davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
A Plain.Speken southerner.

4 few days since, while travelling, we fell
in company with an intelligent Kentuckian
on his return from the Centennial, taking
Montreal on his route. Almost Of course,
national politics soon became the topic Of
conversation, and the Kentuckan unhesitat-
ingy stated his views Of the situation. lie
avowed himself democrat-a southern
democrat-and said their object in the pres
ent campaign was to elect Tilden, and then
erea-ap with the north upon the war ques
ton. lie said il they could elect Tilden,
aud then set their heels upon the necks Of
the Republican party, their purpose was
sure to be accomplished. Aud the election
of Tildcn he considered ioregone conclu-
sion, for he was sure of all the Southern
states except South Carolina, together with
New York, Ohio and Indiana lie claimed
to have been neutral during the war, and
yet he said the Union army stripped his
farm Of all its crops, without making him
any remuneration. His claim for idrmuity
had been carefully prepared, and under a
democratic administration the South was
sure of the payment Of all such claims. lie
stated, Of his own accord, as a thing TO be
| proud Of, and to back up his claim that
| Ohio and Indiana were sure to 20 demo-
cratic, that ave are now sending hosts Of
white voters across the border into these
two states, to make sure the success OF
the democratic ticket !" and when We ven
tured to ask him upon what ground he
could justify such an illegal aud fraudu
lent proceeding, he said he was informed
and believed, that the black Republican,
were importing colored voters for a sim
liar purpose. To all our pleas of justi
fcation for the Republican party, and APP
peals to the sacredness of the old flag, h,
was wholly and totally imperyious- they Of
the South had been injured in their pockets
and wounded in their pride, and this wa,
the time and Tilden's election the means Of
their getting satisfaction.
The gentleman, though long a resident Of
Kentucky, was native of Pennsylvania
lie seemed weN.iuformed courteous gen
tleman, and weJhave no doubt he fairly rep
resents the presaling sentiment of the South
With the issue thus made up by a uuiteC
South-much as we deprecate sectional APP
peals, and gladly as we would bury all thu
animosities Of the past-what recourse il
left but to light the old fires Of patriotism
and plead for united North to gather W
and save from destruction the priceless fruiti
of the late war 2
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
The Indian Question.

Since Logan's famous speech, after hs
family was massacred in Ohio, in IVA, there
has been no more eloquent portrayal of lie
wrongs of the Indians than will be found in
the speech of the Sioux chief, Spotted Tall
on signing the new treaty proposed by tie
United States commissioners. "This seems
to me" he says, "a very hard day" And
well it may. The Sioux reservation was in
vaded by white trespassers. When the In
dams undertook to drive them out, the
United States government sent soldiers ~
protect the invaders. Now, it is proposed
TO assign the Sioux new country, which
they have not seen, and to pay them for their
own lands in goods which they have some
reason to fear they never will see. 1t is time
that this childish farce of making treaties
only to break them, should be ended. The
Indian tribes are not nations with which
treaties can be made. Spotted Tail himself
says, My people have grown up with those
white men who have married into our tribe,
and we want to be considered all one people
with them" That is the true solution of
the Indian question. These people should
be treated as subjects Of the United States
government, entitled to the protection and
exposed to the penalties of the laws. They
should be dealt with as individuals and not
as nations. Their lands should be 10 longer
reserved for them as tribes, but conveyed to
them as persons, and alienated, if at all, by
their free acts, duly acknowledged.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
Governor Fairbanks Message.

