Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-08-27
The True Objects OF the Vermont
Historical society.
An ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE
lllsroWoAL SOCIETY At ITS SPECIAL
MEETING Al RUTLAND, AUG, 90, ls6S,

upon lht true oul"tls OF thc NNFihohN
Historical Society, il seemed to me, on the
first impression, that an address ON that
subject must be wholly unoallod for /
that AN association that had been 80 long
aud 81 successfully in operation, must
know its true objects as fully, aud US cor.
rcctly, as Lc,uld point them ont, This
is undoubtcdly'the fact. Aud Yet, per-
haIs il is Us well that the subject should
occasionally be brought before ms, II Is
well To consider, and remind ourselves OF
our duties, even although it may do Moth
ing more than to impress IA with the i'm.
portance Of them, and give rs moro zeal
in cndeavoring to perform them.
We are well aware that our first great
legitimate object is to collect and preserve
all materials that may bo made in any
way, 20 contribute to the history of our
State. The field Of research, in which
these materials are contained, Is confined
10 no narrow limits, and every foot of its
surface, nay, every foot of earth beneath
it, every cloud that floats above it, even
the atmosphere We breathe, is fruitful Of,
and cxubcrant with, hidden treasures. In
order to form some adequate conception Of
the magnitude and importance of one OBJ.
object, perhaps We cannot do better than
to take an imaginary stroll over this field,
noting the striking points as they rise be-
fore our observation.
The first that attract our attention, are
the events that mark the most prominent
periods in the history Of our State. The
general character of these events is such
as any State might well be proud Of, They
have been 50 important in their connee-
tions, 80 successful in their effects, so tri-
) umphan, in their developments, that they
have. and ever will, elicit the admiration
Of all who take the pains TO cSamin,
them. Many Of these events are wei
, known TO have contributed largely to tn,
success of our country, in its early Strug
giles for existence. They yielded, not onl.
valuable, but what would seem to have
been indispensable, aid, when the youth
full strength OF our country was most sore
ly tried. The position so boldly taken
the stand so firmly maintained, the con
test so courageously, and yet so adroitl,
: carried through, by the early settlers Q
: Vermont, have never been fully and AIDE
quately estimated Before She had bee
a admitted into the Union, by her Drawer,
! her persevcriug frmncss and her trul
statesmanlike management, she had al
L ready done more 10 establish and mair
? tain the independent existence of tn
+ Union than any State in it.
But perhaps more than anything els'
{ all incidents and occurrences that can b
r. gathered up and preserved from the day
t when the smoke of the pioneer cabin
arose among our primitive forests, will al
tract our observation. The sutferln
and deprivation that were then endure,
the dangers and obstacles that were the
l. faced and overcome, the htrculean tasi
l. that were then undertaken and perforrhe,
| contributed more than alhelse to'the form
alton OF the Ncrmonter of that day. An
here. perhaps. il might not be amiss !
pause for a moment to consider what sol
II of a character the Ncrmonter OF that da
;. was. Separated from all the aids, con
= forts and couvcniences which clvlnlatlo
i affords, cut off from all it, protection, an
It's encouragement, he was placed precis
w in that situation where a man is cen
PEELED 10 dcvclope his own powers, and
look up his own resources 'fHIown int
= this wild, but naturally fertile country
+ with nothing but his axe and his gu
i with which to protect his life and 10 cary
out his fortune, the hardy pioneer III We
mont had no one To do anything Tor hin
/. and it is no wonder that he did ever,
! thing for himself. Necessity compellc
him to do so. That necessity that i n,
! only the mother of invention, but Il
mother OF the greatest mental and phys
cal efforts she, who has brought fort
u the most efficient characters in all Il
k, walks OF life. who has foStercd, mature
p and tempered them with those oSerma
tering spirits. and with those all-control
ing energies of life and action. that hay
- always enabled men to become the arch
Is tccts of their own fortunes. Such. w
If the character of the early Nermontei
They knew they could expect nothing
be done for them by others, and they d
il everything for themselves. They we
4. strong, fearless, scf-reliant, industriou
energetic intelligent and perscycring. \
~ wonder they succeeded III whatever tas
nj u l,r +h.,r Win,
their rights and dear bought privileg
Il and were so brave and efficient TO defer
Them No wonder they realized the ind
l. pcndouce of character and position e
pressed in the following extract from
IL old Vermont song:
"Ihe pride of our wealth
10 Is comfort, cOntcntmeut aud labor anu hediii,
And lands which rs treemen We only nave III
"l Independent of all save the mcrcies of God
We owe no allegiance, We bow 10 no throne,
oar ruler is law, ana that law Is our own,
he our leaders themselves are our own felluwmcn,
n Who can handle the sword, the scythe or the Iei
To- These lines define their character wi
" graphic effect, and yet with remarkal
he accuracy. They describe the only ki,
nj Of wealth they coveted and enjoyed I
he free possession OF land, and such prod,
tions as they could draw from them
their own labor, with the health, comft
Is, and happiness resulting from such Ii
ms Their freedom and independence OF
OF subsection except to God, and yet hayi
a lively sense Of their dependence up
his mercies and his loving kindness. 1t
OF beautiful description of II oommuni
cd, living a deyout, conscientious, and ,
OF perfectly rational life How many
those, whose earthly opulcnce isanbour
ed, and who seek and seek in vain
ins pleasure and happiness, with all the a
for that fashionable city life can afford the
zen might take profitable lesson from
the life of the early settlers among these gre
nd and fertile hills. How many are the