Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-12-27
From the Boston Daily Globe
VermOnt's Centennial.

mat lhe year 1910, SO soOh W
draw to close marks a century in the
progress of the nation, has been rath-
er frequently remarked during the last
twelve months, but that the year 1877,
IS soon to open, will mark century
in the progress of the first state added
to the original thirteen which at first
composed that nation, is not SO uni
versally known. The territory now
known as the state Of Vermont was,
one hundred years ago, called the
New Hampshire Grants, the LANDS
/ having been granted the settlers by
the province Of New Hampshire.
New York at the same time, claimed
| jurisdiction over the Lands, and hence
Il controversy arose which brought
about determination Oh the part OIL
the inhabitants to set up 4 state gov
ernment ior themselves. They &C
cordingly met by delegates in convcn-
ton, at cstmimster, on the 10Th OF
January, l777, and declared them-
selves an independent state. The
convention then adjourned TO meet at
Windsor, June 4th. and still again at
the same place July "a, when the del
egateS formed a constitution. organic
ing a temporary state government, TIL
an election could be held, which was
ordered for March 18th, l77S. The
state Immediately applied for admis-
sion into the Union, but this WAS de-
MED until 1871. Nevertheless, the
organization under the name OF the
State of Vermont dates from the year
l777, for during period Of fourteen
years the people living there were an
independent community, exercising
and enjoying all the functions Of a
state, except Il representation in the
congress. On the 10th of August Of
the same eventual year. the important
battle Of Bennington occurred, i'll
which the Green Mountain Boys, un'
der Stark, with the brigade from New
Hampshire and a regiment Of Bclk
shire county militia, signalIy defeated
Il detachment Of Burgoyna's army
sent to capture the military stores nj
Bennington This brilliant success
led, in Il short space CT two months
and one day, to the complete surren-
der of Burgoyne at Saratoga, when
decided the contest in favor OF Amer
can inderendcnce.
1t is this event of the Battle of Ben
nington which Vermont proposes to
remember next year. by the COM
mencement Of monument to the
memory of John Stark and his gallant
band and in this good work the
present generation of Vermonters in
vites the cooperation Of New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts. as their faith
ers did in that OF one hundred years
ago. They have, as an Garnet of
their endeavorS, rendered by their leg
islalure adjourned, the sum Of $l5,-
900, as their fair contribution TO the
contemplated structure at Bennington.
The governor of the state is by the ac,
appropriatlng this money specifically
directed to invite, in the name Of the
state. the states of New Hampshire
and Massachusetts to unite with Yer
mont in this work. 1t would seem
eminently tit that the three states
which furnished the troops that won
the decisive victory at Bennington
should join in placing there some suit
able token commemorative ot Their
glorious deeds. We look for a cor.
dial response from our own state,
which still keeps proudly SUSPENDED
-over the door of her senate chamber
the spells sent her by Stark himself
from the field Of bennington. New
Hampshire, too-lf we may venture a
suggestion OF this kind to Il sister
statc-which bore the ''brunt Of the
fight and came off mith the largegt
share Of the honor. of the victory, can
i'll afford to neglect the opportunity SO
gracefully offered to heartily join in
perpetuating the name she most de-
lights to honor.
Condemn no man for not think