We take great pleasure in commencing to
onr readers a careful perusal of the admira-
bic message of Governor Fairbanks IL is
exceedingly clear in expression, broad and
statesmanlike in its views, and on the whole,
We believe, wise in its recommendations.
In respect to its financial statement we
have no occasion TO speak since the Treas
urers exhibit has so recently been given to
our readers. That our state is practically
free from debt cannot fail to be source of
iustifable pride to all her inhabitants.
Under the head of expenses, the Governor
gives special consideration to the enormous
costs of prosecutions by our grand iuries
and trials by our petit juries, which, to-
gether, constitute a draft upon the general
tax fund of the state of more than thirty
thousand dollars. This excessive burden
has come TO be seriously felt, and we trust
our lawmakers will carefully weigh the rec
ommendation of the Governor, TO the end
that system may be adopted which shall
not only lessen the cost, but also better Sc.
cure the ends sought by our courts of Justice
The subject Of taxation is clearly treated
and the defects Of our present system pointed
out This is a subject of vital importance
to our state and the abuses which are prao-
ticed under the existing laws are simply
outrageous. If single session OF the legis
lature is too short to perfect a better system
then let a board Of tax commissioners be
created, whose duty it shall be to prepare
a plan and submit ii to future legisa-
ture. The injustice and perjury growing
out Of our tax law, as now administered, is
standing reproach.
The Governor fails TO do justice to our in
valuable and rapidly State Library
in not recommending an appropriation at
the present session for enlarged quarters for
its accommodation. Selfshness, If not pride,
ought to lead our Legislators, without recon-
mendation from any source, to provide
speedily aud amply for this choicest among
the states treasures.
Large space is given TO the sad defects in
our state prison and Jail systems. Thought
ful aud humane persons have long seen and
lamented these evils, and the time has fully
come when better system ought to be de-
vised. II our educational system is far
behind many OF the other New England
states, our prisons and jails are infinitely
more so. Public sentiment demands radi-
cal reform.
The attention of the legislature is ear
nestly invited to the full and somewhat
startling report of the commissioner for the
insane and the people of the state join
most feelingly in that request. If our ln-
sane Asylum is what it ought to be, then
let the fact be demonstrated, not blinked
and If it is not, there should DO no time lost
in making other and suitable provision for
this most unfortunate aud deserving class Of
our people.
We repeat let all our readers carefully
peruse the message. They will rise from
such service, as we have, with a higher es-
TEEN for our new Executive, and better
appreciation of those institutions which
have contributed to make our little state
known and honored everywhere.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
The Centennial Awards.

Happening to be in attendance upon the
great exhibition when the report of the
judges was made public we had some kuowl-
edge of the feeling of disappointment and
dissatisfaction which prevailed almost uni
yersally among the exhibitors. 4 list of
awards, which filled twenty-eight newspaper
columns, naturally led the anxious exhibitors
to conclude at once that nearly everybody had
been included, and so the whole proceeding
had been rendered little less than farce.
But this feeling of disappointment began to
change as soon as the principle upon which
the judges proceeded and the meaning of the
awards began to be understood. The truth
seems to be that the old system Of graduated
medals gave universal dissatisfaction, and
so utterly broke down at former exhibitions
that it was decided not TO attempt it at
Philadelphia.
Instead. corps of judges was secured,
one-half American, one-half foreign EN-
bracng some of the ablest men in their re-
spective departments. These judges were
arranged in sections. After a careful exam
nation of all the exhibits, they determined
who deserved an award of merit and
uniform large medal was given to all whose
articles were for any reason regarded as
meritorious. Over twelve thousand such
medals were recommended by the judges
and given by the commission. Accompany.
ing these medals is a written opinion, pre-
pared by some one of the judges appointed
for that purpose, and approved by major
ity of his section. This opinion states
clearly what are the special merits of the
article for which the medal is recommended
and it is to this opinion, not to the medal,
received in common with a regiment of ex-
hibitors, that the public will look for the
true estimate put upon the articles. In this
way fair opinion is arrived at in every
instance, without the risk of complaints of
bad judgment and Partially
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

Com BLooDEp.-In speech in San
dusky Ohio, last week, Mr.. Dorsheimer, il is
reported. made the gratuitous assertion that
a" the people OF New York do not now
talk on moonshiny and nonsensical subjects
and prate about somebody who died in
Southern prison pens, and that sort of thing,
but they talk about what Tiden has done
to tighten their burdens in the way OF reduc
ing the public debt" The brutality of this
allusion is only exceeded by that displayed
by jeff. Davis jailers at Andersonville, and
we can pity the Northern man who could
give it utterance, Dorsheimer must know
that the impulse which leads the White
Liners TO assassinate negroes who show a
disposition to exercise their right of fran
chise, is akin TO that which starved to death,
after inflicting nameless horrors, thousands
upon thousands Of Northern soldiers who,
but for those hells of Andersonville aud
Belle Isles, would be alive to-day. lie must
know, also, that the talk about Tilden's re-
duetion of the public debt is the veriest
sham ever cohcocted, and deceiyes no one.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

