Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18


idly collected and placed in a permanent
form. Within the last three years, large
part Of the manuscripts and printed records
and documents, relating to the early history
Of the State, have been gathered from pri.
vate sources and from their tombs In the
public libraries, and published in large and
handsome volumes. The Historical Society
began this good work. In 1870, it pub.
lished q valuable collection Of historical pa.
pers. Gov. Hall and the late Charles Reed
compiled the volume from original sources.
This first volume was followed by a second
in 1871, by Hon. Il. +. Walton. These vol.
umes contain the records Of the conventions
Of the inhabitants Of the New Hampshire
Grants in opposition to the claims Of New
York many valuable miscellaneous papers,
throwing light upon the romantic period
Of Vermont history; the admirable book
of Ira Allen on the Natural aud Political
History Of the State; the lIaldimand Papers
including the records Of the remarkable
triangular controversy between the general
government, the State Of New York aud the
Inhabitants Of Vermont, in which the
sagacity and craftsmanship Of the early
leaders Of tho State was most clearly
disclosed. These twCvolumes have brought
into compact and very readable form the
official papers relating to the troubled his
tory of the State 10 its embryonic period.
The publication of these volumes awak-
ened general interest in our early history
and desire to rescue all documents respect
ing it from oblivion. Therefore, at the
last session Of the Legislature the Governor
was authorized to appoint some person to
" edit and publish the Journals of the
Council of Safety, and Of the Governor and
Council" in order to preserve the history
Of the State. Under thisact the Governor
appointed Hon. Il. p. Walton, the accom-
plshed editor Of the Historical Society's
collections, to prepare and publish two vol
umes. The first volume, uniform with the
historical collections, and entitled "Gorernor
and Council" has just been published 1t
contains the acts Of the General Conven.
tons in the New Hampshire Grants for the
independence, organization and defense of
the State of Vermont, from July, l775,
to December, 1777; the first Constitution
Of the State; the records of the Council OF
Safety from July, l777, to March, IT'S ;
the records of the Governor and Council
from March, l77S, to August, l779, and a
volumnous appendix of interesting and
valuable papers Indispensable to the student
Of our history. The volume is filed with
notes and comments by the editor, who
thus furnishes a neruS to the official docu.
ments he publishes and binds them into
readable connection.
There has never been a more valuable
series Of books in local history published
10 any State. In all respects they will
compare favorably with the finest collections
of original historical documents They
cover that period Of the past which had
passed out Of the reach Of authentic ties
timony. Even tradition was growing din
and Enthusiastically. They relate to tn,
times, the events and the actors in them
around which the beautiful mist of romano,
gathers, to soften and glorify them. They
tell US of those men whom the imagination
now invests with the charm of greatness
and heroism. They are not so near to u
as to be prosaic, not so far from us as tt
be mythical. They stand out heroicaly ii
the gloam of a hundred years ago, and thei
actions are intensely attractive to US, be
cause they were building then the founda
ton Of State, which concentrates now GU
patriotism and homage. In these volume
we get some clear idea of those men VIII
laid the substructure Of our State a centur
ago-who builded with the trowel in on
hand and the sword in the other who res
cued this domain from the indians first
and then from the grasp of strong neigh
boring States; and then forced a recogni
, ton from the general government, and CON
PEELED almost, an admission into the Unite
States.
These dry details Of early history cor
! tain the germs of many fascinating re
/ mances such romances as those with whic
= Walter Scott illuminated and immortalze
g the simple records of Gaelic story.
skilful hand, like that of Macaulay c
n Prescott, could weave them into book this
[ would instruct and charm us like the work
4 of those eminent authors. There is scarcel
State in the Union-there is not one
4 whose carly career was attended with sue
$ a variety of conflicts the patriotism {
( whose inhabitants was tested by SO man
i temptations and difficulties and which WI
: brought to the birth as an independer
s State, only after fraternal contentious sin
o liar to those which preceded the advent
}. Esau and Jacob into the world. We hoT
Y that sometime true son and lover Of b
o State, or some one who can recognize al
describe the salient events Of remarkab
epoch, who can portray the heroes au
: statesmen who mingled in them and col
: trolled and directed them, aud who ca
= bring the actors and the events togeth,
If and make them one complete and livin
s picture, may find his appropriate subject
= the early history of Vermont.
II --
e BY authority of the liquor commissio
J.. BILL which the United States Senate passe
:. on Thursday Of last week, five persons ar
}, to be appointed, at least one of whom sha
s not be an advocate of prohibitory legisll
# ton or total abstinence, who are to sery
o without salary, but have their expense
maid M wall M thnsa IF thai sao.a.a. -,