Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-09


visited, when the procession reformed,
and moved into the village in the order
whence it came, the band at the outset
playing dirges, which gradually quicken
cd until as they reached their destination
they were discoursing yankee Doodle"
commemorative as it were, not of mourn
ing, but of the successful result of the oc-
casion which they had assembled to and
SO successfully celebrated.
Celebration of the Ratification of
the 15th Amendment.
The celebration of the ratification of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitu-
tion of the United States, by the oolored
citizens of Vermont in our village on
Thursday, was successful affair. There
were many strangers in town besides
colored people to attend the celebration
and witness the display. The entire pro-
ceedings were conducted in good order
and with great propriety.
At 2 pm. the procession was formed
under the direction of the chief marshal.
The procession numbered some seventy
five colored men, on foot, proceeded by
the Jericho Brass Band. One of the in
teresting features of the procession was a
wagon carrying 13 misses, dressed in
white, representing the original thirteen
States, each bearing small flag, with
the name of the States inscribed thereon.
Those on foot Were followed with colored
.iedies and children in twelve carriages.
The procession moved up Washington
to Court through Court to Center, up
Center to Main, up Main and down West
street to Cottage, up Cottage to Williams,
through Williams to Grove, down Grove
to Spring. through Spring to Pine and up
West street % Evelyn and through Mer-
chants Row to the Rutland Opera
House.
Banners We're borne in the procession,
inscribed with the following notices:
Lincoln Brotherhood of Burlington"
No distinction of color"
"We'll remember the Emancipation
Proclamation"
Equal Rights"
Our oolored troops fought bravely."
sold John Brown" ....
The procession was well ordered, and no
professions have marched in our streets
presenting better appearance and more
effective impression than that of the col
ored men of yesterday. The several
church bells rung out as the procession
moved through the varions streets. as if
poaling out the notes of freedoms tri-
umph.
, a little past three o'clock, the process
sion entered the Opera Hall. The young
ladies representing the States took seats
upon the stage. Upon the platform were
also Mr.. James Taylor, President of the
Day, Ex-Gov. Ryland Fletcher, of Cavon-
dish, Rev. A. f. Bailey, of Middlebury,
Rev. Edward Mills, Rev. Barnes M. Hall,
w. FL. Johnson, orator of the day, and the
venerable John White, we'll known coll
ored man of Manchester.
Mr.. A. Dubois, chairman of the COM
mittee of arrangements, called the assem-
bly, to order. The band then played, after
which an impressive prayer was offered
by Rev. MIR. Bailey, who gave thanks for
the emancipation of the oppressed, and
that our country had, after fiery ordeal,
made the negroes equal before the law as
men and citizens, imploring the benedic-
tion of Heaven to rest upon these new
citizens and their families, and protect
them in all their various interests and
rights that they might become honored in
themselves, in the community and in the
nation.
Mr.. Dubois then read the Fifteenth
Amendment and the Vermont ratification
of it, after which the band played +" The
Star Spangled Banner"
Miss Ella Brooks, coIored Miss, then
read in clear and appropriate manner,
which is rarely excelled, an Ode entitled
freedoms Jubilee, by Elijah w. Smith
of Boston, written in commemoration of
the Ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
ment. This poem had been communicat-
ed to Mr.. Taylor, the President, by ex-
Gov. Page.
Glory to Col for the struggle is ended,
Fought is the battle, the victory won;
Still is the field where the armies contended,
Nights shadows fade before Freedoms bright
sun.
Long had we waited, in sorrow and anguish,
Gloomy the future, and deep our despair
Vainly for freedoms dear boon did We lsnguish,
scorned We're our pleadings unansw wered our
prayer.
Voice unto voice in the darkness was calling,
Watchman, in mercy, tell of the night;
Are there no tokens that Liberty's morning
Ever shall dawn on our tear-burdened sight -
And, when the shadow was darkest and deepest,
No bright stars rays crushed spirit to cheer,
What light bursteth forth like the brilliant aurora
What heaven-born music our raptured ears
hear!
'Tis the watch-fres of Freedom, from hill to hill
flashing, s...
'Tis Liberty's chorus SO loud and SO strong,
IT'S the sword of the free 'gainst the tyrant's
blade clashing,
While lake, vale, and mountain the echoes
prolong.
'Tis the bright bow OF promisel blest be the
token
1t gives to the captive, now trembling with JOY,
That never again shall the floods of Oppression
Fer cover the land and his freedom destroy.
God in His wrath to the nation hath spoken,
Lightnings have flashed and wars thunders
have rolled,
By His right hand have our fetters been broken,
And the dread knell Of Oppression been tolled
Shout, o my people, for Libe,ty's morning
Gildeth the mountains, illumines the wales,
All the broad land with its glory adorning,
Bidding you cease from your tears and your
walls.
We have country now, and bright guicon,
Studded with stars on our pathway to shine,