Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-20

and after "IIail to the CHER had been
played by the band, Gen. Thomas intro
ducCd
GOVERNOR PECK.
Gov. Peck came forward amidst great
applause, and said: al have great pleasure
in meeting aud seeing those who perilled
their lives for our sakes. l had not con-
templated making any remarks, and there
fore it gives me great pleasure TO introduce
TO you the Vice-President of the United
States, man Of world wide reputation,
well-beloyed by all the nation, and favor
lie with the soldiers Of Vermont. (Cheers.)
VICE PRESIDENT WILSON.
Mr. Wilson amidst prolonged applause
spoke substantially as follows:
thank your governor for the kind words
he has uttered in welcoming me to his
state and presenting me 10 his audience.
IL gives me great pleasure to meet you,
soldiers of Vermont, in this reunion, for ii
was my fortune 10 see you on the field, in
the hour Of our country's peril, and know
oil your va.Or. 1t was Il pleasure, as chair
man of The committee of arrangements of
the senate of the United States to meet and
he cunversant with thousands who went to
the field. | am glad to meet you here, sol
ulcIs anu cllIenS. NO state IN the Union
did more according to its means TO sup
press the great rebellion. In manly act,
courage, iortitudo and intelligent action,
Vermont was marked as holding a fore
most position. You will not on this occa-
sion forget tue dead, nor the places where
they fought and Tell, or the cemeteries
where they lie, so well guarded bv the gov
etnmeni. Since the dawn of creation, or
the earth was peopled, there has been no
grander or greater struggle. You have
your Bennington, where Gen. Stark fought,
which has inspired and implanted princi-
pies which have led you TO fight for the
rights of the oppressed. This defence of
the oppressed has led us on in the path of
duty until our nation has become the
grandest Christian country in the world
prouder inheritance than all the skill and
valor of all armies. To-day ms you clasp
the hands and look into each others faces
you remember the rights you secured to
the people. Upon the basis cow establish
ed of equal aud impartial rights, il is our
duty TO make it the greatest and grandest
country of the world. We should give the
right hand of fellowship TO those who were
opponents, that we may build ii up togeth-
er. 1t is the cause of humanity and Chris
tian civilization. We want unity as much
as ii was our duty to put down the rebel
lion.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wilson said, / am
glad TO see you, as | always rejoice to see
the men who saved my country. Let us do
Whatever can be justly done TO unite our
people.
Mr.. Wilson retired amid dealening APP
plause, and was followed by Maj. -General
w. j. Franklin, who thanked the soldiers
for the cordial welcome given him in camp
here, and proceeded TO review some of the
scenes of the war, paying a fine compli-
ment TO Gen. "Baldy' Smith. He ex-
pressed the opinion that the day Of national
close, and that each State must furnish the
soldiers of the future for herself
The band then played the "Siar Spangled
Banner"
MR.. Ev.NRTs.
Hon. VIM. NJ. Evarts of New York was
next introduced and was received with
such applause that it was moment before
he could be heard. He spoke for fifteen
minutes in fitting and eloquent forms. He
said:
The distinction which Vermont won by
sending seventeen full regiments into the
service has been recognized by all the
States. am proud that so many went.
| am proud, though sad, that so many fell
In battle that they did not avoid. / am
glad that 81 many have returned TO be sim
pie, unaSsuming citizens. While the cir
eumstances, as drawn out by the civil war,
filled with delight those who saw the or
ganization and development of our citi-
zen soldiers, their dispersion to quiet life
and the relation that they have borne TO
public affairs since is more worthy OF the
attention of thinking men. The soldiers,
though soldiers, true, brave, successful
soldiers, were citizens before they entered
The cory leo thnv ritizpps xNhtla he.
were in the service, and they were citizens
at the close of their term of service, hayin q
all the time the same interests as other citi-
zens had. You went as citizens of the
same country as those with whom YOU
fought. You fought to compel them to re-
main citizens Of that country of which it
was for their own best interests to be citi-
zens. Everywhere, therefore, You carried
this citizen spirit, even into the battle field.
There was no tyranny, no malice, no re-
venge, no evil purpose against them as cit
liens. II was only as soldiers lighting
against their own best interests. You both
learned that you were citizens of COM
mon country, with com mon interests and
common memories, as in the past histo-
ry of the country the war OF the Revolu-
ton and of 1912. You could not be divid-
ed, so the future will look back upon the
late war and see that by it the nation was
made OF more worth than before the storm.
The soldiers have no disposition to pro-
long or renew the strife. The sons of YER
mont, powerful as they ever are in their
influence, are lovers of peace, and are de-
termined that no passions shall disturb the
restored feeling. The great lesson you
have been taught is that nation NAV ex-
list without standing army, without the
enormous burdens that the nations of Eu-
rope feel themselves obliged to carry. AL
ready Europe feels the effect of the lesson.
II Is your great glory TO be the means of
saving our government and emancipating
all her bondmen. If you had accomplish
ed no more, you would have given the
first impulse to the emancipation of the
masses from the quasi servitude of Euro
pean powers.
Hon. Asa o. Adds of Washington, Gen.
f. l.. Cole of Troy, and Senator Edmunds
were successfully introduced, and made
well received and pertinent addresses.
SENATOR EDMUNDs
took occasion TO express his disapprobation
of The sentiment so often heard expressed
nowadays in regard to the duty of north
ern soldiers to "forgive and forget" the an
imosities engendered by the war. The
Vermont soldiers, he knew, never felt any
animosity toward the people of the South,
and consequently had none to forget. The
lessons, the battles, the cost and experience
es of the war we would never forget.
Judge Adds spoke briefly. Col. Coles
remarks were pithy and humorous, and
kept the house in continuous tumult of
applause.
Gen. Thomas then read the following let
ter from Gen. Sheridan:
GEN. sHERIDAN's LETTER.
CHICAGO, July 80, 1875.
My Dear Sd,cyer Your note of the 2lst
came duly to hand. l regret exceedingly
1t will be impossible for me TO be present
at your reunion. l have already made all