The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-01
Vermont Historical Society.

an exception. Be hopeful.
Vermont Historical Society.
A special meeting Of this society was held
at the North Church, on Wednesday and
Thursday Of this week. At 100 A. NJ. of
Wednesday. Hon. Hiland Hall of Benning.
ton took the chair and called the society to
order, and an appropriate prayer was offered
by Rev. Z. c. Cummings. The secretary be-
ing absent, Hon. Charles S. Dana was ap-
pointed secretary pro tenn. Gov. Fairbanks
then addressed the president as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT In behalf of the citizens
Of our village and town, have the honor of
presenting to- the members of the Vermont
Historical Society our cordial welcome, and
of expressing our qualification that you have
honored US with this special appointment.
Our citizens, and the citizens Of this coun-
ty, have known too little Of your society, and
have perhaps been to little interested in the
objects for which it has been organized. This,
think, has not resulted from our incapacity
to appreciate those objects, or to value the
interesting facts and incidents developed by
the society but from inattention and lin
tied acquaintance with this medium of re-
search.
am happy. sir, to avail myself of this OPP
portunity to introduce you and your society
to our community, and we hope for better
acquaintance"
Vermont has history, interesting and in.
structive, much Of which has never been
published. Valuable local facts, aud the BIZ
ography of men eminently useful, are, in too
many instances, unknown or oblivious to the
public. 1t is rot the Ethan Aliens and the
Narrens who alone represent our great men
and the worthless of past generations. Many
noble men, talented and useful, have occu-
pied private and modest spheres, who, had
they been brought out by the force of Cir
cumstances, would now be numbered in the
galaxy of statesmen and public benefactors.
while living and We fail to realize their loss
until We lock, and look in vain for others to
fill their places, and occupy their vacant
spheres of usefulness.
1t is the mission Of your society, sir, to
supply in part, the biography of such men,
to rescue from ohlivion their memory, and
hold up their useful lives as patterns for the
present and future generations.
1t is true Vermont has its record,-its pub
hshed record of men and events, alike honor
able and interesting and to you, sir, are we
indebted, in no small degree, for its history
Still, interesting and instructive as is the
history of the past, and however honorabiy
associated with that of our common country,
it is from among our cotemporaries, the men
of the present time, that history will select
its patriots, its heroes and its statesman.
In the present fearful national conflict, the
blood and treasure of our citizens are freely
sacrificed. Our young men, with their he
roic officers, are found in I" fore front of the
hottest battles" Deeds of heroic valor and
of self-sacrifcing devotion in the cause oil
our common country, are performed by oul
Vermont soldiers,-deeds which should BIZ
known to posterity, but which will 90 unre'
e corded,u unless some friendly chronicler rescue;
: them from oblivion and what agency so ap
propriate for such work as the Vermont
:. Historical Society.
1t is not our high commanding officers wht
! alone deserve this honor. They, with few
+ exceptions, have molly done their duty, anc
T.. their achievements together with the great
events of the war, will find their place il
4 history. But the humblest soldier in thu
e ranks is often as deserving, and his services
!. not unfrequently, are as important in decld
ing the issues of battles, as are those of hi
i superior officers and is it not the appropri
, ate mission of the Vermont historical SO
ciety to vote and record the incidents of tn
h service and the personal achievements G
our own citizen soldiers, that our descendant
, WHO will possess the dear bought Inheritance
=, rescued and preserved from the barbarou
foe by these our brethren, may read the re
- cord and immortalize their memory?
But, sir, it i'll becomes ME to indicate
II the present occasion, the mission ard dutie
of your society. am reminded that the d.
90 ty assigned me at the present time is to we
l. come its members, in behalf of our citizen
ID 10 our quiet village and our homes.
y. We have anticipated this occasion wit
J. pleasure. We cannot fail to be lnstructe
while We are sure the occasion will be one
3, enjoyment, Essentially uile dulci ); and
.w our visitors shall in any degree enjoy II
no same qualification, if the pleasure and pro
rs shall be, in any good degree mutual, our hig
est wishes will be gratified. "
To this address of welcome the preside
responded in few brief and we'll chos'
to sentences, and then proceeded to read a pap
Oil setting forth at length the objects OF the so
mt ty' the success it had already achieved and
Ill; claims watch it reasonably makes upon
in. attention and patronage OF Vermonters.
ng there were any present that had doubts as
ar the importance Of the work which the soci
the ty has in hand, We think those doubts mu
ad- have been efectually dispeled by this exp