Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-10-21
Vermont Historical society

,h. 11tb inst. which was called 10 oiue-
Pa, DR. WIN. H. Lord of Montpelier, first ioe-
p,.s;dsnt On motion of Charles Dewey 'H'
chair appointed committee to nominate OlD'''
for the year ensuing, as follows
ons'Ies : e,;s. Charles S. Smith,
William NJ. PiDgry'
Who reported the following list OIL O'H''''
who were duly elected
p,osidsrt Rev. VIM. H. Lord, DID.
" p-a.;lar,s-Hon. James Barrett, Hon.
- y EsiIogg Rev. Roger S. Howard, ID D.
~ Rs.o,d;ng Secretary-Henry Clark, ESQ.,
Rutland. H., Georrs G
Benedict, Burlington.
Trreessprer-Col. Herman D. Hopkins, Mont
Ijbrsrisn-Hon. Charles Reed, Montpelier
Cnr.tors-Charles Reed, Montpelier ; P. D.
Bradford. Mortified Charles 5. Smith, Mont
heller john R. cleveland, Brookteld orViile
RIiss Georgia Russel s Taft, Burlington
Franklin Fairbanks, ST. Johnsbury.
PRINTING and Publishing Committee-Hlland
Hall. North Bennington Charles Reed. Mont
heller {. P. Walton, Montpelier.
Mr.. Reed Of the publication committee, mai'
report presenting volume Of historical col
lections Mr.. Reed also read his report as Ii
brarian.
Col. H. D. Hopkins, Treasurer, presented bis
annual report, which was accepted.
Hon Charles Dewey nominated for members
who we're duly elected
Hons John ". Stewart, Middlebury Geo. y.
Dale. Island Pond John A. Page Montpelier
A. B. Gardner. Bennington Jonathan Ross, 81.
Johnsbury D. r. Bailey, St. Adams >. l.
Dickerman. Derby Heman Carpenter, north
field Il H. Niies, Thettcrd 9. D. EDDY bei-
lows Fails James NJ. Sls1e, Middle6ury John
". Hartshorn, Lurenburgh Walter carpenter
NJ b, Hon +. J. Phelps, Burlington Oeo' VI
Hall, NJ. D., Sganton Il. II. Baxter, NJ. ~
Highcate Charles Morgan Rochester hon I.
W. HYDE, Castleton; ". W. Grout, Esq, Barton
J. B Bea1sn, Poultuey; II. Carleton, " sltsileid
J B Farnsworth, E>q., Windsor d NJ lamp
Esl Newport Rev J. B. Angel, Prof NJ H.
Buckhsm, Darlington J. W. Clark, ESQ. ten
p. p. Pnkin, Rev. ". J. Harris, ". e. terrin'
ESQ. D. D. Gorham, A. NJ, Montpelier ".
p Dillingham;. ESQ, Waterbury, Hon J. Dea-
Wit NoretoWn J : Peek, Esq., Montpelier :
James T Thurston, Hon E P. Walton, Mont
heller; VI. Z. Smile, ESQ, Waterbury Jas NJ
S,.de. IT MIDI ebury; Revs. 4. Il. Bailey, D. d =
Sheldon c. K. B4tcheller, Bethel Josiah
Sect. = D.. irfax: J n Fairbanks, Bethel;
Alisc- Walker, y D., walingfo7i Oryille $.
L .-.. G..,reia Mason B. Carpenter, St Adams
Hem, =. Newell. Shelburne Hon. DGniel kel-
l..r. B-.ttlcboro: c \. Hotchkiss, Fairfax ;
Rev. Z p fairbanks, s.. Jobnsbury.
H,n Daniel Kellogg read an interesting pap
or tne subject Of which was Hon. George Folsom
which vas received with vote Of thanks by the
Society TO Judge Kellogg and the family Of the
subject Of his memoir.
The hanks Of the Society were also voted 20
the Printing Committee, and Hon. /. 7. Val
ton in particular, for the excellent manner IN
which they had brought out the FIRST volume
Of Historical Collections.
On motion Of Henry Clark it was voted that
Hon Benz II. Steele be appointed to deliver
the next anuusl address before the society
Mr.. Clark also moved that the following per
sons ae invited to prepare papers as follows
Rev H. =. Burton, On the late Hon. Henry
Reyes.
Frederick Billings, Esq, on the late Gov
Washburn. -.
f. J. phelps, ESQ, On the late Hon. Dugald
Stewart.
After transacting some ether business per
tanning more particularly to the interests o.
the Societv, the meeting adjourned to meet II
the Representatives Hall in the evening, Il
listen to the address Of the Hon. James Bar
rett.
EVENING.
