Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-25

4, ity. / turn with pleasure toward these young
men to whom We have all listened to-day with
qualification and with pride. You see for
yourselves, young gentlemen, the eyes of the
people here, your fathers and brothers, moth
ers, sisters, and frie nds-all turned upon you,
and why is it ? They have come to welcome
you, and to say also farewell for you are now
TO pass from these teachers, who have been i'm
parting to you the fruits Of their experience,
drawn from the study of books and association
with other men, and fitting yourselves for the
life that is before you. Unfortunately l was
not so favored in my youth and l regret now,
and shall regret to the end of my llie-that l
was compelled to pick up what little knowledge
I possess by grasping it through brambles, and
pricking my hands pretty sharply too. laugh
teri You have had instructors here whose
minds have been stored with all the knowledge
of the past and of the present and who have
gladly told you everything you have desired
to know. Now, young men, you must look
out for yourselves. (Appause.) Your ship is
about 10 sail upon an unknown sea. You have
| your chart and your compass. See that you
.steer your course properly. Do not let your
minds be- turned aside from your course BY the
scud OF the sea or the wind across your sail.
Follow that compass and it will lead you just
as surely to your destination honesty will
produce good man. My young friends, re-
j
you stand now-about to 20 forth to do what
ever fell to my share. l now find myself here
in the presence of men who were graduates be-
fore l was born and 1t appears to me almost
like saCrilege TO stand here IN the presence OF
these old gentlemen and attempt to give you
any advice or instruction. l would not pre-
sumo to say one word further were II not that
your honored President has asked me to do it
for some reason unknown TO me. Uaugh-
ter) AT that time was told in plain En- : ish
not 10 Latin-( loud laughter) that | had fn-
ished my education and was qualified in natu-
raj philosophy, chemistry, mathematics, and so
forth and TO prove Was SO qualified, Was
sent down to Florida to catch Indians l did
not see the logic OF it at that time, nor do
, now, but had to go, and did 60. Subsequent
ly was sent to various places, and finally
brought up in Charleston South Carolina, and
while in that section l wandered through the
marshes of the Santee and the Edisto, and OBJ
, taiued knowledge that afterward became OF
value to the nation. (Applause.) AT a later
period, was provdentially, as 1t would now
) seem, sent to lake testimony about some lost
saddles and brides, value nothing yet those
lost sd dies and brides led me to region, a
knowledge of which afterward proved TO be OF
great importance to you here IN New Hamp-
sI.re, and to the whole civilized world. went
to Altoona, to Chattanooga, and 10 Belefonte,
4
shors period was there L gained knowledge
which paid the Government back all they paid
me for transportation ten times over. Laugh
ter and appause.) About twenty years ago,
remember setting at the dinner table OF Hon
Jas. l.. Pettigru with many young officers, o.
whom Braxton Bragg one. | believe the
Union men mere viii not say that was IN any
other than good loyal hands when l sat at Mr.
= Pettigrus table, for he was loyal in 1921, ano
loyal when the broke out, aud was deemed
| believe, the only intelligent loyal man il
Charleston. (Appause) MIR. Pettigru lis
L. tened to our boyish complaints that our future
: looked very poor-for the only thing open Il
our ambition was that in progress OF time VI
, might become Brevet Major Generals and com
= mand some small force on the frontier. Final,
be said &" Gentlemen, do not be alarmed
There is Providence that guides this world
and there will be occasions for all the young
d men of our county, 1t gave us all encour
> agement-not of the right kind, perhaps-bu
before were aware the Mexican broke
: out and L was sent TO California, where, fol
{ lowing the same wandering propensiies, saw
: the discovery OF the first piece OF gold, ant
watched It's effect upon the whole world.
will say That II seems 10 me there Is O Pow
dence running through the affairs of men winch
We may understand If We Will but study t
learn the terms of the great problem of lie.
DOUBT very much Wnetner, II that little piece
OF gold nad not been discovered in California
! this nation, glorious in lis present attitude
i could have grappled WITT the terrible hnancla
problems when were worked out durlng th'
. 1t Was that discovery winch created tn
wealth that enabled US to main tain our nile
and gave strength and durability 10 The Unloi
Ii cause. l confess hat | OF the last Il
see and feel that upon the verge Q
. civil war had heard 1t spoken OF at Cnaries
. ton. | had laughed and joked over 1t at tn
mess table. | had heard it talked about b
y politicians. had heard Gen. Scott say tina
we might have war, but l could never realize
y until ii the -pring OF 1860. l was IN the cat
OF New Orleans, and at Baton Rouge. Then
u Tor the first time, began to see that all thl
talk meant somthlng-that 1t was not he mer
cry OF wolf wolf, which We had beretotor
} predicted. And sure enough II came upon Us
= L no more dreamed OF 1t three years befor
10 than you dream OF civil war now and VIA
mas been the issue You all know it. Ii Ia
y been q short war to the world at large, but Ion
81 enough it looked to during those dark day
OF Its early and middle period. Now feel d
y most as though was sweeping aside slmpi
veil when l speak Of three years ago. But tna
>. is now IN the past. History takes charge of II
u lou will see that IL the progress OF the Wa
able men rose up one by one until It's close
You may consider, young men, what were To
characters of those men whom the Geve
= oped. Just sucn as yours are. Look at Ger
Grant (Great applause Ia modest, am, Urav
IN uDtlnching gentleman, with the simple idea
doing what was right, and letting man tur
, hlm aside from it, (Reneaed appause). Loo
l. at George Thomas. A mole modest gentle
man exists not earth. (Appiause). Were
present, you could not get him to stand u
- here. Phil. Sheridan would infinitely rathe
y sabre in hand, ride down the rebel lines tina
~ enter this room. Laughter.) Gen. Meade
gentleman and an accomplished scholar.
:. think he would fiji this place far bstter than
can. Thus you see that IN military life me
- have risen to the highest eminence, and stan
- there now, who not only are not, but do nc
pretend to be, more than you may becom,
From this l wish you to derive the simple le
in son-and it is better lesson, | believe, tina
"a you can learn from these hand ooks-that an
h young man of honesty of purpose and ordinar
ie intellect can master every problem Of life thi
D. is brought before him, if he goes at it with til
"A purpose and determination to m aster it. Thel
le is no doubt that great intellectual powers al
I required to become EN- inent Oh the bench,
g. the bar among the literati but for the sin
,v pie business of life, to manage marching,
~ carry on the business of the merchant or ii
m farmer, or to follow any of those occupation
~ which engage the energies of the great mass
~ the people, only an honest heart and steadine
a of purpose are required. AT any rate in tt
D. military profession on which SO many honor
[e are now showered, only nerve and courage an
< that faith in the flag which wins, and wins a
D. ways, are necessary. cloud applause)
te don't intend to occupy any more of your tim
ID because have seen gentlemen and ladies stant