Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-10-31
Monument to Nathaniel Chapman.

whose services ought long since 10 nave
received recognition at her hands. More
than half century elapsed before any
statue or fitting monument was erected
in honor of the gallant hero of Ticon-
deroga. We are glad to learn from
the Burlington Free Press that the
monument to Ethan Allen, in Green
Mount Cemetery at Burlington, is at last
to be completed, by placing a marble
statue of Allen on the tall granite col
umn. The statue by Mead at the State
House was originally intended to be
placed upon it. The Legislature, however,
saw fit to place this work of art at the
Capitol. The trustee of the monument
has, however, so judiciously invested the
amount of the fund in his possession,
that it has increased to a sum sufficient
to purchase statue without the aid of
the State The model of the statue
which is to be eight feet in height, was
made in New York, from a design by
the sculptor, Stephenson, and the statue
is now being cut in Italy, from block
of Carrara marble. 1t represents Ethan
Allen with uplifted hand demanding the
surrender of Fort TicOnderOga. 1t is
fitting that this memorial should be thus
completed.
Vermont having thus recognized her
foremost soldier, it is proper she should
place a monument at the grave of her
earliest statesman. We are gratitied to
know that movement has been inaugu-
rated in this direction by the introduce
ton of a bill in the General Assembly,
appropriating one thousand dollars for
the erection of a monument at the grave
of Hon. Nathaniel Chapman, in Tin
mouth in this county, where he died,
February 18th, 1843, at the advanced
age Of 81 years. His last days were
spent in poverty, and his family scat
tered and unsuccessful in life, his burial
place has nothing to mark the grave of
one of Eermonts earliest and most emf
nent jurists and statesmen. Vermont
should no longer allow this distinguished
citizen to lie in an unmarked grave, and
we hope the Legislature will honor itself
by making the full appropriation by a
unanimous vote in both houses. This
testimonial is justly due for the dis
tinguished services and eminent charac-
ter of Nathaniel Chapman.
Let us examine, briefly, the life and
services Of Nathaniel Chapman, that the
justice of this testimonial may be fully
appreciated. A native Of Connecticut,
born November 10TH, 1852, he laborcd
upon the farm until 1772, when he en-
tered upon his preparatory studies for
entering college At the age of q
years, in 1713, after nine months prepa-
ration. he entered Yale College. gradu-
ating in III. In the spring Of that
year he obtained a leutcnant's commits
sion in the Revolutionary army, in which
he served until October 10th. 1718, when
he resigned, and commenced the study
Of law at Salisbury, Conn. He was ad-
mitted to the bar at Litchtield, Conn.,,
in 1873. He soon after came to Tin
mouth, VT, where his father resided.
He settled in Tinmouth, which was
then the shire-tOwn of Rutland county,
and commenced the practice of law in
the four counties Of Bennington, Rut-
land. Wipdham, and Windsor, and was
Immediately. a prominent member. He
was the author Of the ''quicting act,
which settled the rights of the early III
habitants of this State to their lands.
In October 1886, he was elected one of
the judgrs of that court. In 1888 he
conducted the correspondence with Al
cxander Hamilton and President Wash
ington, which resulted in the admission
of Vermont into the Union. He made
an able speech in the Vermont COnycn-
ton advocating the admission which re-
suited after a discussion of four days,
in the adoption of the resolution, by
vote Of yeas t05, nays 2. Nathaniel
Chapman and Lewis r. Morris were APP
pointed to attend Congress and negotiate
for the admission, and on the 4th day of
March, 1891, Vermont became one of
the United States of America
He served as Chief Justice for scv-
eral terms, and in 1891 was appointed
the first United States District Judge in
Vermont. In 1897 he was elected
United States Senator. In that body he
was distinguished for his talents, his
learning and independence. After his
senatorial term he returned to the prac-
tice of law, and represented Tinmouth
in the Legislature in 1906, 1907, 1903,
1909 and 1911 In 1888 he published
work on government, entitled ''Princi-
Piles of Government, a treatise on free
institutions, including the Constitution
of the United States. He was also a lee
turer on law for several years in Middle
bury College. Several of the more i'm
portant of his special lectures were pub
lishcd
His last days were spent in a small
tenement in the quiet village Of Tin
mouth, dependent entirely upon his pen
sion. When he published his work on
Government he was compelled to ask
assistance from his relatives. This brief
sketch will show the character of the
man and the value of his services to the
State and the country. His memory de-
serves honor from the people of the
State he served so long and so honor
ably, and it should be a source of pain to
every citizen that such man should
have been compelled to end his days in
penury, dependent upon the bounty of
the Government for his early patriotic
service in her behalf, and a regret that
for nearly thirty years his last resting
place has remained with no sign to point
out the grave of the patriot, scholar,
jurist and statesman.