The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-09

recognize the event. III was inc occasion
of determining the men of Vermont to es-
tablish free and Independent common
wealth. This Is consecrated spot in the
heart of every true son of the Green noun
tains, because this soil received the blood
OF martyrs to the cause Of the revolution.
The contemplation Of an epoch which
marks the centennial Of such an event
causes the mind to pause and finger upon
what century has brought forth, making
the occasion both imposing and instructive.
1t is well for US to dwell upon the retro
epect and approach the commemorative
duty its presence enjoins in epirit of rev.
erence to the commonwealth that has been
preserved these hundred years.
We are here to say to those who have
gone before u.s. If in the mysterious ties
which bind the present with the past, such
communications can be held, that we, their
descendants, have not forgotteu the days
of their trial that the history of their per-
ilous fortunes has not been blotted out, nor
that of their self devotion gone into obliv-
ion that their children, grateful for the
sacrifices which they endured, full of ad-
miration at theirexample, proud of descent
from such illustrious progenitors, should
assemble to rehearse the events of the past,
that their memories may not be forgotten.
VIC COhO W ltDtIubt luC blOTH OF lIt DABI
and draw therefrom the lessons of counsel
and experience, to kindle afresh on this
grand altar the flame of liberty which
actuated our fathers.
To you, citizens of Hubbardton, this an
niversary is invested with peculiar men,
cries and interests. You dwell amid the
| most sacred associations connected with
Vermont's early history. They all come
forward at this hour bidding us to do honor
to this centennial period. To your sacred
keeping has been committed the dust of
martyrs to the cause of human liberty, free
| speech and the independence of a great
| republic. A mighty trust was in their
hands which they we're determined to de-
| fend ard preserve at every sacrifice. 1t is
| written in blood on your soil, how brave
and how terrible are freemen when con-
tending for liberty and home. But to-day
| You forget you are citizens of Hubbardton
| in remembering that you are Green Noun
tain boys. You commemorate an occasion
that saw your fathers fall even before
victorious foe, but at the same time sprnk-
| led the brow of our then new state with
| the waters Of new life
The light of this anniversary flashes back
| upon the years that have interviewed, and
| exhibits the past in contrast with the pres
Il
lagos where a hundred years ago were only
solitudes and the smoke from the homes
of the scattered settlers was seen. Recall
ing, then, the results that have flown
from thiS event, we are loud TO call our
selves Green mountain boys still Our sons
are scattered over this broad land-on the
shores of the Pacific, by the Colorado, the
Sacramento and the Columbia, assisting in
laying an empire, many of whom will re-
member this day as an epoch in the history
OF their own loved Vermont.
We are here from different sections,
many of you for the first time. We feel
the power of this consecrated spot, and the
occasion. We have in our veins the blood
and in our keeping the graves Of these mar
tyrs of the revolution. History has pre-
pared her tablets and written imperishable
records OF the event, but the occasion JUS
titles a recurrence to few of the events
which preceded the battle of Hubbardton.
Within period of forty days, indeed,
from the first landing of the vauntful Bur.
goyne on her shores at Ticonderoga on the
9th of July, to the 10th of August, when
his Lion nag was seen trailing in the dust
at Bennington the destinies of Vermont
seemed crowded; but it was in those very
days of darkness and dismay that she set
tied them all, and ensured her independ
ence forever.
Copceiving this eventful period, there.
fore to be the turning point in the destniee
of Vermont as separate state, let us re-
view few points in her history. In the
beginning of the memorable year 1777, thu
people of Vermont, by their delegates in
formal convention assembled, had declared
themselves
"Independent OF all save the mercies OF God.
to use the significant language which tn
poet has put In the mouth Of one of thei
: members. And having taken measures 70
? publishing their declaration to the world
; this convention closed its proceedings by ap
pointing committee to draft constitution
to be submitted to new convention whicl
, the people were invited to call for the pur
, pose. In response to that call, a new cor
vention assembled at Windsor July 2, fol
lowing, and proceeded with that diligenc
and scrupulous regard to the employment
of their time, for which our earlier publ
bodies were noted, to take into considers
ton the important instrument now submit
c ted TO them as proper basis on which
erect a superstructure ola civil governmer
suited to the genius and necessities Of a
industrious and frugal people-a peopl
who, though keenly jealous of their ind
| Vluudl IlBulo CACotulnkiI ICollNt uuut
all foreign authority, had yet declared th
wish to receive and obey a system of legs
e restraints if it could be one OF their own in
8 posing-a people who had said to the
J, "Tho' we owe no allegiance and bow to 1
L throne,
y We WIN yield to the law II that law bs o,
. own"
}, For five days from rising to setting su
9 this convention employed the best energil
d of their enlightened and practical minds l
d discussing and amending the document b,
s fore them. But their labcrs had well mig
d been lost, for the present certainly, prob
l. bly, forever. For soon after they assen
l. bled on the 9th day of their session, an
" while they were intently listening to Il
J. reading OF the instrument for the last tin
before taking final vote on its adoption
their proceedings were suddenly brought
a stand still by alarming news from Castl
Is ton, loudly proclaimed by an open dlspatG
a from the gallant Seth Warner, by me
IT senger who appeared on his foam covere
a. horse, having ridden TO Brdgewater ar
Or changed horses, and from thence to Win,
sor. he appeared before the open door
70 the old Constitution house at Windsor al
ID proclaimed that Ticonderoga, the suppose
ID impregna5le barrier of frontier defense ht
I'd fallen. and our scattered troops were flyiI
81 in all directions before formidable Iri
III ish army that was sweeping unoppos,
k along the western border of the stat
III fanked by horde of merciless savage
~ from whose fearful irruptions not
building on that side of the mountai
Of would probably be spared. This intel
c. gence 30 unexpected and so startling, 4
70 nearly concerned the members of the co
of vention as men as well as patriots, to pc
ar nit their entire exemption from the geneI