Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-25


These men, together with those from Massa-
chusotts, made about one thousand two hundred |
present at the reunion. This review took place |
before Vice-Prosident Wilson, Senator Edmunds, |
Gen Franklin, Judge Adds, and many other dis |
tingulshed guests.
rnE BUSINESS MEETING
At twelve O'Clock business meeting, to make |
the necessary arrangements for the next reunion, |
was held General Thomas presiding After a
brief discussion It was voted 10 hold the next re- /
union at Bennington ON the 10th Of August, 1877 |
that being the centennial anniversary NJ the tat |
tie Of Remington
Colonel j. IL Walbhd.e was nominated and
elected commander. For vice-commandcr, Colonel
II. $ Hard and Major A. b Valentine were both
nominated, aud the friends of each being unwil-
ing to withdraw their candidates, and il being In
convenient to take ballot, it was finally decided
to elect them both.
The rain continuing to fall steadily, the speeches.
which were to have been delivered upon the
ground, were adjourned until two o'clock, at the
town hall, which spacious ediice WIS packed to
the utmost, and hundreds were denied admit
lance Gen Thomas called the assembly to order,
and called for Ex-Goy Holbrook Of Bmttcboro,
to deliver the welcome address By some unfor-
tunate misunderstanding, the Governor was not
present and Gov. Peck in few well-chosen re-
marks, introduced Nice-President Wilson, who
spoke substantially as follows
vIcE-rHEsmENr WILSON'S SPEECH
lie commenced by thanking the Governor for
the kind words in presenting him, and the audi
ence Tor their cordial greeting It was his pri,i-
lege during the long and bloody struggle To act
As chairman Of the senate committee on mil
tary affairs, and he did what he could by leg,la-
ton, and in all other ways, to bring into the field
the great army which saved the country, and to
provide for its comfort. It was his privilege To
personally know the great leaders Of that army.
and tens Of thousands Of men who followed them
lie was happy to meet here the men OF Vermont
who did CALAMITY ON a hundred memorable
fields, and those other men aud women who stayed
at home and took such noble care Of them and
theirs Applause For no state in the Union
did more, according to its means than did Yer
mont lou come here now to greet the living, but
you will not forget the dead who fell by your sides
and now sleep where they fell or in the Gene
tories which the government guards so well
since the morning Of the creation, in all the wars
that have CONFUSED the earth, there has not been
one which had a greater and more righteous
cause than this Applause day or two ago
you celebrated the battle Of Bennington, but the
cause for which John Stark fought though glori-
Gus, was not so great as yours Your most ex-
allied patriotism saved nation, elevated the
poor, the down-trodden and the oppressed, and it
opened to this great country such opportunities
for the advancement Of civilization As no other ma
ton ever enjoyed. You made the old Il fash
with yalor and with liberty. Applause You
opened opportunities for all who seek our shores
aud for this nation to become the great Christian
country Of the world Such was the worthy
cause for which you suffered 1t was more wor-
thy than usually engages skill and yalor Now.
gentlemen, az you meet to-day and talk over the
old, trying scenes, do not forget that it was your
distinction rs citizens TO become soldiers to fight
for the great Republic, to strike the letters from
four and half millions of slaves, and to create
laws under which the poorest man can stand up
and be citizen Of the country whose faith was
born of the New Testament and the Gospel Of
Jesus Christ
Now, having oyerthrown the great system which
disturbed the harmony Of orr government il is
orr duty to build the basis Of impartial
liberty and make this the greatest grandest and
most powerful nation the globe Applause
While You thank God for the privileges You had
OF fighting to save it, it is your duty TO meet the
brave but deuded men who had faith in their bad
cause aud 10 offer them the right hand Of fellow
ship Applause Let us turn the conquest over
to the pen Of the historan-he will take care of il
There is not a citizen of Vermont who will ever |
have to repent that he followed the old flag and
carried to success the cause of humanity for which
the great and good have struggled in all ages
IApplause.l But it was a civil war. and we can
afford to be generous, kindly, and ask the men Of
the South to help MS build pour common country.
We want unity and brothery love 1t is as much /
our duty to cultivate it now as it was our duty /
fourteen years ago TO rally to the rescue Of the |
old flag
Now am glad TO have seen you here to-day |
God bless you, men of Vermont MAY your lives
be prosperous, happiness tighten your homes,
your children be blessing to you and your |
country never know-no, never know that It can |
by any possibility ever forget your noble services
But may il stand by and reward you as the men
who saved the republic of the United States |
shall go away from this inspiring occasion with
my heart lishtened and my hope strengthened in
the future of my country. [Great applause
For this excellent condensation Of Mr.. Wilson's
remarks we are indebted to the St Adams Mes
senger.
Gen. Franklin, who commanded on the Peninsula
the Division to which the old Vermont brigade
was attached was next called out, and was re-.
ceiyed with hearty cheers. lie spoke in the high
est terms Of the soderS yalor OF the Vermont
troops. He urged the necessity Of keeping mn the
military spirit in the land, so that should another
war ever come upon us, 1t would not find us In
an utterly defeneeless condition.
Hon William NJ. Evarts was next introduced
and spoke very pleasantly for a few moments
thoroughly and cordially endorsing the views Of
the Nlee-fresident upon the Southern question
Other speeches were made by Judge Adds and
Col Cole, of Troy, N. Y, which were very appro-
pirate and well received
But, MS taking the opposite view of our relations
with the South, Senator Edmunds made an able
and Impressive address, from which we cannot for.
bear to make the following extracts
SENATOR EDMuNps' REMARKS.
Once more have the privilege of addressing
those men who need not he told that thew have
done more than any others to preserve our gov
eminent, II was not so much obedience that gave
us the victory, as the training in the North and
Northwest which you all received in Republiean
homes and school houses Our soldiers were men
who ever, under sense Of profound wrong still
held forth the supremacy OF the law. Such themes
are familiar yet must come up again at such
time as the present
While there are no hatreds in anniversarie. n,o
work accomplished is standing memorial Of yonr
achievements. Much that has been said II, o,,r
papers Is entirely out Of place. No New Knsland
soiuier ever mad any revenge to crafty; with him
!. was SIMPLY stern duty. lie was ever simple
czen' WIN no design except to see that every one
had ms rights All parties now preach this doc
.rine' pn' we cannot justly be asked to wipe OF
the names OF Gettysburg and Antietam from onr
patue-flags, nor to destroy the monuments Thar
cal 10 remembrance your deeds. No one can eop-
sS,eh''y ask us to think of both sides as equally
right 1t WAS not like a fancy tournament ,yhon