The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-08-23
The Celebration at Bennington.

SNSiNiSVS uiu lot COiiiincnCc VII Tue STAND
till one o'clock, Wednesday afternoon. -
In addition to persons already mentioned
in tho Herald, we observed upon the
platform Maj. Gen. Hooker, Brig. Gems.
Truman Seymour, Carr, J. w. Phelps,
Stannard and Foster Around the re.
porters' table were seated representatives
of the st. Albums Transcript, Burlington
Free Press, Rutland Herald, Vermont
Record, Troy Times, n. Y. 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 impressive
prayer.
Gov. Hall then remarked that the bat
tie which was fought 80 years ago, though
few, compared with the immense hosts of
recent times, were concerned, was never
thelcss important in its consequences.
Gen. Burgoync was marching triumph
antly from Canada towards Albany, and
it was this battle that turned the tide of
success lie then introduced to the au-
dience the Rev. Edwin II. Chaplin, who
was received wish hearty applause.
lie 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
speaker of the the occasion. 1rne the
story is familiar, but the narrative never
can grow too familiar; and on this occa-
sion he felt like one facing battery with
out having the guns and ammunition
necessary to charge upon it.
lie did not hesitate to style the battle
OF Bennington momcntous conflict. 1t
was so in its consequences. 1t was the
Gettysburg Of the Revolution. CAP
pausc) 1t occurred shortly after the
disasters of Ii-onderoga and Crown
Point, the retreat Of St. Cair, when our
forces were scantlly armed and provision
ed, and almost wholly disorganizsd.-
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 cx-
pcricnce is enough to convince us that it
would have had all the moral effects 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
disaifection and treason. But we know
he could find none here. Vermont never
swampcd her patriotism in the slough of
state rights. (Applausc)
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 free people, namely:
Ideas, Institutions and Men.
The great Idea of orr nation is self
government. Ours is government of
the people, by the people for the people.
The speaker affirmed that if we had fail
ed in our recent struggle hor the prcserva-
tion of orr nationality, the cause of self
government would haxc been hndercd
the world. The idea would
not have failed. Ideas shoot II thousand
years ahead of the present time. Yet
the practical workings of the idea would
have been interrupted What spectacle
so mournful as nation going TO pieces.
The speaker was thus led to remark
secondly, the strength of the fundamental
idea lies in the Institutions of the country.
lie dissected the doctrine of state sover-
eighty; refuted the great tallacy upon
which it is founded, namely, the assump-
ton that the thing made is greater than
that which makes. 4 great cause that
which this nation is called upon to sus-
tain, i, too great for single state to car
ry.
The third element is men. and we
have now found in our case that we had
them.
Tie nation had done its part, and the
time at length came when men were call
upon to do their part. God be thanked
they have done it.
In conclusion, the speaker remarked
that this was no time FIR contcntion.-
Grave difficulties still await us. Let us
revive the feelings of union and harmony
THAT existed at the times of the battle of
Bennington and the fall of Sumter.
The address which Occiinied about m
hour, Was very eloquent, and met with
hearty response from the thronging null
Gov. Uall remarked that there were
several distinguished persons present from
whom It was hoped few words might
he heard, and he proceeded to introduce
Gov. Smith.
The Governor remarked that it was
almost presumption in him to follow such
Il wealth of eloquence as they had listen
ed to ; but Obedience to orders il consid-
cred indispensable, and he supposed a poor
governor may do his duty best by doing
AS he was ordered. 1t afforded him
great pleasure to be present. 1t seemed
almost rs if he saw the worthless Stark,
Warner and others who consecrated
the affairs OF liberty on these hill-sdes
and kindled up the fires which were new
or to 90 out. With Vermont and Yer
monters, patriotism was not mere SEN
timcnt but an enduring principle IL
has been severe trial to us to pass thro'