Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-09
THE MEN OF VERMONT.
3. CORNELIUs p. VAN MSS.

Slttc VI ANcW IoTk, lie WIS uoTH ui VIC
farm, now widely known as "Liadenwald,"
1.-THE present residence of Martin Van
Buren, the eighth President of the United
States) ia Undertook, in the County of
Columbia, in 1881.
He was one OF three brothers, all of
whom subsequently, became distinguished
as lawyers and politicians. Of whom
Gen, John =. Van Ness was member
OF Congress from New York during the
administration of Jefferson, and being by
him appointed Major of the Militia of the
District of Columbia, he resigned his seat
in Congress and was subsequently Mayor
of the city Of Washington.
Cornelius p. Van Ness, studied law in
his. native county, and was there admit
ted TO practice, and then Immediately re-
moved to Vermont. He first settled in
Grand Isle and was married in that place
in 1906. After residence of about six
months in that County, he removed to st.
Adams, and commenced the practice of
his profession. He remained in St. AL
bans till 1909, when he removed to Bur-
lington, where he continued to reside
during the residue of his stay in Vermont
During this year he was appointed Post
Master at Burlington, which office he held
about one year, and, was in 1910 appoint
ed United States Attorney for%the Dis
trict of Vermont, and in 1918 he resigned
that office. He was appointed Collector
of the United States Revenue for the Dis
trict Of Vermont the same year, and was
continued in this Office four years
He discharged the dutie5 thereof with
honor to himself and satisfaction, both to
the United States Government and the
people doing business at the office, during
the delicate and trying times of the en-
bargo--and of the war then existing be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain.
The Treaty of Client, provided for the
settlement of the Northern Boundary, by
commissioners to be appointed by the re-
spective countries, and in 1917, he was
appointed one of the commissioners on the
part of the United States, for which he
received salary of me thousand pounds
sterling, all of the commissioners, both
American and British receiving the same
compensation.
In 1918, he was elected TO represent
the town of Burlington in the Legislature
of Vermont and was reelected in 1919,
20 and 81.
He was elected Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Vermont in 1S2l. This
was more noticeable compliment from
the tact that this was his first election to
the Supreme Court and that his two as
sociates had been tour years on the bench
He was I 'e-elect, Chief Justice in 1922.
Before the expiration of his term of office
in 1928, he was elected, with almost un-
PARALLEL unanimity, Governor of the State,
and was reelected in 1924 and 1926 with
out any organized opposition.
In his annual message to the Legisa- |
ture in 1926, Governor Van Ness intro
troduced the subject of internal improve
ments, and RECOMMENDED that measures |
be taken to improve the navigation of
Connecticut River, and that canals be
for the purpose of uniting the
waters OF that River with Lake Cham
plain and Memphremagog. In accordance
with his recommendation board of ca
was appointed and an
appropriation made to defray their ex-
pences the project however was never
The administration of Governor Van
Ness was marked by the visit of General
Lafayette I'd this State. In compliance
with the invitation o. the Legislature,
by the Governor, son the
28th of June 1925, Lafayette entered
Vermont for the in irsi time at Windsor,
where he was joyfully received by the
Governor, and numerous body of citi-
zens assembled to welcome the early ben
efactor of their country. From Windsor"
accompanied by the Governor and his staff,
: he proceeded by way of Montpelier to
Burlington, and was every where received
with the warmest affection and gratitude,
and with the most enthusiastic demonstra
tons of admiration and applause"
In 1926, Governor Van Ness was elected
on the part OF the Council, United States
Senator from Vermont for the term of
six years from the 4th of March following,
but was defeated in joint-assembly By
majority of sac votes, partly on account of
his favoring William II. Crawford for the
Presidency of the United States in pre-
ference to John Quincy Adams, but main
ly as it was then strongly asserted, by his |
warm pesronai friends, Shy the treachery /
of has protessed supporters"
In the fall of 1929, he was appointed
by Andrew jackson, then President of !
the United States, ENJOY Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary from the
United States to the Court of Spain, and
ably and satisfactorily discharged the du-
ties Of tina high station for the period of
ten years. During his residence at Mad
rid, July 18th 1834.he buried his wife, and
subsequently, married a beautiful and ac-
complished Spanish lady by whom he had
a da,ghtar both of whom survived him