Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-07-15
CH.sRaCTBRIsTIC s.sI.I.yGS.

might make a very readable article from
the best remembered and most characteris-
tic sayings Of Americans. Here are few
which may serve as specimens of what
might be done with time and opportunity.
Samuel Adams, known for many things,
seldom has his name associated with the
phrase first applied by him to England
"Nation of shop-keepers.'
1t was John Wesley, and not Charles
Sumner, who first spoke of slavery (the
slave trade) as "the sum of all villanies."
franklin said many things that have
passed into maxiins, but nothing that is
better known and remembered than, "He
has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle
Washington made but few epgrammatic
speeches. Here is one: "To be prepared
for war is the most effectual means of pre-
serving peace
Did you ever hear of old John Dickinson?
Well, he wrote of Americans, in I76s, "By
uniting we stand, by dividing we fall"
Patrick Henry, as every school boy
knows, gave us-"Give me liberty or give
me DEATH" and, "If this be treason, make
the most of it,
Thomas Paine had many quotable cpl
grammatic sentences: Rose like a rock ct,
fell like a stick" "Times that try men $
souls.' zone step from the sublime TO the
ridiculous ETC., etc.
Jefferson's writings are so besprinked
that ii is difficult to select. In despair we
jump at-"Few die and none resign" GER
tainly as applicable to officeholders now as
in Jefferson's time.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., said: "Wheresoever,
whensoever, or howsoaver we shall be call
ed on to make our exit, we will die free
men,"
Henry Lee gave Washington his immor-
tai title of, "First in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen."
Charles c. Pinckney declared in favor of
"Mllions for defense, but not one cent for
tribute
"Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we
must" is from Josiah Quincy, 1911.
John Adams did not say, "Live or die,
survive or perish, I'm for the constitution, -
but Daniel Webster did say it for him.
The revolutionary age alone would give
us our article, had we time to gather the
pearls. Coming down we pass greater but
not more famous men, for
Davy Crockett, the illustrious author of,
"Be sure you are right, then go ahead"
Andrew Jackson gave us, 1.-THE Union
1t must be preserved"
Benton almost lost his original identity
in "Old Bullion" from his "hard money
doctrines.
Gov. Throop of New York, was called
"Small Light Throop'' for years, from q
phrase in Thanksgiving proclamation.
SCOTS "hasty plate of soup" lasted his
lifetime.
Taylor's battle order, "a little more
grape. Capt. Bragg" will be quoted after he
is forgotten by "all tho world and the rest
of mankind"
Seward is known for the "irrepressible
conflict" wherever the English language
is spoken.
Marcys patched breeches are as well re-
membered as his State papers.
Rufus Choate gave us "glittering gener-
alities "
Bill Allen, the "Chinese Gong" is re-
sponsibe for "54-40 or fight"
Tom Corwin's "welcome with bloody
hands to hospitable graves" one Of his no
blest utterances, gave him more unenviabl,
criticism than any other saying of his life.
Calhoun gave us Estates rights as {
most pernicious and absurd equivalent fo
national supremacy under the constitu
tion.
Douglas applied "squatter sovereignty
though it is probable that Cass invented anC
Calhoun named it.
Stringfellow was the original "Borde
Rufiian."
War times gave us no end of epigram
matte utterances Those of Lincoln alon'
would fill a volume. Chiefest of all thes'
that noble, Godlike sentiment, "With char
ity for all and malice toward none"
McClellans chief exploit was to make
us acquainted with the phrase 'change O
base"
Grant gave us, Eight it out on this line,
unconditional surrender" 81 propose tc
move Immediately upon your works,
"Bottled up" and hundred others, II
seems to have escaped notice that Grant il
responsible for more of these characteriz.
ing, elementary chrystalizations of thought
than any military leader of modern times.
Sherman first gave utterance to the grea
truth, showing at once craftsmanship and
military sagacity, "The Confederacy is {
! she'll" and ho had the rare felicity of prac