Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-16

discusses The Causes Of the Revolution, the
second The Phases of the Revolution" the third
i" The Congress Of the Revolution, and 30
through the Finances, =" Diplomacy, +" For
/ eign Element" y" Martyrs and " Literature" Of
the revolution. These lectures are not preten
tious in their style, evidently not having bae'
written for the purpose Of airing the authors
rhetoric, but are clear, direct, forcblo and in
exhibiting familiar acquaintance with the his
tory Of the revolution. We extract from the
lecture on The Martyrs of the Revolution"
the following interesting account OF the death OF
Nathan Hale, who was executed by the British
as aspy
The name Of Nathan Hale is less knowl. lie
was too young 10 take an active part in the dis
cussions which had given Warren celebrity before
the sword was actually drawn, and held too sub
ordinate a position " en- be entered the army
to attract the attention he deserved. Like
Quincy, he was fresh from college, loved hls
books and looked upon literature ss the source
from which his purest pleasures were to dow
10 q naturally refined aud delicate mind he had
added the refinement OF dligent cultivation
Nature had gwen him lively sensblities and a
warm heart, and be had done all that he could
do by the sd OF poetry and philosophy, to
make them subseryient to the duties OF lie as
well az its pleasures His ambition for dil-
tlnction was controlled Dy a profound sense Of
duty, which led bin to igel that no distinction
could satisfy the aspirations oi his mind which
did not satisfy the dictates OF his conscience.
l.. wish TO be useful" were his words - d
friend who was endeayorlng 10 dlssuade him from
undertaking what the world called dshOnor-
able thing, although Washington had said that
il was Indispensable to the safety Of the army
-'' wish 10 be useful, and every kind Of ser.
vice necessary to the public good becomes honor
able by bong necessary.
With such teutiments We should naturally
look for him where We actually ind him, at
the camp before Boston, studying his new pro
lessi0n with The same zeal with which he had
studied has classics, and trying TO prepare his
men, as he Was preparing himself, Tor the iull
and satisfactory performance oi their parts
Discipline was one Of the first wants ol The army
and he tried u make bis company distinguished
By the cx ,cllcnCe Of their dls9 plIne. A simple
and UNIFORM method Of clothing the army was
greatly needed and turning his thoughts 10
the subject, he invented uniform for his own
men, simple, convenient, and comfortable Eve
rywhere within his sphere his duty Was per-
formed ia that thorough and satisfactory man
ner which inspires confidence and commands re.
spect. But no opportunity for distinguished
service offered Itself he was with the regiment
that Washington took over TO Brooklyn during
the battle OF Long Island, but not in the battle
ITSELF And when he looked back upon the year
IL. l. I. a -. - I.l -. 4
had Us yet done nothing for his country. W hen,
therefore, Colonel kn0wlton, calling the officers
of bis regiment together, told them that General
Washington wanted an intelligent and trusty
nan to enter the enemys lines. and ascertain
their position, numbers and designs, he SAW
that the tine whicn he had looked forward TO
was come for that there was a work to DO which
even brave men might shrink from without in
curing the suspicion OF cowardlce. The mo-
ment that the meeting oi officers broke up he
vent directly to the tent OF his friend and class
mate. Captain Hull, and told him what was
wanted and what be intended to do. " You
are not fit for il" said Hull you are too
frank and open for disguise. This is the work
Of spy,-a man whom men use because they
need hun, but whom they put to death with ig-
nominy # they detect him" 1t was then that
|
which have already quoted Every KIND OF
service Necessary to the public good becomes
honorable by beng necessary II the exigencies
OF my country demand a peculiar service, its
claims to perform that service are imperous
And then, alter listening to his friend remon-
strances and entreaties, he paused took his hand
aiecuonately, and, saying, will reflect, and
do nothing which DO not feel 10 be my duty,
Hall b,u
and hls heart told hun too surely whittier he was
gone, and what the inevitable fate Of one SO open
and artless would be.
A lew days later an English officer came to
the American camp with dag aud told llamil-
ton that Captain Hale had been arrested the day
before and hanged that mornug as spy. Hun
sought the officer at once and learned from his
lips the short and melancholy story Of his friend
Hale had performed HIS task, examined the
British works, made sketches, collected inform
alton, aud, With his Iapers concealed upon his
person. was upon the uoint Of stepping into u
coat to make his way back TO the army, when
he was seized and carried before General Howe.
Furthur concealmcnt was impossible and when
We remember his character we can easily COZ
ceive that it was with feeling Of relief from
odious constraint that he boldly raised hls head
a case no trial was deemed necessary. lie was
udemned to ole. For convenience sake, NOT
mercy :, single night was given hlm, for it was
now evening, ami llowe's quarters at a distance
IRON the city. lie passed that night in the
srccn-houte uf the Beekman mansion, which tel
years ago was still standing with all us associa
tlons Of colonial New NOik. lie asked to see a
clorgymen, but was denied for Bible, but it
was refused him. Next morning he was led out
to death. Did he ialter did he shrink Would
be have wished that fatal step untaken? Gun
ningham, the Provost Marshal, would have
gladly had us think so Bnt near Rutgers's
orchqrd-onc Of whose applc-,rees was to sup.
ply lallo Ssan English officer had pitched
his mltquee, and when he saw the preparations,
he asked Cunningham 10 allow his victim 10 come
and sat in u TIL all was ready. lie was calm"
said this unQuestionAblo witness, 4" and bore
himself with gentle dignity in the consciousness
OF rect.tude and high intentions. lie asked for
writing materials which furnished him, and
wrote two letters, one to his mother and one / o
tro her officer Shortly after, he was sum
moned 10 the glllows All that he could add
to the bitterness If death, Cunningham added
ami when he heard the last words OF his We i'm
~" | only rcgre, that have but one life to lose
for my country he resolved in his heart that
the rebels should never know that they had
man IN their army who could die with 80 much
frmness, and destroying his letters, destroyed
as he iOudly supposed the last and only record
ot his dying sentiments. But Providence had
not wllled 1t so and in this hour Of desoaion
raised him up a friendly witness even from
among his enemies for il 80 chanced that the
cheer who bad supplied him with pen and pa