CAnoT.-rhe Free Baptist church at Maxyille
Iiardwick, was burned at three O'Clock A. NJ, De-
tober sth Loss two thousand dollars; insured
in the Vermont Mutual for five hundred dollars
Born ministers the doctor, and several others
have gone 10 the Centennial this week
THE iirst snow OF the season fell Sunday night
on the heights; 1t was one inch deep Monday
morning, but soon disappeared.
J. FRANK BROWN, former clerk with Messrs
spragne & Wells, has bought Mr.. J. A. Farriug-
tons stock Of goods, and rented his store, and
gone into trade for himself We suppose Mr.
Harrington retres from the business, to enter
upon general line Of all kinds Of brokerage.
CALEB FISHER and wife were journeying last
week from this town to Topsham. Aiterpassingt the
Spring House In Painfeld, mile or two, and at
the top of long hill, Mr.. Fisher had occasion To
remove the bride from his horse, who, on seeing
the top OF the carriage, Immediately took fright
and ran with Mrs. Fisher alone In the carriage
with no lines to govern him dashng along down
ihehill, gaining speed at every jump. Whenabont
one mile had been gone over she discovered
ahead two ladies in wagon, and halooed Just IN
time To let her pass in safety, After going nearly
another mile she discovered a two-horso team,
which could not get out of the road but upset the
carriage, releasing the horse from 1t, and throw
ing Mrs. Fisher violently against the ground
among the rocks, cutting her face, breaking her
teeth, and jarring her up generally. Her bruises
however were not so serious but what she was
able to return u her home the next day. 1t WAS
truly narrow escape and should be warning
TO all that manage horses, not TO take OIL ther
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

GOVERNOR HAYES AND VERMONT. The follow
ing letter was found In the state library. ON Mon
day of this week, being addressed to the late Hon
Charles Reed, at that time State Librarian In
view of the approaching annual meeting of the
State Historical Society at the Capitol the inter.
est OF the candidate for President in the history
of Vermont will be appreciated by the great num-
Der Of Republicans composing that body:
FREMONT Ohio, July l, 1873
Dear SRI am DESTROYS of obtaining num-
Der Of the historical books relating to Vermont,
and not knowing what they are or how to get
them, write to you for information. | have a
life OF Ethan Allen, by d. T. Pray, and Halls
Eastern Vermont, two volumes, and have under
stood that your State Historical Society has pub
lished some volumes and that Miss Hemenway is
gathering the local history Of the state This Is
the SUN OF my information-or rather Of my
ignorance OF the state Of my fathers. II you can
put me in the way Of gathering moderate but
respectable collection, | will be greatly obliged
Sincerely, 4. II, iIA,s.
Hon. Charles Reed, Montpelier VT"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

TIMELY CAUTION. Visitors to the Cen
tennial are urgently recommended not to
take any superfluous baggage with them.
Trunks are very much in the way. A small
satchel, or anything that can be carried in
the hand, is all that should be taken Many
persons going on to spend week or two take
a trunk, and never see it until a week or two
after they return home, and are fortunate to
get it then. Besides, the cars and boats are
absolutely loaded down and their progress
greatly impeded thereby. A reporter of the
Philadelphia Times counted one thousand
three hundred aud seventy-one trunks in the
new depot of the Pennsylvania railroad in
that city. This was at three o'clock in the
afternoon, after the expressmen had been
filling their wagons all day from the collec
ton, and distributing trunks all over the CITY,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

BRIGnrER SKIEs.-rokens of reviving
business come from all parts of the country
A correspondent from one of our large cities
says "Within a few weeks there has been
a Frightening Of business prospects in Gin
cinnati that it is cheering TO witness Our
business men are in better spirits than for
some years. They feel that we have touched
bottom and are again getting up in the
world. Confidence is being rapidly restored.
Values have ceased to shrink, and there is a
general tendency to slight advances. Coun-
try MERCHANTS having sold out from top to
bottom, and cleaned the corners, are coming
in for fresh stocks. Our reporters yester-
day interviewed a considerable number of
our most prominent men in business affairs,
and the general expression was that there
was marked and happy change for the
better"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

