The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-02-17

land and held the office tor several years
During his membership, the triangular
controversy between Vermont, New Hamp
shire and New York, was one of th'
troublesome questions pending before Con
gress and Dr. Arnold entitled himself t
the lasting gratitude of Vermonters by
his steady fidelity to the interests of th'
infant state. He was among the very few
members of congress who were, from tht
beginning, in favor of the independence o
Vermont. Indeed, he was suspected by
his associates of being too friendly, and Of
communicating to leading men in Vermont
proceedings which took place in secret
session. This, however, he denied per,
emptorily, in his place in congress; not
withstanding which, (as we learn from
the Madison Papers,) "It was generally
considered that he had, at least at second
hand, conveyed the intelligence to Yer
mont 1t is quite sure that his services
to the state were so important as to secure
for him the high regard of all its princi-
pal men.
His desire for the independence and
prosperity Of Vermont was doubtless oc-
casioned in part by his own determination
to become a resident of the state. As
early as 1880 he had become one of the
grantees of the town of Lyndon, in COM
pany with tifty-two Others, most of them
his fellow citizens of Providence. In
June, 1881 he attended the session of the
legislature at Bennington, to procure a
charter for that town, and SO we'll did he
stand with the people of Vermont, that
although the legislature had decided to
grant no charters till the October session,
an exception was made in his favor, and
the charter was granted the day before
the final adjournment. The state was at
that time selling its lands for any kind of
barter pay that might be offered, and a
part of the charter fees of Lyndon was
paid in iron ware from foundry which
DIR. Arnold, Daniel Cahoon, Daniel Haw-
kins and others of the grantees had estab-
ished at Winchester, n. II.
In October, 1856, the township of St.
Johnsbury was granted to DIR. Arnold and
twenty others, and by purchase from some
of them he soon became the proprietor OF
290o acres, nearly one-fifth part of the
whole. Early in the following spring he
emigrated there, in company with sixteen
Others The motives which could have
induced such a man as he to take up his
residence in the dense wilderness which
then constituted the township it is not now
easy to trace. Whatever they were, they
were, no doubt, strengthened by a Sigh,
misanthropy. His foundry at Winchester
had proved an unfortunate enterprise, by
reason of the dishonesty of some of the
agents, and employees, who, to use hi.
own language, "proved themselves, at his
cost, as finished set of Williams as ever
graced halter" He invested in thes,
wild lands the remnant of his property. il
hope by the sale of them to retrieve hi
fortunes.
In letter to his intimate friend ant
partner in business, Daniel CahoOn, h,
writes :-'' must confess | feel mysel
happy in having risked so much on th
Vermont bottom, and have only to regrc
did not venture more as was completely
in my power. However | repine no
much. trust it will yet prove sutficien
for all my real wants" In the same let
ter he urges Mr. Cahoon to initiate hi
example -" Let the world Co." he writes
cit always was cheat-its most zealou
votaries ever found themselves bubbled b,
the most tiattering prospects it could hol
out to view, and ever will-the world
the same, human nature is the same, an
age and observation will bring any pcrsol
Of observation TO the point with old Jaco
Few and evil have the days of til
years Of my pilgrimage been Here, m
dear sir, you may retire; few acres vii
easily supply all real wants-necessarie
with us are the dainties and delicacies G
life, and these may soon be procured i
abundance. And in this philosophi
strain he balances the advantages of livin
in the city and in the wilderness: Gar
we remote from friends we are equal
SO from tlatterers and defrauders Are W
distant from the circles of wealth an
ambition we are the same distance frol
heresy, confusion, chicane and disappoint
ment. But think not, my friend. fondl
Aatter myself that we can retreat from
trouble. / know man is born to it us tn
sparks fly upward It's the will of HEAVIER
It's the lot of humanity whilst in stat
OF nature to dwell in a vale of tears, an
yet the poet truly says 'state of nature
the reign of God"
DIR. Arnold's house was at the norther
extremity of the Plain, just north of whs
Is now known as Arnold's Park. 1t We
the first, and for sometime, the only fran
ed house IN town. In its orig ginal estate
1t was small, low house, about "a
feet in size, unclapboarded, and "prett
much all one ROOM The lumber for
was probably sawed in the doctors ow
mill, which he built in the spring of 49,
on the Passumpsic river, just above II
, mouth OF Moose river In the followir
year he built a gristmill near the san
place, and little lower down the riv,
than the present mill. They were II
only mills in all the region, and were
great value to all of the infant settl
> ments within many miles. On the FL
day of June, 1890, the town was organ
) lied by a meeting held at his house, an
, of which he was the moderator r,