Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-11-24


K THE ANNUAL SUFFER-.
T Here, at ten o'clock, the Society sat dow,
TO the supper, which. with its wit and wis
dom, ITS spirited of-hand speeches, and gen
eral now OF good feeling, always constitute
so prominent and delightful n feature O
) these reunions.
0 The handsome dining hall of the Pavilion
was well filled, and the gathering inclndef
goodly number of the fairer sex. amono
the ladies' present being the wives Of Gov
Proctor, General Kingsley, Captain Athcr.
ton and others. Tho centre-table bore a
large centre piece OF ferns. flowers and fruit
and all the tables, with the handsome crock
cry and neat service of the new hotel. pres
ented very attractive appearance. The
OIL oi iaTe, handsomely printed in gold
ana colors, announced very appetizing
list OF substantials and luxuries and ali
was excellent, and nicely served. General
Pitkln, as President of the Society. took the
mead OF the Principal table, 1anked on
either hand by Governor Fairbanks
Lieut.. Governor Proctor, Speaker Stewart
President Grout OF the Senate. Hon
George Nichols. Secretary of State, Colonel
leazey, Senator Storrs, Chaplain Glazier.
Captain Estey, Hon n r Sprague. Jr.
and Colonel George W. Hooker Gen. l.. A,
Grant-whose presence for the first time az
one OF these reunions lent distinction to the
oeeasion-Gep. Wm. Wei zen. Stephen
Thomas Col Proctor. Col. Farnham. Major
j. L. Barstow. Major John W. Newton.
and other well-known officers, had seats at
I other tables
After fall justice had been done 10 the
material feast, Gen. Pitkin announced that
the How OF soul was about to commence.
and introduced Colonel Veazey, the toast
master ct the evening, who read the regular
tOasts.
l. OUR COUNTRY. - Established among the na-
6ohs u me earth by the valJr o. the soldiers OF the
heFo-uuon' preserved a uation by the soldiers Of
tne war iur the Union, she rounds her hundred
years o. VI fous Life. May her second Centennial
mo heI s'iil one country, greater reer puTer and
more prosperous than IN the past
Major william Rounds responded in a
characteTlstlcaliy spirited and patriotic
speech. lie el0quently spoke Of the freight.
invisible but eternal, when our Pilgri M
Fathers brought over in the Mayhower. He
traced briefly the progress Of our country.
and earnestly pleaded that all, in their
hllarIty, should not forget to make it a lite
study, and to impress it on their children
ara their chlldren's children, that the true
work OF an American was to seek 10 preserve
bis country, If need be, at the peril Of his
life His solemn advice was, Live for your
country as you have been ready to die for
1t. he earnest old soldier was loudly cheer
Cd as he took his seat. The Ransom Guard
6lee Club next sang, with fine effect, tho
national hymn Of America, Mr.. II. II
Scrloner presiding at the organ.
II CUR SIATE.-The first born Of the reuublic
eldest o. the worthy ssterh0od not surpassed even
dreu.
His Excelloacy, Governor Fairbanks. was
naturally called up by this sentiment. lie
said
"Mr. Prsaasnl aHa ItiTaa Soldiers .-
1t gives me sincere pleasure to meet you Sc
clally and on this occasion. | am not a
soldier. | am not speaker. | wish it
were b0th. But In looking over this room
my eye falls on one who was q speaker long |
before he was elevated 10 the Speakers /
chair and | call on Governor Stewart to /.
further respond on behalf OF the State"
General Prkin said that as Governor |
Stewart was down On the bill for response |
to the next sentiment, he would excuse him |
for the present, and call up in his stead an .
eloquent member Of the Senate, Hon. Oscar /
L. ButtcIfeld, of Windham county. The .
Senator declared he was not q talking man,
and then ialsitied the declaration by flu
ent and flial eulogY ct his mother State. /
whom be described as standing with one ,
hand resting On Champlain and the other I
on the Connecticut, shouting Freedom and .
Unity TO her sisters in the Union. His re-
marks suggested to the patriotic fellows Of |
the Glee Club to strike up that popular /
national lyric, 'ilurrah icr Old New Eng |
land +. Z. Philips giving the solo /
with admirable expression At it, close.