MoRRiSvmLY.-Ihe fire company was called
ont for practice Tuesday, but as there were not
enough men there To handle the engine, they ad-
journed.
REy V. HARDY went to the Centennial last
Monday, instead Of going directly home.
Mr.. 4. O. EnGnRToS cut two fingers and thumb
of his right hand, while at work. last Friday
ELDn, HALL supplied the Congregational pull
pit, last Sunday, with very interesting sermon.
WALLACE TowNE a boy Of fifteen or sixteen,
GOT hit on the head while playing ball, a week
ago last Thursday lie was taken blind and
speechless and died Friday Of last week
CIV HrNpER and wife, F. X Gleed and wife,
c. H. Page aud wife, Mrs A. l. blanchard and
son and G II Geodale, returned from the Centen-
NAL Saturday Hiram, Alfred and Harrison
Dodge, j. \. Bundy, A. NJ. McClintock, o. l..
Metcali, Charles Jameson, Charles Stafford and
Bert Worthin started for the Centennial Monday
morning.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

CONFERENCE.-The Springfield Republican
says "rherc is good deal of apparently
just complaint that the state house at Mont
peller is not warmed during the winter,
when the Legislature is not in session, not
only to the discomfort Of those using the
law library, but to the damage by mold Of
the fine collections of state birds, animals
and fish Ia the cabinet"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

RUTLAND AwAgE.-A large meeting was held
at Rutland on Wednesday evening TO hear the re-
port Of the committee appointed to see about the
removal Of the Howe Scale Works to Rutland.
The committee reported that the works would
probably locate at Rutland II the citizens wonid
raise one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Ex-Governor Page has promised FIVE thousand
dollars and other subscriptions bring the amount
up to iifty-fye thousand dollars. II the amount
Is raised, foundations for the buildings will be I'M
mediately laid There is much enthusiasm and
good rrospcc. Of raising the amount reluhen'
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

KNOW both Samuel j. Tilden and Thomas
A. Hendricks in fact, have borne to them
the most friendly relations, and yet do not
know Rutherford B. Hayes or William A.
Wheeler, the Republican candidates; but If
Tilden and Hendricks were my brothers and
Hayes and Wheeler my enemies, should
support the latter, simply because they carry
the Tag OF the country, and are pledged 10
the maintenance Of the great covenants and
guarantees made sacred by the overthrow of
the rehellion.-.j0LE w. Former.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

MARsHfIELD l. W. Ptkin, OF Marshfeld, has
full blooded Jersey COW, from ten pounds OF
whose milk were made fourteen ounces Of butter,
and 81 she goes for Hayes and Wheeler" aud,
furthermore, he does not believe thereis a Tilden
COW In the county, that on grass alone, will make
good percentage Of butter
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

WORCESTER The reform club In Worcester is
now running in good shape with one hundred aud
seyeuty-siN mcnhers It's officers are President
J. Z Wheeler. Nice-rresident, Nathaniel Kelly
Secretary C>rel Coppi Treasurer, H. Hancock
Chaplain, Rev Il. u. Metcalf We hope the club
will hold fast to the good work and accomplish
the purpose for which they were organized
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11
!al al.bnr.cmcni Of yeatlo An.n.

