Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-05

come up here as soldiers. tonight, fra ernalIy
n commune. We have lelt loved homes.
leaving care to care for ITSELF leaving amblv
ton behind us; putting aside even our own
net thoughts and purposes, in the lond desire
each to warm his brothers heart with
coal from off our common country's altar.
1t is not Just before the battle, when. after
weary marching, we " awaited the contest
with stern, YET Inpatient joy:' is is not 10
the midst OF The thIckly wooded fight, where
we struck Tor God and our native land:'
it is not Just alter the battle, when, exultant
we grasped the hand OF Bill, and dropped
manly tear over fallen Joe: no, the camp
fires are all out; " all is quiet ON the Poto-
mae" and here, where water-beds and
dead-lines no more provoke to arms-it is
here long after these scenes, and IN our own
beloved State, that we have come up togeth-
er to commune.
1t Is not any part of my plan to open up
TO view the vdrlUas causes which involved ue
in war. Those who threatened the repose
Of their country have now nothing lett but
"to erect fortress, and a refuge for disap-
pnfnted ambition - Suffice it to saw, there
were plotters within and supporters without
-s sIlne OF the latter have died, and others oil
them have recently liquldated, as far az
money gees, their debt. These two classes
were 10 sufficient Importance to bring about
that mighty contest, TO which, tonight, 1t
is proposed to give passing glance.
But first, word to Vermont and the
character of her men and women. L rejoice
that YOU can unrol a century's scroll, Can
touch upon the hailowed past, and reveal the
peerless glory of old Vermont. So shall your
IN morIes be refreshed with duty done, and
YOUR nerves steadied Ior duty In coming days.
Geographically, Vermont Is unique. Her
mountains so extensive her plains and val
leys so limited, her twenty and six rivers,
nearly all her own from source to outlet, her
lakes 50 beautitul-these, IN the words OF an
early writer, - complete the eDchantment vi
the scene" Ii re the works of man seem
like speek IN the solitude of the ocean.
Tue lOltIest edi6ce is lost IN the blueness o.
space, and villages, humbly catching the
shadows of the mountains look like the
dwellings OF pigmIes perched upon tue
bulwarks of creation"
Such is Vermont: and here, in such a
country, nearly every nation on the globe
has real ped benefit or incurred loss.
Champ ain has had her waters plowed by
many a bIood-stained foet; her bays have
sheltered many a shattered craIt her shores
the hard fought battle-ground OF French
and Indian, English and Amercan-have
echoed with the voices Of - the last of the
Mohicans," of a Carleton and Schuyler; ;
OF a Gates, and Montgomery; of Warner
and an Alien.
Nay more here in such a country, Swiss
in its nature, lived your slres. From the
capture of Tlc lnderOga, all through the
Revolution, all through the New York State
roubles, all through the of 1872. those
spirits far too noble, those wills far too irD +,
those arms far too strong, TO brook oppres-
sloE, constantly appeared
Hardy, sei-relI mt men struggling with
stru gglIng soil, but full of health, catching
it's glow from the air OF no luxurious cline
but from pure mountain air. and honest toll;
weak in numbers, yet strong In the convic-
tion that true progress and social happiness
could never be ub5aIned under C jde that
monarchy had instituted aDd bIgotry sus-
taned stronger yet IN deep moral persua-
SION So that, even IN success, they lose
above the excitement and vanity OF the hour,
u high degree, and experienced with our
northumberland grand, too, were they
the subIlmity OF that golden mean - III lie
winch, devoid of ostentdtlon, Is ever pre-
eminent in modest dignity, and unassuming
worth.
From such stock you came, and as Yer
mont grew and prospered, as her sons, year
by wear, scattered until nearly every State
and Territory felt the influence of theie la
bored thought and enterprise, who slept
more sweetly than her daughters, who
thought SO little as her sons, OF that leaden
cloud, which, at first mere speck in the po-
htcaI horizon. gradual y spread and black
ened. until, 10 trcacherJus fury 1t burst over
Sumter who, | ask, could have been less
prepared to meet such dire calamity, than
the sons and daughters Of old Vermont?
there we're others BORN IN other
climes, acquired SONS, who did their duty
well in the struggle that came. Ii came.
Four years.
Four waves of that wide sea which rings the world,
Broeen upon the shore, Eternity,
Upon whose clests, Ike waves tossed by the tide,
We neared, touched and hoated side by slle"
-Four yearsI
Fled like the phantoms of morning dream"
As early as January, 1861, Gov. Fair
banks, filed with ANXIOUS apprehension OF
impending trouble, caused, IN part, by
changes in the Cabinet; by the withdrawal
OF Anderson from Fort Moultrie, and by the
generaty disturbed and threatening attitude
OF the South ascertalned, through the com
mandants OF the then existing militia CON-
panes IN the State, how many men were ln
each company, and how many OF these were
willing To volunteer their services, II the
United States Government should issue
cd'. This was the first move In Vermont
Now gather tnyseli IN troops" was Vlrtu-
ally then ordered. TheD followed the extra
session of the Legislature, the Governor s
address, the, at that time, well-dIgested bills,
the First Regiment, and, IN time, It's duty,
well performed near Old Point Comfort. y
The details vi this, and all subsequent organ
iztton the taxation of the State, 50 cheer
fully met, we omit, for ADLER pen has
given to the State. dates and figures, time
and place, which will be more and more Val
liable 10 each succeeding generation the
pen OF that hard working and lamented man,
Peter L. Washburn.
Let US rather devote few moments IN
Calling to mind q feU OF the incidents and
actions OF the war 10 which you were espe-
cai!y interested and engaged.
You remember d" Camp Griffin picket
duty and the drill and the department o
the Cult, with its WORK and destructive
disease, where three brlgades OF Johnie'
We're filled with deceittul hope. You re-
member Lees Mills, where private Scott
died for his country and prayed tor Lincoln
you remember the mud aud rain, apd Sum
hers " advauce at three taps OIL the drum
at WIlriamsburgh; you remember CROSSING
the Chickahomlny YOU remember GoIding
Farm, Savage Station aud those tough ngnu
at Gaines Hill, and IN White Oak Swamp
where Brooks Was wounded: tnat stefl
mans lip long afterwards qulvered, unusua
Tor him, when, with moist sned eve, he bad
the old brigade good-bye; you rememoe
Malvern Hill, regretted but no iault ot yours
South Mountain aud Antletam, Harper
Ferry and Fredericksburg; you reueInoe
Banks Ford. You remember Gettysburg
Where. with the llon-hearted SGannard a
your head, you dealt ON the flank, and
the tr' Mt, :. destruction 8 devastating doom.
You have seen the oak on your native hill
SIDE. 80 stood Vermont there, and whe
those others, | opposite, charged gailantlJ