The evening was devoted to the Annual 40
dress, delivered by Hon. James Barrett, Of tn
U. S Supreme Court, in the Hall Of the House.
Pres Lord took the chair, and after prayer b,
Rev c. B. Drake Of Royalton, introduced Judg
Barrett
JUDGE BARRETT's PAPER.
Judge Barrett alluded in opening, 10 the tie
resveu.ent of the Society in the death OF It's lat
President. Geo F Houghton, ~ who was on'
Of the most efficient of the officers and friends G.
the Society, and whose death following at such S
short interval that of his predecessor, President
White. came with double shock. lie procee9el
10 say that he had prepared not formal ora
ton, but a simple Memorial Paper, on one Of
the wurthiest and most conspicuous Of the early
citizens of Vermont, Hon. CHARLts MARSH Of
Woodstock Mr.. Marsh was one Of that class Of
men. such as Stephen K. Bradley, Chapman,
Buck and Tyler, whose task was the developing
and frmation of the institutions Of the State,
which their immediate predecessors founded
and whose lives entered largely into the rndi-
mental history Of the State. In this connection
Judge Barrett alluded to the rude state Of the
laws in those early days, shown by such legisls-
ton as the act Of l779, by which the legislature
formally enacted that the constitution Of the
State should be the fundamental law Of the COM
monwealth-s notable instance Of the stream
attempting ID rise higher than its source-and
an act OF the came year providing that no man
shall be killed, ensayed or dismembered, except
IN accord uce with some recorded statute OF by
some plain rule of the law Of God.
Mr. Barrett sketched At come length the
family connections Of Mr.. Marsh, declaring that
he might be pardonei II so doing, in the case Of
one who descended on his mothers side " from
Major Joha Mason Of Connecticut, the annihila-
tor Of the Peguod Indians; who was the cousin
Of Jeremiah Mason, the greatest OF New Eng
land LAWYERS who was a son Of the hrsi Lleute-
nant Governor of Vermont, Joseph Marsh OF
Hartford and uncle of President and Professor
James Marsh, the most eminent Of American
ethical and theological philosophers and OF Dr.
Leonard Marsh, recently deceased one OF the
most learned, classical, scientific and professional
scholars Of his day and father OF George l.
Marsh, the statesman, diplomsust and author,
and in all departments Of human learning &C
corded the highest rank by the learned men,
both of this country and Europe
Mr. Marsh, then a puny boy, came to Yer
mont with his father in l773. lie graduated at
Dartmouth College at the age Of y, and was
admitted to the bar in Connecticut at the age Of
~ In l-S9 he came to Woodstock, and was
admitted T., the bar Of Windsor County by a
,Iecial act # the Legislature, their being rule
,,roniliting the admission Of attorneys unless
ih.y aai studied two years with some Vermont
LAWYER He rose rapidly in his profession was
appointed L : District Attorney by President
Madison soon became engaged on one side CT
the other in the most important cases before the
Courts. and took AMI held for many years the
first rank IN his profession in this State. lie
was constantly in practice till he reached the age
Of Il wears, making his last argument IN a
Islander suit. on which Judge Phelps was the
opposinr counsel, and which Mr.. Marsh gained
for his client.
Judge Barrett proceeded to describe the char
acteristics Of Mr.. Marsh as a lawyer and citizen.
HIS intellectual gifts were Of the highest order,
and were refined and shsrpened by study and
practice. In power to grasp great ques'ions, IN
keeuness Of discrimination, in familiarity witt
the technicalties of the law, in efficiency as q
advocate-in each of these, and in other quail L.
cations for his profession, be bad no superlo or,
and in the combination Of them all he had no
equal Judge Royce, whose Judgment and I'M
Partially will be questioned by no one, pro-
nounced him The most eminent IN all brsr ches
Of the law, and on the whole the ablest swyer
he ever knew in or out Of the State. Thor.gh so
distinguished as an advocate, he never made a
speech Of over an hour in length. Hrs voice
was not strong, and be talked quietly anu with
out eesticulation He confined himself always TO
the main points of his case, disregsrdiny minor
considerations in his own arguments aud vast
ing no words in replying to such when presented
by opposing counsel. Judge Barrett illustrated
Mr.. Marsh's power. independence and success as
alawyer by number Of incidents and cases in
court, all Of great interest.
Mr.. Marsh was not merely lawyer. He
took an active part in everything affecting
society, church, State and nation. lie was
hardly less Of theologian than lawyer. He
wasa Calvinist in his religious views, WAS an ear
nest Christian. gave literally for the support Of
worship, was IA efficient helper to the minister,
and regular attendant at the prayer meetings.
Il is related that when speaking in a conference
meeting, ne once in some earnest appeal address
ed his hearers rs gentlemen of the jury