Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-10-13
ADDRESS
HON. JUSTIN s. MoRRILL
At THE
WtNDHAM COUNTY FAIR.

Mr. President and Gentlemen Of he Society IL am
glad TO be able to meet you tho present occasion
because this part Of State is not only rich in Its
agriculture and other varied industw,~su dch in
men, and peculiarly rich in incidents elongng the
heroic period in the history Of State. have the
more cheeruly accepted your invitation to address
your Society because your interest docs not adhere to
the speaker much TO the topics to be discussed
While the gale prevails, all the tackle is strnined
and the ship is seered solely with the view to ride out
the storm in safety. When the floods come Iitiless
upon the just and unjust all obey the supreme law OF
to shelter and to take care
Of what is nearest and dearest, reckless Of all pesde
When the gale ceases, when the dark clouds rol away
and the glad earth reoiccs in still sunshine aId quiet
beauty, then the mariner again pushes his votte; the
whstling plowman drives his team field l. he bee
goes forth and returns laden with honey; huhan So
ciety, no longer glows with single passion tht man
| begins to obey Heavens greatest commando and is
radiant with love to God and love to his nehbOrs.
Just emerged from a struggle of unexanded pro-
portions, and Of sacrifices multiplied varolspnd he
roic; triumphant foes resolved to staI or fall
upon their authority to govern everybody ltt them
selves-us wei! their slaves; vctoriousPver that
treason which waged mplacable war againstihe equal
rights of the human to life, liberty anAthe pur
suit of happiness and which would have asassnatal
those great American principles, as set forth in he
Declare tion of independence and in Christaiy With
less of remorse than even American Prcsidgnt;-
we now, from this savage strife that must Slaughter
or be slaughtered, gladly turn to the genie arts of
peace, to the bleating herds, to the unmatched per
fume of the new-mown hny, to the gollea and abun-
dant harvest-felds, and to the refined and cultured
sanctuaries of loving homes where We fling out, as
n here To-day, the stars and stripos,hc ~ fag of the
nation-to which we vow with tcnderesl Niection,
did Ruth to Naomi, "Whither thou goest,will go;
and where thou odgest will lodge: thy pople shall
be my people, and thy God my God: were thou
diest, will die, and there will be buried the Lord
do so to me and more also If aught but leath part
thee and me-"
The appetite long rel on the tragic movements and
the Haunting spenlors of war is not rediy toned
down to the cold and tame conditions of pace. Glad
as we all are that the garments of our brve soldiers
are no longer dripping with blood that tie doors of
the temple Of war are being closed we yet sigh for
the excitement of the morning bulletin, rctng per-
lis by flood and field the surrender of aruies and the
capture OF argoses. Having breathed the atmosphere
of a century compressed into four years, find the
present air too rarfed for instant suppor. But the
trooper, expert he has proved himsef with the
sword and revolver, has already exchanged his mar
} tia weapons for the scythe and the pow The mus
ces of those serred ranks so lately stnned for a
march charge, are already emp Dyed in the field,
the shop, or the mine The iron lads and the mon
tors-hose monsters of the deep which have so long
menaced traitoros shores & swept the ocean in search
of beigerent prev, are moored in friendly har-
bors, patrollng their home the deep, they are
leutly procaiming the American notto stark and
stiff, "Enemies in War, in Peace, Frends" Our mer-
.cantle marne-no longer rottng at the wharf, nor
than that driven to force ~snS ace and trans
fer peridious neutals resumng its vocation and
the flag of the Union once more affords protection
even against the so lately eted and petted pirates o.
, the once masculine Jeff. Davis
! Those who have lost loved ones In the recent wal
should remember that they went forth at the call o
their country that they fell under the flag of the ma
ton as the precious seed of Union and Liberty that
they have not perished in vain and that they-vicor
even in death-leave a world behind to perpetuatt
their gallant deeds and blazon their names on thu
? eternal scrolls Of time. merciiul Providence ha
saved from pestilencc and blessed the land witt
plentiful harvests Our robust little State sent abou
35 900 men into the field, of them shams, film!
to the brim all quotas and placing considerable sur
u - plus for the nert ,cdr; and wherever posted stou
fighting has been their steady fortune, and, howeve
weared, though but in five were left to hold th
musket, they were at all times ready for the conflict
No eagles have been torn from their grasp. Whl'
they have been at the 'front.' their rear has been gen
erously supported by the State through additiona
g pay, by liberal bountes from the towns, by tn
sweeer gifts to the i'll and wounded which have un
,, ceasngly flowed through the efforts Of Christian
hearted women, from every town and village, and b.
the profound sympathy and gratitude of "A thorough
d loyal people-the exceptions being mnnorthy of mer
y ton. And while these meu-embracing so large
- share of our adult popunton-haye been thus abser
in the service Of the Republic the products of the ol
homesteads of Vermont have not been diminshe'
II Labor has received higher reward, and the Stat
untouched by rebels or the practical scourge of wa
save in single instance through the suierance of OF
d Canadian neighbors in-law, has been in the mai
A prosperous Though the State and some towns hay
% been necessarily involved in debt-the tax payers
votng-at no time in history have people bee
e more Free personally, from Indebtedness than at Il
!, present moment and this may be truly said of ii
" whole country.
w War Of any sort is to be abhorred and stunned s.
70 it be possible as much as leth in you but our
"peacc and good will to men," that it will not be we
Id for any foes foreign domestic orgtu of their o~
in duties or of rights to make aggessions or to
OF sumo that the American people are exhausted
strength or dued in spirit
After so much by way Of felcitatiOn over the da
n gers passed in the history of our country ventu
ok the assurance that at time have the prospects
OF the agrculturist been airer than now, whether
as look alone to pecunary profits to long life and no
n or among men. Production is easier and prices a
IL greater than at any former period Labor has be-
40 vindicated 1t will fight for Its ideas well as
~ bread Here in America, and especially in Vernon
it is sure of its highest appreciation and highest +
~ ward.
,s. shall not give you to-day an essay upon rarmu
ire crammed with technical lore to overwhem you wi
H. learning do not possess, shall attempt to tea
las where am but learner by paradlng an experen
n entitled to little condolences but with your permiss
| will use the remainder of the time allotted to me
addressing some words to you upon
la THE PRESENT CONDITION AND PRESENT DUTY OF
a VERMONT FARMEHs.
al 1t is festive OCCASION it is true nut it is whic
1t If we can, we should make memorable by implant
mt in our hearts higher aims for the fuure-resolvi
that whatever this year has been well DONE shall
IN done better next years resolving however much '
~ may now know, that we will know hereafter, Al
y, resolving that we will fling away error of theo
-, or practice though we search for il MS for grain
IL chafi in busho OF wheat. will endeavor to be