Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-24


are very dusty.
The hospitality of the Benningtonians
is unbounded
Aug. Il.
Owing TO the burning Of engines at
Troy, which delayed the train convey
ing Mr.. Chaplin to Bennington, the pub
lie exercises did not commence on the
stand till one O'Clock, Wednesday after
noon. In addition to persons already
mentioned in the HERALD, we observed
upon the platform Maj. Gen. Hooker,
Brig. Gems. Truman Seymour, Carr, J.W
Phelps, Stannard and Foster, Around
the reporters table were seated repre-
sentatives of the st. Adams Transcript,
Burlington Free Press, Rutland Herald,
Vermont Record, Troy Times, New York
Tribune, Herald and Times, and the
Boston Post, Traveller and Advertiser.
At the commencement of the exercises
Gov. Hall remarked that it was the Gus
tom of our fathers to open all their pub
lie exercises with prayer; he therefore
called upon Rev. Isaac Jennings, D. D.,
of bennington, who offered An Impress
i've prayer.
Gov. Hall then remarked that the bat
tie which was fought So years ago,
though few, compared with the i'm
rnanSa hoS+S Of ranno+ +i,nac yuarns no,,
cerned, was nevertheless important in
its consequences. Gen. Burgoyne was
marching triumphantly from Canada to-
wards Albany, aud it was this battle
that turned the tide of success. He then
introduced to the audience the Rev. Ed
win II. Chaplin, who was received with
hearty applause.
He said that no one could regret more
deeply than himself that some one Of
the members Of the Historical Society
who was familiar with all the details Of
the early times had not been designated
as the speaker Of the occasion. True, the
story is familiar, but the narrative new
er can grow too familiar; and on this
occasion he felt like one facing battery
without having the guns and ammuni-
ton necessary TO charge upon it.
He did not hesitate to style the battle
of Bennington a momentous conflict. 1t
was SO in its consequences. 1t was the
Gettysburg of the Revolution. Gap
plause.) 1t occurred shortly after the
disasters Of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point, the retreat of st. Clair, when our
forces were scantily armed and provis-
Toned, and almost wholly disorganized.
Had Burgoyne succeeded in forming a
junction with the British forces at New
York, and thus carrying out the policy
of Divide and conquer" our recent ex-
perience is enough to convince us that
it would have had all the moral effect of
a great victory.
Burgoyne's object was something
more than to get provisions it was to
see what fruit he could develope from
lurking disaffection and treason. But
we know he could find none here. Yer
mont never swamped her patriotism in
the slough of state rights. (Applause)
In no better manner can we celebrate
the day than by examining in the light
thereof, the conclusions which are being
developed at the present time. There
are three elements which are essential to |
the existence Of a free people, namely: |
Ideas, Institutions and Men.
The great Idea OF our nation is self |
government. Ours is government Of |
the people, by the people, for the people. |
The speaker affirmed that if we |
had failed in our recent struggle |
for the preservation of our nation
ality, the cause of selfgovernment |
would have been hindered through
out the world. The idsa would not have