Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-01-05

Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen;


| am taken wholly by surprise in being called
upon to answer for Vermont, for | had been in
formed that my distinguished friend, Senator
MORRILL,, was expected to perform that duty :
but cannot claim that am either unprepared
or unwilling TO perform it myself. 1t is said that
good son is always ready to praise his mother ;
and upon that principle am ready at all times,
and in all places, to uphold the good name and
fame Of Vermont. For, however incredible it
may look to you, Mr. President, and to the ladies'
and gentlemen present, las Vermont was not one
Of the old thirteen) was born in Vermont At
least, | have been crediby so informed, and
verify believe it TO be true | have lived all my
life in that good State, and when my last day
shall oyertake me, hope to he buried in her soil
need not say that love her green hills and
craggy mountains, her pleasant waterfalls and
sweet valleys, and | can say that love even her
rocks and her forests, and the irosts and SHOWS
of her winters
Gentlemen who have preceded me have alluded
to the honorable part taken by the men Of their
respective States in the late great contest in this
country, and their words Of eulogy were all well
deserved | desire, Sir, to make similar and
proper allusion to the part played by the men Of
my own State in that great and bloody drama.
All New Englanders, at least, know something
Of the early history md trials Of Vermont She
had n long and terrible trial for existence. Mas
sachusetts claimed her New Hampshire claimed
her New York claimed her and the pretensions
of New York were backed by King George, and
afterwards by the Continental Congress But
Vermont claimed that she belonged 10 herscT, and
to her own few and scattered, but brave and hardy
sons. After years Of struggle and conflict she
oycrcame them all, and established her title to
herself, and became an Independent State, and
subsequently member Of the Union Those
perilous years and events developed leaders of
the people who exhibited both the daring and the
wisdom needlul to ensure success. As the years
wore on, and time lent its enchantment to the
events of those turbulent times, they formed
foundation for romance, poetry and song. The
leaders Of those days became our canonzed he
roes, and as such were duly lauded and worshiped
But we never expected to see any more such,
any more than we expected to see another race Of
giants on the earth. Long years of peace, and
the pursuits Of peace, made us a race of farmers,
mechanics, lawyers, doctors and ministers but
none Of us were soldiers Not half the men of
the State knew how to a load musket.
In this condition, the great rebellion broke up
on us, and the proclamation came for loyal and
patriotic men to rescue and save the national
life. To our utter astonshment it turned out
that the men of Vermont tcere all Ethan Aliens ,
The old spirit was not dead it had only slum-
bered till a suitable emergency arose to wake it.
The men Of Vermont rushed to the field of bloody
strife, were foremost in many Of the hard fought
battles Of the war, and nobly performed their du-
ty in every place. Many laid down their lives on
the battlefelds, and many others died equally glo-
rious deaths in hospitals and rebel prisons. The
gallant survivors returned quietly again to the
ranks Of citizenship, and cheerlully resumed the
ayocations peace. | cannot, without seeming in
yidious, mention any of the cherished names. Ell
ther Of the living or the dead who achieved glory
for themselves and for their country for if |
name one l ought to name hundreds. In COM
mon with the brave and gallant men of other
states, they will ever be held in grateful remem-
brance, not only by all the loyal people Of this
country but by the lovers of constitutional liber
ty in all lands.
Mr. President, the lateness of the hour ad-
monishes me that must not dwell longer upon
this theme, but before | leave it, want to relate
an incident which came to me in most authen-
tic way. 1t was told me by our late excellent
Governor Fairbanks, who was Governor of Yer
mont at the commencement of the war, and who
had the story from the foreign officers own
mouth.
The " Old Vermont Brigade" las it was call
ed) was attached to the sixth corps, and was I'M
der the command Of Gen. Sedgwick, up to the
time Of that gallant officers lamented death.
distinguished foreign officer, visiting the
army, was enquired of by Gen. Sedgwick, if
he would like to see AMI review The best Jriqadc of
soldiers IN The 0orld2-'I do not mean" said
Gen. s., " the best brigade of soldiers in the
army, or in the armies Of the United States. but
mean literally what | say the best brigade of
soldiers on the face Of the earth" The officer of
course replied in the affirmative. and taken to
see and review tho Ola Vermont Brigade"
My distinguished friend from Maine, Senator
HAMLIN, who responded so eloquently for his own
State, has yentured to prophesy in relation to its
uture greatness. lie told us that Maine was
shaped like a ilatron, with her nose sticking into
her Majesty's Dominion, but that he expected
before long she would cease to be a border State
lie spoke also Of her manufacturing and CONNER
'ial advantages, and predicted that she is to be-
come one of the greatest of manufacturing and
States, and to contain four millions
IF people.
Mr.. President, Vermont, though a small State
S not behind any Of her sisters in Z" great expec-
ations." Her territory, too, is fatiron shaped.
'ut her nose is the other way, and her heels to-
ward her British Majesty When we have an
iexed all north of us 10 the north pole, as we ex-
'ect to do before very long, though Maine will
ease to be border State, she will still be an
outside State, while Vermont, when that happy
lay arrives, expects to be about in the centre
VI the Union and if this talk about removing
he Capitol is kept up, we think it highly
probable that Vermont will be found the best
'lace for it. We do not expect to become exactly
seaboard State, but we do expect to have the
,reatest harbor on our shores, at least, of any
New England State. Whether the British Prov
noes to the north of US shall be annexed to the
United States, or become an independent govern
nent by themselves, OF remain colonial dependen-
les OF the home government, as now, we expect
o have a ship canal built from the st. Lawrence
River into Lake Champaign, 50 that vessels of any
lass which navigate the great lakes of the West,
nay come from the larthest naygabe water of
he whole chain with unbroken cargo into Lake
'hamphin. Thus Lake Champlain is to become
ne vast harbor, into which the mighty commerce
nd products Of the unbounded West are to gath
r. Our principal fear has been that there were
lot gaps enough in our mountain ranges through
which to build railroads from the Lake to tide
Tater, sufficient to carry away the thus accumu-
lted freight.
Time would fail me TO enumerate all our high
opes for the future those | have named are
My some Of the most moderate.
MIR. President, on occasions of this kind it is