Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-02-03
THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Last week this Society held special meet
;nr at Proctorsvillc. The hospitality of the
citizens was extended to those who came from
abroad. and the gathering though not large was
a pleasant one. The exercises are spoken OF
as being interesting and useful, as we should
expcc, from the names Of those who took part
therein, and from the list of subjects discussed
1t is pleasant TO know that while so many are
absorbed in money making, so many in carry
ing on this gigantic war, and so many in doing
little or nothing, there are those among us who
have the ability and disposition to search out
and examine the historical records of the State,
and throw light on-its early settlement and the
character and influence of the pioneers of our
Green Mountain civilization. And though some
might be disposed to inquire what benefit are
these men comforting on the publicP what the
advantage of their meetings their essays and
their addresses? We are disposed to value
them highly for the lessons which they perhaps
unconsciously are teaching. Vermont is but a
small State. She occupies only small speck
on the map of the national domain. Her pop
ulation is sparse, her inhabitants few, her eli
mate severe, and her soil by no means rich like
that of many other States She has no large
cities, no extensive commerce, and her manu-
features are limited. And yet she is not with
out her influence, her full share of influence in
the nation. Her Senators in Congress are lis
tened TO with respectful attention, and their
wisdom and experience have weight in the
councils of the nation. The men who repre-
sent her in the lower House are men of talent
and worth. They are known to be loyal to
TRUTH justice, liberty; they are diligent, faith.
full workers, and they do good service to their
country. Go where you will, to the various
cities of the Union, to the new and growing
States of the great West, and in every profess
sion and every department of business, you will
find the sons of Vermont taking prominent
stand, and acting well and honorabIy their part
in the duties and conflicts of life. And in this
great war with traitors and rebels no men have
a better record than the soldiers Of Vermont.
They have shown their valor OH many bloody
battlefield. If dangerous work is TO be done,
or a hard battle to be fought, it is well under
stood that our Green Mountain boys can be re-
lied on that they will shirk no duty, shrink
from no danger
Now what are the causes that have contrib
uted to these results? What are the influences
that have given such force, energy, bravery, in
telligence, independence, and love of justice
and freedom TO our people? The Historical
Society is partially answering these questions.
One part of its labor is to reveal to US the
character of the men who first settled the State,
framed its government and laws, moulded its
institutions, and infused into the minds of their
children and descendants the grand and noble
ideas with which they were themselves inspired.
They are doing not little to trace out the con-
nectiun 6etweeu the character Of our first sell
tiers aud the institutions they established, and
to show the influence which those institutions
have had on the people of the State, in giving
even to the present generation something of
the noble and manly spirit which they exhibit.
And so may we learn The great lesson which
our history is teuchiug-thal the best PRODUCTS
of a State are her noble men and women
And while other States may asonish US with
statistics Of their vast resources of wealth, the
immense products Of their mines, their wells OF
oil, their agriculture, manufactures and COM
merce, may Vermont in all time be able to
point with pride to her sons and daughters as
noble and lofty race and say, these are my
riches, these my priceless jewels.