Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-11-13

prior to that period was briefly sketched.
Peaceful enterprise had knitted together
the remote states, penetrated the inland
lakes and rivers with innumerabe lines of
water craft, filled up the wilde rness with
teeming population of thirty millions of
people, developed arts and manufactures,
given life to that skill and cunning which
published and fashioned the recondite
agencies of steam power, disseminated ed
uchtlon among the masses, advanced the
pursuits of science, and so enlarged mis-
sionary operations as to invite the pIaudits
of the Christian world.
In this glorious realization of the
fruits Of peace, war seemed to be remem-
bered no more. How foreign to our
sentiments, how estranged from our
interests, how unnatural to our intelli-
gence, became the rude calculations of
humanest war. The tspeaker dwelt elo-
quently upon this epoch in our peaceful
history which preceded the era in which
this republic was compelled to purchase
its perpetuity by the marshaling of her
sons in war, a lesson which her statesmen,
her scholars, her people must be trained
to learn amid experiment, peril and
confusion. Without the sad lessons in the
school of disaster, no sublime forecast of
her sages could have organized results
| from combinations
The reliance of the President upon the
better angels of peace, the assurance of
the Secretary of State that a few days
would bring summer skies and more
cheerful atmosphere, and the impatient
confidence Of grave Senators to see the
rebellion ended by the first levy of
undisciplined troops, were well alluded TO.
The press took up the key note of offensive
action, and the public mind was beguled
into sounding p9ans of exultation over
PROSTATE rebellion even before the first
effective blow had been struck. The ven
erable Scott, the great captain of the age,
disapproved an advance until the unframed
egions were converted into soldiers. But
the impulse Of the popular heart demanded
action which did not contemplate defeat.
| The startling shock of unsuccessful
battle with the lesson which it brought
| lesson that must be learned, came early in
the struggle, with its strangeness of gloom,
It's decentralization, its supposed disgrace
to our arms, the route, the panic, the
! like of which, said the speaker, - we never
/
] US with its rich heritage of instruction. 1t
warned the public mind that to set upon
| the task before US without preparatory
discipline would result in failure. The
influence of the power and discipline which
the first disaster developed soon made
itself felt. The early and ill-conceived
preparations for the conflict vanished IN a
single spasm, and the government turned
to the contemplation Of graver respons'-
bilitles, and to a system of preparation
commensurate in some degree to the work
before them.
Step by step the speaker traced the
progress of events and the growth Of that
grand old army" which has now become
historic, according to its successive CON
manders the high positions to which their
labor and their valOr entities them.
We cannot in brief notice follow this
history, interesting as it is even at this
early day, familiarity detracting nothing
from its interest as presented in the glow
ing language of the orator. 1t was we'll
drawn sketch, such as will always interest
not only those who were sharers in the
discipline of the camp and the vicissitudes
of the battlefield, but all who may come
after to read the history of those times.
la conclusion. and we regret that we
are compelled to come to this so soon, the
speaker well said, at was that ruling
spirit, that intelligent faith in the ultimate
vindication of the government for which
they fought, that inspired them to the
performance of those deeds OF soldierly
grandeur which have allotted to them their
peculiar place, high on the roll of the
great historic armies of the world"
At the conclusion of the address, Lieut..
| 6. q. Benedict introduced the following
resolutions;
ResoZred, That the Reunion Society of
Vermont officers has learned with sorrow
of the sudden death of Major
George Gordon Meade, the former brave
and able commander of the Army of the
Potomac, who, having earned the conf
dence Of the army on many previous we'll
fought fields, accepted its chief command
without previous notice, on the eve Of the
greatest battle of the war, and led 1t at
Gettysburgh to a glorious victory, largely
due to his frmness, constancy, and careful
generalship. His life was an example of
devotion to soldierly duty; his fame is part
of his country's Inheritance; and his mem
ory will ever be held in honor by every
soldier who served under him, as well as
by a grateful people;
ResoZDed, That we tender our respect
full sympathy to the family of General
Meade in their sudden loss, and that the
Secretary be directed to transmit to them
u copy of these resolutions.
Col. w. 6. VeaEey paid an eloquent
tribute to the memory of Gen. Mead, ht-
: tingly characterizing him as one OF the
most intelligent, conscientious and faithful
officers in the service.
The resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed.
On motion of Col Albert Clarke, the
thanks of the society were rendered tc
Col. Samuel E. Pingree. for his able and
interesting address this evening, and tc
Col w. g. Veazey, for his eloquent re
marks on the decease of Gen. Mead, and
thew were requested to furnish copies for
publication. c,a
marched to the Pavilion, where, at hall
past nine. the society sat down to an ex
ce,lent supper /.
After due attention had been given II
the supper, the toast master, Col. Albert
: Clarke, read the first regular sentiment o.
the evening; ;, o..
The President Of the United States
! Responded to by three rouslDg cheers Iol c
, the Office, and for the man that 7t0t0 nus IL
, The next sentiment was "VeTntons'
Green as her hills
Be the memories we ken,
7 ne her he laws and public men