Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-17
NUMBER 16.

strip tntltitGdeS Of Vermonters dT fbsir ~
sessions, as the ultimate decision of thair
land titles would fall to the United States
courts. At the same time Hamilton feared
that the requisite number of States lnirbt
NOT be secured for the adoption of the Fed-
eral constitution, and he therefore desired
tne vote OF Vermont, Still further, he look
ed to the selection OF New York city as the
capital ofthe Union, and hoped to strenctb-
en- tho chances for success bg the aid of
Vermont it was obvious to both that
Chittenden and his friends, who ruled Yer
mont, would never join the Federal Union
II II was to be ut the sacrifice Of a large
portion OF the people. The only possible
solution OF the difficulties which bailled
ChIpman and Hamilton was, 10 remove the
claim Of the New York grantees TO lands in
Vermont by buying them out. And thus
the controversy was settled, at cheap
price to Vermont and 4 large loss to the
New York grantees. Hamilton and Chip
man were the saviors6f Vermont IN that
emergency. Both entered into the matter
zealously. The speech of Hamilton in the
New York Legislature in I7o1 in favor Of a
Dill Tor declaring the independence Of Yer
mont, was, said his son, among the most
able fragments of his eloquence which have
been preserved" Is. This project of
settling the controversy, by the indepcnd-
ent and voluntary action of New York.
iallcd then followed the correspondence
OF ChIpman and Hamilton then the dip
lomaey Of the commissioners Of the two
States The fruits were, the peaceful settle
ment Of the controversy the adoption of
the Federal constitution by Vermont. and
the admission of the State TO the National
Union. Justly does the whole State this
day render its homage to Nathaniel Chip
man. [l6.
The politics Of Chipman were Of the purest
ant highest order, which. in the DAYS Of
mere party or personal strife in the political
arena, we are forced to distinguish by a
specific name, as craftsmanship. lie sought
and adopted true principles, rather than
personal or party advantage, and these
principles he persistently followed, whether
they led him 10 personal victory or de
leat: Hence 1t Is observed that his speeches
IN the United States Senate were not on To-
cal or sectional matters Of policy. but on
grayer topics, such A. the privileges and
powers Of the Senate and the judicial sys-
TEN Of the nation, and | an glad to say
that the judicial system which now pre-
walls, after more than seventy years expert
ence, Is IN harmony with Chipman'S opin-
ions in 1902.
He was a Federalist Of the school Of
Washington, which meant with him, in the
most comprehensive terms, That he adhered
to the constitution and government Of the
nited States, perfectly administered and
Obeyed, according TO the original intendment
OF the people Of the United States in adopt
ing 1t. \ single sentence, written by Judge
Chipman TO Moses Robinson in 1872. Is the
| essence Of Nashingtonian Federalism and
it Is pure gold = The principle Of the fed
eral government Is VIRTUE; by which | un-
ders,and a sentiment Of attachment 20
the government and laws" HI
Hence when Federalists Of New Eng
land, who were less purely and truly Fcder-
al than himself, seemed 10 contemplate hos
tilIty to the government and Union by
/ the Hartford Convention, he fastened to
Montpelier and prevailed upon the repre-
I sentatIves Of the Federal party Of Vermont
20 withhold all c0untenance and encourage
ment from that movement. " The Union
must and shall be preserved, was a. much
the sentiment OF Chipman then, as it was
| Of President jackson long aitcrward, and
the all but unanimous scutimcntO Of the pcO-
| pie Vt Vermont in 1861.
Tho late William c. Bradley once shrcwd-
~ said. that the two States in the Union
which had ideas, were Vermont and South
Carolina. The truth Of this remark viii be
apparent. when ii Is remembered that. not
only as to slavery, but as to the general
/ policy of the national government in the
most important points, these States were
antagonists. Ii l. also seen IN the fact, that
Nathaniel Chipman and John &. Calhoun
were the north pole and the south pole of
the political sphere. leaders in the great con-
tr1verSy Of the right Of the people OF all the
States within tie Union. versus State rights.
4 Q.
cided by the W ar 0f the Rebellion: and as We
stand to-day By the grave ofa learned pure,
and noble statesman of Vermont, We may
be Justly proud OF the recollection. that he.
( in the peaceful chambers Of the Iinm0uth
| farmhouse. was really leading the victO-
ri0us armies of the MON. though far, very
far, before the bloody conflict
/ have purposely left TO Others many
things that may be said to-day of the per-
/ s1nal character and professional reputation
I Of this wonderful man and lhave only %
ada, that he was small in stature, but large
in brain rs modest and uuobtrusive in
bearing a. he was mighty in intellectual
strength and as free to bestOw the riches
ot his wisdom upon the humbleSt ncishh1r.
as he was quick 10 scquire his grand attain
ments. He was faithful servant Of his
State, and country, and one Of its brightest
ornaments His fame will oUtlast the monu-
mcnt you have this day unveiled.
D. Irv.n.'s Life q Washington, Vol IlI-s-6 $50.
b This quotation il from manuscript note. hy
Chancellor Kent. ia one of the Journals If Con
-rcss in the Vermont State Library.
.- Letter o. Washington Ia Life % ChipmIn. -.
I 8. Letter iu Lie of Chapman. 81.
I s. C.. L. Williams, in the Rutland Herald Feb,
l5f3.
7 o. LIE hy Daniel Chipm1l.
+ e.. New American CNciopWdia-
s.. Legislative Journal OF lsci.
@. Legislative jlurn1l; Z. Il. Halls Eastern Yer
mont.
7 ll. See ccr-cspoudencc cf the comm ssiouc5s. and
correspondence uf Chipman and Alexander liam
iiton, IA life % Cbpman. and Neim' n1 10 stor cal
Society Collections. Vol. H.
D.. Vermont Gazette, 1921. and Lie oi On. pulu
/ %. Life of Chapman, p. loo.
l3. This IS from the legislative journals. the
De LIE" being inaccurate.
. q. Life of Chapman.
D.. History Of the Bcpuhic. etc
t id. See Vermont Historical Society Collections,
Volume II.
L.. Life o. Chipman ?. lol
Is. Chapman Government. AMI Chipman- Oh
scrvatons on CalhoUn's expose Of his Nulidca-
ton Doctrines.