With reference to the annual expenses of
the Auditor and Treasurer-we speak of
these officers as we are more conversant with
their duties--there certainly has been an in
crease of a considerable amount. But il
must be borne in mind that the duties of
these officers have been enlarged beyond
even the enlargement of their salaries. There
Is not an office in the state that exacts so
much time, so great accuracy and precision,
so large responsibility, as that of the Treas
urer. If the duties of that Office for the last
ten years bad been put into the hands of ex-
perienced clerks under the supervision of a
| Treasurer who received only the old salary,
it would have been impossible TO have had
them discharged with superior or even an
equal exactness, fidelity and success. The
Treasurer has himself carried burden of
responsibility that no clerks could have ad-
equately met, and performed an amount of
labor that no experienced clerks could have
been hired to perform for the salary which
he has received. Certainly the business of
the treasury of Vermont needs the care and
superintendent of a man whose annual SER
| vices are worth more than the wages of n
hod carrier. The poorest paid office in Yer
mont when we consider its responsibilities
and labors, is that of the Treasury. How
admirably its duties have been discharged
is obvious to every citizen.
The duties of the Authorship have been
next TO those of the Treasurer, and cores
pond very nearly TO his in the time to be
devoted TO them. These two officers have
entirs charge of the finances of the state.
And there is not state in the Union where
the percentage of cost on the administration
of the public finances bears so small pro-
portion to the disbursements as Vermont.
II is not the officers, the governor, secreta-
ries, treasurer, auditor, judges, senators and
representatives of our state who have a fat
thing of it," as the GioJe says, nor is it even
the printer, who does all his work at cost,
as the Globe knows, but it is the people of
Vermont who may well smile inwardly at
the fact that the state government has cost
them hardly the amount of their poll-tax.
That there may be retrenchment and a
greater economy in state expenses, is doubt
less true. But we are much mistaken il we
think that Vermont Legislature ever in
tentionally makes appropriations or author
ICES expenditures that are not rigidly re.
quired. Its prudence is proverbial, aud its
economy sometimes seems severe. And in
looking over the details of state expenses,
1t would be difficult, even for the wisest
economist to put his hand on single item
which is unnecessary or extravagant. De
sirous as we are to reduce the public burdens
to the minimum, we do not desire to see
Vermont mean aud parsimonious.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-10-11

SATURDAY, October 9Th.
The evidence on both sides was brought to an
end on Saturday noon, and in the afternoon Mr.
Shurtleif opened for the prosecution and Mr.
Harvey for the defence. The principal witnesse,
for the respondent in the forenoon, were his sons
Asa little Ase) and Charles. Ase testified to
fight he and Streeter had at Hannah PERKINS, in
March, 1876, in which Streeter hit Hannah over
the head with stick Of wood and Hannah re-
turned the compliment with interest and finally
turned them both out doors at three o'clock iu
the morning Both the boys testified that the
boots their father wore were a pair Of rubber
boots which they exhibited in court, and =" Little
Ase " tried to account for the blood ON the wagon.
by swearing that Streeter had tire nose bleed
while riding in it from West Topsham on the day
before the murder. Drs Homer c. Brigham. Asa
George and J, B. Woodward testified to the
effect Of alcohol in retarding the digestion
in opposition TO the theory OF the prosecutions
doctors, that from the looks Of the contents Of the
stomach, death must have ensued within an hour
and half ort two hours after eating the pie. The
other witnesses were chiefly in impeachment OF
Aunt Hannah, and to the feet that in converse
ton after the murder, she had given accounts of
her doings on the night before different from her
testimony on the stand. The defence was hardl,
W. ,,, -io iie"''' III MS opening
' n ,"1 u'n , nos i'i',Ne very strong I'M
H. ''yH as.un ","s'i, contrary 10 eNpee'a-
49,, ,Io ta,, -, "nu "I'nousn 'ne Ia" says
s,and .hai, no, ", ~ onuen. 70 80 upon the
feet upon public. opinion was strongly against the
idea OF his innocence. If Magoon had gone upou
'UnneV'eu account oil his
,hs raason for straa.o1, i'al'an rerilh and OF
hao 20 ,ho ho,sa :. 's''''ns "'n' ana gong
ha a,S ,ho,o ,o,,1 was 1'1i'''eu ny counsel
H. 'nu, A, noa,, "l.s uoen general doubt OF
which was VERY ,ncsn,o w. s' harvey saisnment'
tilted hi. reputation as r,, aD'', anu 'uliy Jus
,ha oonr, ,ooL roa f'''.s young lawyer
,,e ~ w." ,eoess u'i Mohday morning.
ns ~ n ""s H"1e o'en ooised to keep to-
se"ei So ""a Jay since 'hey were drawn in,
~ 49, ,,ornoon r,a"y Us they could, and
~ '''' Wv" a" ''"s constitutional walk