown it, and
then linked its fortunes with repubIicanism.
am not aware that Mr.. Merriifs political prin-
cipes we're changed at all by the change of the
political affiliations through which he went in
connection with all his party associates. They
,ttrht tn1p hnyn hnp hnIp al
and lost somewhat Of the anci mt brightness, /
had almost said 'ot'teness which belonged to
that noble and elevated school of patriotism,
which had for its leaders such men as Webster
and Clay. But he still retained all the conser-
vatism OF sentiment, which can possibly belong
to man VINO moves reeiy III the Poii'ica' CIR
cles Oh tne ua!:
Aiter MS re'lr"c! rom ',e oecret'I!S'lP vi
state ne was e'ec'cu o'a'e AVorne! lor 'nc
Cnunty OF NaShISton' All" subsequently, III
lSo6--H . represented the town OF IohtPchcT
IN Inc Le9isiaIufe' ne came 10 '.'s oii'cc u" one
OF the cTit'cal perlouS ol Tue history eI ',i''
town. u! an unexpected calah''y o' "re' 'i,e
state Capitol loc9'eu 'here' was consumed IL
was 'he pfiGe ana ornament Oh the Niliase' as
wei as oi lhe Hlale. upon us ourUlnS' IL was
soon dlScoNereu '''"' more 'o"nS anu Nlil'Sc'
OF vermont were amoiuouS 10 contend lor inc
honor OF oeihS It's Oapi'a' thah there were citie'
OF ancient 0reece emuious TO be known as tht
birthplace OF 'he Geau Homer vi course INT
cltlzens OF Montpelier at once began 10 con
slder what means oil defense she hau against
} those VINO, naturally enough were disposed t'
grasp the goods the Jealous delueS were shaking
out OF her hands In that contest whose dll
has but just iairl subsidized, 1t was necessary
that Montpelier should have leader IN th'
} Legislature. And if she had been permitted t'
} select man particularly for that struggle hei
choice would have fallen upon the one she hat
already elected, Without expectation OF ITS pos
} sOle occurrence. AS representative OF INT
} town OF Montpelier at that period, he servet
} her interest faithfully, and with a remarkable
} skill and sagaclty. 1t will be not lnVidlous 10
} me to say, at a time when all acerhty OF tina
= stnle has passed away, before society mat wa
} never Affected by 1t at all, and IN town ina
Montpelier has learned to respect, oo'h as
vigorous contestant and subsequent Seherou
P friend that, by the tact and coolneSs, the con
summate address and the perfect iamllalty q
Mr.. Merrill with all the methods OF parliamen
tory usage, and the unseliish assiduity he DIS
played, he deserves to have his name held Il
y his native village, associated with the towering
edifce that is the very crown OF It's beauty, 81
n long as one stone IN It's massive walls stand
upon another. Subsequent elections to the OF
= fee of Representative would have been accor
ded to him had he deemed 1t compatible wit
his private interests to have accepted them.
h 1t will be seen from the brief outline OF hi
public life which have made that his time wa