Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-07

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State deserving our admiration, but hardly
those who coulh be considered as reformers O
our own peo pie, or ho dreamed of any &C
| ton beyond the nOn-eXtenson of slavery ol
the enforcement OF the government from it
national responsibilities The universal prin-
cIple of liberty, applicable to all men, bai
been, and is now. so freely accepted here
that an adherence to it's laws cOniers littl,
more reputation than an adherence to tn,
laws of common honesty. 1t is no exception
al merit, though lack of it is a positive dis
grace L. would seem more appropriate tha
those should coufer honors upon the memory
of reformers, where reformers were needed
and where such were singular. Here it car
hardly be claimed that any man has been &C
conspicCously In advance of the people o
Vermont. as to be entitled thereby to very
marked distinction.
One representative from among the found.
ers and revolutionary heroes of our State by
no means exhausts the list, vet the reputa-
| ton of civilians and men of more modern
tlmes-eveD OF the days of more recent peril
have strong claims to our attention. Here
| scholars, jurists, orators and statesmen press
| forward for recognition, and we are more
| than ever embarrassed by our riches. If we
could limit our survey to any speciality, for
instance to those most iliustrlous IN learning
Jurisprudence or craftsmanship, our embar-
rassment would be largely dmin ished but
| we have 10 seek, II possible, a combination OF
all these merits making up one full man. A
giant In intellect may not be profoundly learn
| ed, may net be eloquent, may not have served
the State with any considerable distinction,
and, though his greatness is IndIspu table, he
could not be compared with one who was
both able and learned, or with one who was
not only eloquent but had rendered distin-
/ he'd nph less
who embodied al these qualifications in one
| character.
When contemplating our public men, who
! have won tamo various spheres OF life, the
| eye tondly fingers over the memory of several
whose personal traits greatly endeared them
to their generation. and whose merits III not
grow dim though others are revcrentlaily
mentioned. To bring forward others wih
kindred characteristics Is IN fact 10 reflect
honor upon them.
The late Senator Coilamer has left so many
records Of service IN the various walks of lIfe
that it is impossible he should be overlooked
He was blessed with health, a fine constitu-
ton and length of days. Possessing vIgor-
Gus intellect trained In schools and IN his
profession, he was able TO adapt himself to
varied employ ments and was held long In
prominent service, ate and national. W beth
er at the bar or on the bench IN the State
Legislature or In the Federal House of Rep
resentauvcs, whether in the Cabinet or ID the
Senate of the United States, he never failed
to acquit himself with signal ability and fdel-
ity,-such TO cause him to be remembered
with honor In all these places which he sue
cessveiy filled. In the Cabinet and IN the
Senate he proved ripe statesman, and en-
Joyed very large share of national confidence,
certainly as much 80 any of hIs cotempoTarles
and, remembering who they were, this is no
moderate condemnation.
If he essayed no dazzling novelties TO sur
prise ana captIvate the town, he could always
be relied upon for omGthing wIse and pert
nent, welghty ami just, hy which he secured
the respect OF his associates ana won envi-
able reputation throug hout the country. he
loved the manners and lived ,he lie OF New
England puritan, and died the death of a
Christian statesman. Others NAV have been
more brrliIans in some rPeo'"i dePaI trie.t,
but what one more solid, useful and dIstIr-
guished in all Take hIm, then, his well
rounded life, he was model man, 1T to be
commemorated In the hearts of the people and
In historic bronze or marble -
Whatever record leap to light,
He never shall be ashamed
1t may be said that Jacob Co!lamer was
not born IN Vermont, but that would apply,
il valid objection, to ali the first settlers OF
any new state. liza man has spent his whole
citizenship IN the State-all OF his manhood
and public life,-his birthI lace Is OF but littie
consequence, especially when apparently re-
joc;ed at the earliest opportunity.
We were also 10 examine ana report such
facts as we mi Sht deem material - enable the
legislature TO take detinite action at Its next
session in relation to the whole sut ject This
we have construed as extending to some cor
respondence with the artists most likely TO be
EN- ploy.d with view to elicit the terms upon
which they would be willing to execute the
order OF the State for such works should
be finally decided upon by the legislature
/ We have assumed that it would be the pleas
ure of our State 10 employ Vermont artists,
If any such there ere OF known -kIll. For
tunateiy the name of Hiram Powers Is widely
known III both heWispheres, and his many
! fine busts of American statesmen, his statue
OF the - Greek Slave, and other works Of
| high art, leave no one IN doubt as 70 the pro-
prIety and duty OF employing him, if the
State should feel willing to pay the prices an
artist OF his known celebrity readily COM
mand,, and it should be remembered that
what would be proper economy for an indi-
| vidual, limited &c few years OF life, might
| be paramony Tor a state destined 20 last Tor
ages. Larkin @. Mead, Jr., of Brattleboro,
though Young, is not unknown to our State,
and is an artist of much promise. lie has
executed our statue OF Ethan Allen, and that
not unworthily, even before he had been
schooled or trained. Since then, having re-
sided tonne years In Italy, he has advanced
greatly in the ledge OF his profession,
| enjoying the patronage OF gentlemen OF
| wealth and taste, and would now, 1t IS fair to
| presume produce a statue of Eta Allen OF
| such an order of merit not only TO more
| fully satisfy his own ideal STANDARD, but as
| to PASS the ordeal OF criticism His recent
works, lately exhibited IN New York, evince
enthusiasm tor his art, careful study, and also
rare beauty OF conception and much grace
and dellcacy of finish
| Boh of these sculptors are natives of Yer
mont and the State is materially proud OF
| them. Ii they were TO execute the proposed
| memorials, we should at the same time, with
| our hero and statesman, present two OF our
| living and worthiest artists. Every artist,
| who may be thus employed by any state,
knowing that his work will form but small
| part of what will ultimately be placed in the
National Hall of Statuary, will strive Tor u
| produ ction that may rank among those OF the
highest order of merit. The keenesr order OF
rivalry and emulation will operate upon all,
and tie result should be collection of stat
uary unsurpassed by any in the world.
Ii may be querled whether other States
will take action upon the subject so as to car
ry out the plan proposed by Congress. The
mover of such doubt is bind TO the tact
that such men as W Washington and Jefferson,
Hamilton and Madison. Otis and Adams,
W ebstsr and Clay, Lowndes and Hayne,
Clinton aud Jay, jackson and Benton, Cass
ara Douglas, Houston and Prentiss, Scott
and Stark, Decatur and Perry, have lived and
had homes. There is no state which Is with
ont its catalogue of notables The pickeC