Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-27
Public Meeting of the People of
Vermont at the Funeral of John
q. Dickinson.

In the afternoon, the citizens of Benson,
and the gentlemen from other parts of the
State in attendance on the funeral of John
Q. Dickinson, assembled in the Congrega-
tional church, of that place, orowding it
to its utmost capacity, and were called to
order by DR.. Fl. R. Jones, who briefly re-
ferred to the event that had caused the
citizens of Vermont to gather in such
numbers at that place, and said that it
was thought fitting and proper that some
expression should be made in reference to
this event by the people, and thereupon,
on motion, the meeting was organized by
the choice of Hon. Rodney G. Abell, of
Westhaven, as Chairman, and Albert H.
Tuttle, of Rutland, as Secretary.
On motion of DR.. FL. R. Jones, the
Chairman appointed the following Com
Rev. William s. Smart,
Henry Clark,
Charles S. Colburn.
During the absence of the committee
L
formerly an officer of the Seventh Regi-
ment of Vermont Volunteers, being called
upon, spoke substantially as follows:
Were it not that my relations with
John @. Dickinson were so close and inti-
mate, | should not venture to address
you here to-day. l knew him long and
we'll, probably better and more intimately
than any of yeu here present, and loved
him. When ten years ago on account of
the many outrages committed by the
South, when they had involved the coun-
try in civil war, and when the whole
North uprose determined to put down
the rebellion and save the country, I
deemed it my duty to go and take part in
the strife. Knowing John @ Dickinson
in college, and of what stuff he was made,
asked him to join with me in raising a
company of Green Mountain Boys. which
he did, and with the Seventh Vermont
we entered the service for the war, re-
naming together until its termination,
period of five years. After the close of
the war, he remained in the South, and
his life has been lost. He died for his
country as much as though he had fallen
on the field of battle. 1t was braver and
nobler thus to remain and thus to die
than to die in battle, for here he was alone,
and no one to cheer and encourage him,
no one to whom to look for sympathy,
neither could he feel the touch of COM
rade's elbow. There too, he met an open
foe and knew when to expect him. But
here he fell by the cowardly blow of a
lurking assassin. 1t may be necessary
to raise up our Green Mountain Boys
again, to make it as safe for Northern
man to go and remain South as it is for
the Southern man in the North. If that
time comes they will be ready. But this
meeting will have moral effect upon the
South, they will learn from it that the
people are becoming aroused, and will
teach them that they cannot and must
not take life for opinions sake. l have
never felt before as / did when learned
of this death, for knew and loved John
@. Dickinson. I was glad to come here,
and assist in laying him in his grave, and
pay the last sad tribute to his memory.
Henry Clark, from the committee, sub
mitted the following preamble and reso-
lutions:
At a public meeting of the citizens of
Vermont assembled at the funeral OF
John @. Dickinson, at Benson, on Wednes-
day, April 10. 1871, believing it a fitting
occasion to testify their respect for his
memory, and for the expression OF the
sentiments of the people, in reference to
the event and its causes, hereby resolve
ResolUed, That we tender to the family
and friends of the late Captain John U.
Dickinson our heartfelt sympathy in the
severe loss which they have sustained, and
commend them in their deep sorrow to
the grace and comfort of our Heavenly
Father, "whose tender mercies are over
all his other works"
Reso1ued, That in the murder OF our
friend we recognize the same intolerent
and proscriptive spirit, which before the
rebellion made life in the Southern States,
insecure and freedom of political opinion
impossible, and that while we do not
deem it our duty to suggest remedy for
the present unhappy relaxation OF civil
authority in certain portions OF the coun-
try, we do most earnestly call upon the
government to inaugurate measures,
either civil or military, to secure to au
citizens in every part Of the Union, the
rights which are guaranteed to them
under the Constitution and the laws.
Rssolced, That the thanks Of the citi'