Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-11-15
we still make our country worth loving and

we still make our country worth loving and
honoring.
keep its balance 3" ai"asA
Col. Fairbanks, Speaker of the House was
caled on to respond He congratulated
himself on the privilege of meeting with
this assemblage of the veterans of the war.
tie had never been a soldier. though he
wanted to be and tried to be, and he had
Kept man to represent him in the army.
Who rendered better service than he could
have himself Abiding to the PROPOSE
non to return their commutation money to
the drafted men, he said that for one
he should feel insulted if the State offered to
repay HIM what he had paid to his substi-
tute. And he did not believe anything of
the sort would be done by this legislature.
Ihis assurance was received with hearty
applause which indicated hearty concur
renee Of sentiment among the officers on the
subject of the demand ofthe drafted men.
Col Neazey was also called on, and ex
pressed his entire concurrence with Mr..
fairbanks in his ideas on repaying commu-
tation money. He spoke in high terms of
the Legislators, the Congressman, the Judi
ciary, and the soldiers of Vermont, and
thought if anything ought to be preserved
1t was this Society
81. . The STATE Militia When properly organized
it is the germ Of or defense in time Of war
Responded to by Col. T. 5. Peck. of the
First Regiment Of the State Militia. Col.
Peck said that We found when the war broke
out the value Of an efficient militia. But it
IS impossible to maintain such militia
without support-better support than the
State had been willing to render. Speaking
IN behalf of the officers of the militia. he
expressed the hope that the moderate assist
ance asked by them Of the Legislature would
be granted at this session.
e. The Eree,,fires Of Ternsont dining The ir4r.
Lieut--Goy. Underwood said that he had
seen Governors Holbrook, Smith and Dill
lingham in town to-day, and thought some
some Of them might have been here this
upon him, who was not governor. and
never expected to be, or ought to be. He
eouldnot say much, he said, for the war
Governors, who simply organized the force
supplied by the soldiers. They settled the
great question whether we had a govern
ment or simply a compact between the
States.
GOV. Stewart came in while Mr. Under
wood was speaking, and was next called on
He described his recent visits to the battle
fields in the Shenandoah Valley, where the
Vermont troops distinguished themselves 50
highly. lie noticed the graves of l3S Yer
mont soldiers in the National Cemetery at
Winchester, and he thought the State should
place monument in their honor, in the
cemetery, as most Of the other States had
already done We could well afford. in
these times of prosperity and peace to honor
by an enduring memorial, our fallen pat
riots.
Tie -irfHie-g Of fremont during me ser-
Responded to by Lieut. j. : Dormau and
Lieut. f. j. McWain
Site Carairy ofJ'e-nons 5aring the ,fo-.
They seorncd alike the sting Of bullet and bee.
They We're too soon for Early, and gave fits to Ftz
Hugh Lee.
responded TO by Major Josiah Grout, Jr.,
and Chaplain Beaudry. of the 9TH New York
Cavalry
e.-The Iata4iry or Vermont during f'e ear.
Responded TO by Gen W W Henry, who |
urged the regiments to perfect their regi-
mental societies and complete their regi-
mental histories. And when each regiment !
had its organization. he lhoped 70 have a
general reunion Of all, officers and priyates
in some. pleasant time in August, when all |
could go into camp together for two days |
and have a good time
Major Dick Smith of Tunbridge, WIS
next called up and gave most humorous
account Of his military career and expert
enccs. This one speech of Mai. Smith was,
As the showmen say. well worth tie en-
tire price Of admission and those who
missed it missed one of the rarest treats We
have ever experienced at our re- unions.
l9.-Tte Rank and Iilf
IL appropriately anu ttoi uthtiN IL
Sponded to by Sergeant Mason b. Carpen-
Ter Of St. Adams, and by Col ;. NJ. |
Pingree of Hartford.
Capt l. L. Cobum of Chicago, being
present, was called out. and responded
briefly and appropriately.
LITTLE Orator Of The ErensGI-
Col. ;. f. Pingree was called on, hut he
had left the hall
l2-Our Regular -frTaV.
Briefly responded to by Lieut.. l. \.
Abbott. L ; A.
l2-7ae Retiring Pregi3sat,
Brought out Gen Stephen Thomas,
who made most feeling speech,
in which he expressed his love for his
comrades, and urged them to perpetuate
the society after he and their other elder
comrades. should be gone.
The meeting, at one o'clock in the morn
ing broke up 10y singing " Aull Lang
Syne.
The number present at the reunion this
year was about one hundred. The occasion
was thoroughly enjoyed, and We think that
those present left with their determination
strengthened to be present at each and
every subsequent reunion of the Society.