Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-07

sold every day. 10 this falth OF MI
Fessenden in the people, and to this
sublime faith Of the people in the fu-
ture of the country, who shall say how
much we owe? By means Of this
measure, and the National banking
system, the Secretary piloted us through
one of the darkest nights Of our finan-
cial history; and so successful had been
his policy, that when he resigned on
the 4th of the following March, though
Grant still stood before Petersburgh, gold
had fallen to SO premium.
Let the name of VIM Pitt Fessenden, then,
as well as that of Edwin NJ. Stanton, the
incorruptible war minister, whose more
recent death the nation still mourns, be
enrolled among the defenders and preserv-
ers of the Union.
If our finances were managed, during
the war, with anything of the genius OF
Necker, certainly the war department was
under the direction of more than a Car
not. The points of resemblance between
Secretary Stanton and the French Minister,
are, indeed, striking History says: Gear
not was thoroughly republican in his feel
ings." So was Stanton. No taint of aris-
tocracy or caste ever corrupted his great
heart or silenced its throbbings for the
poor and oppressed History also says of
the great Frenchman: Notwithstanding
he held so many high offices, he lived and
died poor; for he was rigidly disinterested
and incorrupt." The same is in the mouth
of the whole country as true of Stanton,
and will surely pass into history. In
like his illustriOus antitype, for whom the
upheayals of the French Revolution were
too much, Secretary Stanton stood uninter-
uptedly atthe helm until quiet was restored.
In this, reminding one of Pitt the eyounger
who continuously held the reins of gov
ernment, during one of the most stormy
periods of England's history, and earned
and received the title Of ''the pilot who
weathered the storm" In like manner
did our Secretary outlive the storm. But,
''it is appointed unto man to die" and On
the oath of December last, his life bark
was stranded upon theq equicksands of time, -
though still afoat upon the shoreless ocean
of eternity.
Only few days since, we were startled
into fresh grief, by the death of one whose
life and public services, untarnished by a
single selfish act, viii ever challenge the
warmest admiration and whose name
and memory, imperi>hably set in the his
tory of the last ten years, constitute one OF
the richest legacies of the age. \ legacy,
| rich, in lessons of instruction to the present
and coming generations; rich, in sublime
devotion to duty; rich, in self abnegatlOn,
and in patriotism, which did not doubt or
hesitate, though put to the severest test
rich too, in the full fruited labors of an
arduous life, devoted to the perilous pro-
| fessiOn of arms. Need |, in this connec-
ton, more than pronounce the name Of
George H. Thomas, s,-the man who, though
| born in Virginia, and reared in the midst
/ of the same influences that made traitor
! of Lee, chose, rather, to fOrego friends and
native state, than desert the flag the
man, who, at the disastrous battle Of Chick
amauga, with the left wing of the army
stood like a rock, against the whole rebel
| horde ; and dealt them some stunning
| blows-in fact won the dav-atter the right
wing, broken and panic stricken, had fled
| in wild disorder, with the commander-in-
| chief, miles to the rear the man, who,
| without murmur after this subOrdinateC
| himself TO the command Of another of in
| ferior rank, and cordially CO-operated, al
| for the good of the service the man. who
never asked for himself promotion, ant
| never allowed his friends to ask it fo
him Il repeat: need | pronounce tn,
| name of this man, and say more. thai
that the country and age stand in need OF
| such? Need | dwell in elaborate eulOgy
upon his life and character, which may bt
justly said to furnish one of the mobiles
models for human conduct? It Is. indeed
refreshing to contemplate such character
a character, standing out, serenely self
complacent and self-denying, from ami,
the universal scramble for power and pelf
a character, the study of which can neve
fail to inspire with high resolves aud nobl
aims-can never fail to incite to patriotism
fortitude and discharge of duty. Weave
then, comrades, a chaplet of the choices
flowers for the new made grave on tn
banks of the Hudson.
Besides these already mentioned, ant
worthy our recollection, may be given tn
name of the veteran General John f. Wool
whose patriotic services extended througl
three wars reaching well back into the life O
the Republic, The name, too, of Commo
dore stephen amplin--the gallant youn
captain of q, who had the distinguishe
honor of firing the first and last shots, o.
the American side, in Perry's great victor
on lake Erie in 1872; in some respect
the most remarkable in the history of eth
! er this country or Great Britain. Neve
before, had that proud power whose ''morn
ing drum call sounded round the world,
known the humiliation of losing, in a sin
gle engagement, a whole naval squadron
The importance of the victory, too, in say
: ing to the United States, the great north
west territory, and deciding the result c
, the war, can hardly be overestimateC
| 1t will be remembered that the Britis
commander, Barclay opened the flight by
shot which fell short on account of distance
and the poet has told us in the followin
lines, of Champlin's response from til
Scorpion; after which the action becam
general
But see that silver wreath of curling smoke
! lis Barclays gun! the silence now is broke.
: | Champlin, with rapid move and steady eye.
Sends back in thunder tones, bold reply
! But this last surviving officer Of th
signal victory, which at once establishe
the prowess of the American navy, an
: the vulnerableness of a British flee
died in February last.
The death, too, of the last survivin
prisoner of the Revolution, Judge Jane
s. Campbell, may here be noted At ii
massacre of Cherry Valley in 1878, he,
child of Colonel in the continental arm
o then six years old, was taken by the Ind
| ans and held some five years.
In 1884, General Washington visited IL
( scene of this massacre and was a guest
i Col. Campbell's house and young CAM
e bell, then a lad oftwelve years, gave Il
4 father of his country an account of h
h captivity. In March, 1869, he met Ge
4 Grant in the White House, and converse
with him,-thus speaking with the fir
, and last Presidents of the Republi
7 In March last he, too, full! of years al
d love of country passed away. And We
/ may we, the living, note The fact, and star
l, admonished, when we see the survive
:, and representatives of the four great wa
= of the Republic, which run through o.
- entire history, gathered in, in sing
!" year, by Times devouring scythe.
More than this. Last though not lea
n to the Vermont heart, a Washburn and
d Stewart have, within the last few month
g. been summoned home Though the latt
r was identified with the late struggle, on
,s through the inspiring influence which
exerted he, yet, had the whole of a Sc
-, uleI uedII, anu Is eHtltleu 10 sOluIel
> wreath and soldiers honor. The forr
D. er, the first and only soldier Govern
g which Vermont ever had-the first al
D. only one ever snatched away by death
C. filled large place in the good will al
Il esteem of the State; and well he mlgl
6 & His, was the patient hand that faithful
II traced full and particular military h
e tory of every man who went out frc
he Vermont to uphold the National hon
in and defend the flag. His, was the tirelt
al energy and the unfagging zeal, that co
G. stantly kept our gallant little State abe
"A of all calls of the President for troop
i so that when the war closed, instead
~ holding the unenviable position of sol
u of the states, which were sadly in ARE;
re in furnishing men, Vermont could lock t
IN uholn world Snna relu in Tho fnco nrd 50