Major Rounds mounted chair, and swing
ing his hat called for three cheers and a
tiger for 20 d New England, which were
given by the descendants of the PGritans
present with due heartiness and Will.
III. The 6FSFRAL AssFYBLY CT EHNos7.-Wise.
as well "a yiTtuous. 1t is moved and seconded
that we now adj Jurn."
To this epitome Of tie character Of the
Legislature and of its principal business
during this session. Speaker Stewart was
called to respond, and did so with his Gus
tomary happiness and force. He ayowed
himself puzzled by this "double-barrelied
sentiment" Lord John Russell said there
was man. once, who understood the
SchlesWig- g-HOlstein question; bat he was
dead. II the perpetrator Of this toast had
survived he should ike TO have him ex-
plain it. he surmlsed that, like some in
scct-. It's point was in its conclusion.
Passing from his CAV strain TO more serious
matters. the ex- Governor said be had been
much impressed by many Of the thoughts
in the admirable Grafton Of the
evening. Some Of them ought to be en-
craven in golden letters on the walls Of
every school house in Vermont, especially
that idea Of Liberty under Law" The
only true liberty was under law; and the
sentiment should be profoundly cherished
and reyereneed by every citizen. This was
the invisible power which controls Us all
the wonderful guardianship which sur
rounds Us like the atmosphere. We are al
most unconscious of the beneEcence OF
system under which every man, woman aId
child lies down to sleep in perfect security
under it the constable, with piece ofpaper,
was more powerful than q standing army.
lie predicted, not as partisan, that this
country will not have fulfilled its mission
until perfect freedom and security under
law. backed by virtuous public opinion,
shall prevail throughout the length and
breadth Of the land. Then and not till then
shall there be perfect peace. and the dream
Of our fathers be realized. The Governors
were received with prolonged ap-
plause.
The Glee Club then sang the laughable
Ethiopian ditty. Carve that pOssum,
which was uproariously applauded
". THK PRESIDENT OF The UNITED srArrs.--As
he tsnds by the sht without regard TO men, par
ties OF sec tons, SO will loyal people sustain him
General Stephen Thomas responded. and,
IS always, with earnestness and force. lie
said the missicn of our country Is not yet
ended. Men often talk without reflection
but the man who declares that a lawfully ,
elected President shall not be iDausurated,
IS not fit TO be citizen OF the Republic.
President Grant has the best interest of the
nation at heart. Under his command We
lrce conquered and if need be to sustain
tho unity of the Nation and Constitu-
ti0ual Government, he would. the speaker !
believed, take the sword and the field again,
and would be followed. to a man. by his old
in arms In closing he proposed
three cheers for the President Of the United
states, which were given, standing, with
hearty will.
The Gleo Club were next called on, once
more. and responded with the fine glee In
warm, We meet tonight.
'. The OLD BRIGADE.r From Lees Mills to Ap-
lomattoN sustained the ancient fame OF the Green
Mountain Boys. and lis history will contain the
.amous order Of the gallant Sedgwick nut the
'ermonters ahead and keep the ranks closed up
General l. A Grant, of Des Moines,
Iowa, the old and last commander Of the
FIRST Brigade, was called up by this senti
nent, and was greeted with round of cor ,
dial applause. 1t was his fortune, he said,
to be member of the First Brigade from
It's organization. and to command it dur !
ing half of its eventual existence. He loved d.
he Brigade and its officers and men, and
took pride in its fame, though he had never :
claimed that its efficiency was due TO his ..
forts 1t was enough for him that he
belonged to it, ard shared its varied ex +.
Deriences. ,
lie hoped its history would yet be ewritten. :
Thus far that history had not been recorded, ,
md in this respec: it stood ct dsadvan- !
.age, as compared with some other organi- !
.ations Peculiar circumstances gave prom
nence to the achievements of other orgeni-
.ations. The old Brigade had long been Z
lighting battles without results, when ior- ,
June gave to the Second Brigade promi-
1ent share in the great decisive battle of
In L. II H. IL .