Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-07-12
The Centennial Convention at
East Granville, VT.

lnc ssS
East Granville, VT.
The Centennial Convention at East
Granville, VT, on the 3Oth ult., was
largely attended and harmonious
The Convention was called to order
by d. Tarbell, Esq, who stated the
object OF the Convention-that it was
to talk over our national affairs, and
to see what we can do to be saved
from the thieves in power in our
country. Mr.. Tarbell was eloquent,
brief and to the point. At the close
it was proposed to organize, and on
motion, D. Tarbell, of East Granville.
was elected president, and VIM. ID.
McMaster of Woodstock, secretary.
On motion, DR.. D. c. Grice of st. Al
bans was elected vice president, and
Chester Pratt Of Middlebury, assistant
secretary. Business Committee, Mi
10 Spear, Baintree, Carlos Geer,
Warren, Eleazer Hubbard, Granville,
Levi Spear Braintree, II. G. Scribner,
Chelsea Committee on Resolutions,
Daniel Tarbell, Alonzo Spear, D. c.
Grice, D D. Davis, Alonzo Hubbard.
The temporary organization being
completed, the President introduced
Moses E. Cheney, Esq, of Barnard,
as the orator of the day, who spok c
substantially as follows -
Mr. PRESIDENT :--lndependence is
of the mind, Of the thought and feel,
ing. Not necessarily as man acteth
but, ''as a man thinketh in his heart,
so is he When. through fear of an.
,,ther, one acts to his wishes without
law for it, and without heart revolt
ings, such person is slave and the
ruler a tyrant; but obedience in acts
from necessity, while the mind con
demns, is no slavery, nor can it b'
however strong the tetters; for as
man thinketh in his heart, so is ne.
Hence, no man should be slave
though bought and sold; and as th'
true spirit of manhood is forever un
yielding, consequently slavery is i'm
possible upon any true man. Th
spirit of independence that shoul'
reign ia every breast the world over
is independence and that alone; with
out it, slavery, whatever OF apparen
freedom there may be. As with
man, so with a nation. When tn
British colonies of America, began t
feel governmental oppression slmul
taneously, the spirit of independence
quckened. Then they ceased to h
subjects to the crown. For,,"A As
man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
And if through policy the oppressiv
laws were withdrawn, the oppressiv
spirit still remained; the vital prime
pie still lived waiting for a better holc
The vital principle of liberty toe
lived. A spark, ready at the first too
sin of tyrany to fire the whole man
With that spirit, independence wa
already attained battles had to b
fought only to prove it. Our indeper
dence then, was long prioc to the da
Of its formal declaration; yea, it dat
back to the landing of the Purita'
upon the rock. bound coast; yea, b
vond that. The same aboundlng lo'
of human rights which started OF
pilgrim fathers on their perilous vo
age to "Wild New England Shores
also, founded our republic and hs
supported it through thick and thin t
the present hour, and will support
through all coming time, whatev
our battles for our rights; becaus
Conquer we must,
Our cause being just,
This being our motto,
In God is our trust
And the Star spangled Banner in triumI
shall wave.
Ger the land OF the free, and the home Of tf
brave
Mr. President, though this is n
the Fourth Of July, 1876, it is as res