Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-11-02

COL. w. G.. vEAZEY OF RUTLAND,
BgFoRg THE REUNION SOCIETY," or vERuoNr
OFFICERS, ~ ruE REPRESENTATIVES HALL,
THURSDAY EVE, oCr 20.


NJ. Prssi{sai, Conrq les. LIiies and Gentle
men; The words Of introduction which our dis
tinglished President has been pleased to use.
scarcely tehd 70 decrease the embarrassment and
sohcitude with which come to discharge of the
duties assigned me upon this occasion OF traternal
reunion We assemble from our scattered hills
and valleys to mnge situations, 10 review the
days of camps and battles, AMI 10 gather renewed
coura q from the magnetic touch OF a comrades
elbow, for the unfinished duties OF life. 1t Is an
occasion when we feel crowding in upon our minds
m smories of mingled 10y aud sadness memories
no, only of heroic achievement, but Of fallen com
rades; an OCCASION not for cold speculative Discus
son, however profound or ingenious, but rather
for the expression Of sentiment and patriotic feel
ing. Bat in my solictuie, lest fail to do justice
to the o;clsion do not forget that in the bosoms
of those whom specially address, beats the sol
dier's and generous heart, that brooks no un
kindly criticism of a comrades fault
j l. is MT unprecedented for post-revoutionary
period 10 be marked by evil forebolings, and often
by imminent public peri greater, perhaps. than
in the height of the revolution itself. Meeting as
we do tonight in the midst of such a period, it
has seemed to me not unwise to run our eyes over
some of the features OF the struggle. and perhaps
gather inspiration from bright examples, for the
work which the pers of the times impose upon
US. Until within less than decade OF years, 1t is
doubtful whether any generation was ever the re-
cipient, or in the enjoyment OF so great suostan-
tin political blessings, as the present generation,
in this republic. Almost perfect liberty, yet with
out license, almost universal prosperity, yet with
ont general dissoluteness, were dif1sed over our
broad domain. Compared with our government IN
its practical effect the individual, not only every
form that preceded it, but even the ideal repub-
lies Of philosophers were bnt rudments in gov
ernmsntal poty The hand of the State rested
so lightly on the individual that he scarcely per-
ceiyed the touch The fruits Of representative re-
pnbictnsm were being enjoyed, whileyet the ordeal
of internal disruption had not tested its strength
rs a form Of government In the struggle for lib
erty, or, perhaps better, in the constant effort to
suppress liberty which constitutes about all there
is Of history, liberty had occasionally gained a par
tial triumph. The words democracy and republic
not unlrequently occur on the pages OF history
but often msuscd descriptive OF government;
oftener indeed descriptive of tyranny than liberty.
Where intelligence prevails at all it is only under
the guise of liberty that complete tyranny can be
exercised. Yet at long intervals and Tor brief pc
RODS, the will of the people has formed the gov
ernment. but generally 50 imperfect aud under
such unlayorabe circumstances, that the fruits OF
liberty to the citizen scarcely less bitter than
those of the tyranny that preceded and into which
the peoples government so soon relapsed. WIN
us, security in person and property, freedom OF
speech and the press taxation not burden, labor
honorable and re ewardel. merit recognized. prop
erty distributed, knowledge diifused full religious
federation. poverty cared for, crime punished, ma
tionality of spirit worthy ancestry, historic re-
, nown, all these, my comrades constituted but a
part of the blessings of free government proisely
! strown along our pathway. Even the price paid
by the fathers of the Republic, the expenditure
of blood and treasure, the sacrifice aud suffering
Although that long, dark night of struggle with op-
: Ypression. which preceded the morning dawn of
4 Independence is not adequate for the privileges
, which we enjoyed.
Add even the story of the schooling through
which the fathers passed, 10 preparation for their
7 lnlpueulaupe.
fearful strife. so widespread that the set not
on peaceful quarter OF the globe that contest
when in the East, Give, just from the accountants
desk, led British battaons 10 the conquest oil an
+ empire, wider and richer than ever paed before
the Roman eagles, when in Europe Frederick the
Great against gigantic combination TO the
+ - last gttering peak of heroic attainment, and
e when in the West Montcalm and Wolfe, upon the
heights OF Abraham,
d Bought by their death deAthless fame; =
add, say, the heroic aud perilous part which the
fathers performed in this conflict in preparation
for the nobler struggle for Independence that follow
n ed, and still have not price equal to the mea-
:, sure OF privileges meted out to us under the be-
a nign influence of republican liberty.
= So far, in national emergencies as well as in in-
u dividual protection the Republic had proved suii-
e cicnt.
j. With but comparatively slight interruptions peace,
disseminating its untold iayors, had attended the
nation up through its growth to speedy manhood.
Except in mimiciy upon some festive day, no
" piercing fife or humping drum or soldiers
tramp had awakened the echoes OF our mountain
& slopes Peace, prosperity, fraternity, equality,
J. had fallen TO favored lot Looking back lhro
l. the tornado OF war that followed, through the
tears the pangs, the deaths seems not unlike the
IS dreamy view Of age back through the vicssitudes
OF a stormy life to the happy days Of ruddy youth,
Though not fully appreciated, the blessings OF
3, this free government based upon the equality OF
J. man, were none the less real The enjoyment OF
g this goodly heritage, without price from US. rem
e dered IT none the less valuable Having attained,
y ~ far as human experience could Judge. and human
wisdom devise, the perfection of government, there
deyoyed upon US the triple duty to preserve to in
r crease TO transmit the priceless inheritance.
>, TO preserve t-how little did we know the
+ magnitude Of our duty the weight Of our respon-
siblty the mighty efforts in store for US. To pre-
serve it:--so secure did we regard ourselves in our
>, estate, that these words seemed well nigh like
s. meaningless defamation. But aow, you. my COM
l. rades you who have seen death,
by tudit bow,
BY wAsttnS plague by toTtuTes sos,
.r BY uine o. brea by steel or tali.
y kno IN all his SHAFTS scanned them ALL"
l. m still more you parents aud widows, brother.
Is an siSters, who wear the weeds Of mourning, and
bsir in your bosoms broken and bruised hearts that
l..ak