Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-17

citing and hotly contested canvass, aohd
s1tadoaos zoe are and schat shadoaos aoe pat7'
sate," and most solemnly are we reminded
as one after another are cut down, that
" in the midst Of life zoe are in DEATH"
Happy shall it be for us if, when our
work on earth is ended, we shall have as
fair record and as bright an example as
the one we ale now met to contemplate
and commend. 1t is certainly not my in
tention, and if so, would be utterly I'M
possible, in the short space of time allotted
to me on this occasion, to do anything
like Justice to the many virtues and noble
and manly qualities of him whose loss we
are called to mourn that task | will
leave for other and ADLER hands. But you
will permit me to draw hasty sketch
and to say few words of Gov. Washburn
in connection with the different stations
in which he has acted, and the manage
ment of which fills SO important a part
in the public history of our State for the
past ten years. As man, citizen, a
neighbor friend, a husband and father,
we do not intend or desire to speak at this
time, we will leave that TO those who
have known him more intimately, and
who have been his constant daily associ-
ates, and only say, that in all these mani
fold relations of life, he sustained the un.
blemished and spotless character which
in all his public relations has secured him
the respect and esteem of his fellow citi-
zens. As public benefactor whose heart
and purse were always open and ready to
do a noble deed, 10 man in our State
stood higher than Gov. Washburn. Every
enterprise or public work which helped to
build up and develop the resources of our
State, were sure to find in him an ardent
and Jealous friend, and = firm and stead
fast supporter.
The citizens of his own town and
county will give him full honors for what
he has done for them, for it is mainly due
to his enterprise, skill and determination
that the Woodstock Railroad has been
pushed to its present advanced state of
construction. To aid that great public
work was among the last acts of his life,
and the road when completed, as it soon
will be, will stand as an eternal and en-
during monument of the energy and per-
severence of Peter T. Washburn.
1t was while acting in the capacity of
Adjutant and Inspector General that Gov.
Washburn became more intimately ac-
quainted with the great body of the peo-
pie of Vermont It was while acting in
that capacity, in caring for their hus-
bands and fathers and sons in the field,
that the people of Vermont first learned
to love and honor him. A more fortunate
choice for that office could not have been
made. His industry, method, zeal and
made him one of the most
efficient officers in the whole country.
His record is made up and the reports of
his works and Iabors in that office are left
as monument to his memory, and as
rich legacy to our people. And we may
safely say, without danger of disparage-
ment to others, that to no man is Yer
mont more indebted for her enviable posi-
ton and proud history in the late war
than to him. Who does not remember
that when by the fraud Of New York and
other States, we were called upon to fur
nish more men than our fair and equal
quota, General Washburn, with that
keen sense of justice, and determined will
and pluck, which ever characterized him,
started for Washington, and that through
his efforts our quota was cut down full
one-third. When the war broke out Gen.
Washburn was among the first to offer
his services to the government, and no
man who left the green hills and sunny
wales of our Green Mountain State made
greater sacrifices than he did. With a
practice at the bar second to none in the
State, and surrounded with every thing
which could make life pleasant and home
desirable, yet at the voice of his country
he left them all, and at the head of his
neighbors and townsmen went forth to
sustain the government he loved, and that
freedom which he venerated; and al
though his career as a soldier was short,
yet it was long enough to develop the
man, and gain him reputation which
was bright and untarnished. AS dis
plinarian he had no superior. AS mas
ter of the art of war he grasped it at once,
and as an officer and leader, he was true
and brave, while every pulsation of his
noble heart beat for liberty and his coun-
try. Long will he be remembered as the
gallant leader of the noble men who COM
posed the 1st Reg. of Vt. volunteers. But
it is in his character and calling as law
yer that would particularly speak of our
departed brother and chief. 1t was in
the practice of this noble profession of his
choice that we desire to contemplate him
that profession which called out all the
mighty powers of his mind, and enabled
him to display to useful advantage the
best treasures of well disciplined and
we'll stored memory. We were all ac-
customed to look upon him, when at the
bar, as the most sindefatigable and untir-
ing of workers. No other man spent so
much time in the preparation of his cases,
and no snan spent it to better advantage.
Such was his temperament and humanity
that he always made the cause OF his eli
ent his own, and brought the whole power
of his intellect and the sympathy of his
soul into every cause he conducted. As
an advocate at the bar, he stood in the
front rank, with but few equals; quick to
perceive, ready to take advantage of every
favorable turn and theory of his case,
with voice full and clear, and graceful
and easy flow of language, he always COM
manded attention from both bench and
Jury box, and seldom failed to convince
others of the truth and soundness of his
ho. $50 -,