The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-05-18
Address of the Vermont Centennial
Commission.

Address of the Vermont Centennial
commission.
To He PcoPie Of Je,moni.
FELLOW CITIZENs:-Ii is doubtless
known to YOU that the Legislature at its
last session passed an acl incorporating
the Remington battle monument asso
citation and directed il 10 take measures
TO secure at Bennington, during tho
week of the 10th Of August, 1877, an ap.
propriate centennial celebration of Tho
battle of Bennington, and also the rec.
ognition of the year 1877 as the l00tl
year of The existence of the state as an
independent state. In pursuance o.
this act the association has established
the Vermont centennial commission tc
carry out the special provisions of lis
9th section. The commission held its
first meeting at Bennington on the 4tl
day of April last, and elected as its
president the Hon. Edward j. Phelps Of
Burlington, who has accepted the posi-.
ton and is heartily enlisted in the nee.
essary duties of his high office. For lis
vice-presidents il selected fifteen well
known citizens, ten of whom have beer
governors of the state, the name of the
venerable ex-Gov. Hiland Hall stand
ing at the head of the list. 1t also chose
a secretary, a treasurer and an execu.
tive committee of five members.
1t will be observed that two distinct
and separate events are TO be common.
GRATED during the week of the 10th OF
August next, mi being an important
battle-the other the birth ofthe state
the connection between the two being
simply a fortuitous and not a necessary
one. Recognizing this fact, the associa-
ton has set apart the 18th of August
as Vermont's day, a day in which the
events OF the first convention at West.
minister, the I'd and Sd at Windsor, all
occurring in the year 1877, will receive
prominent notice; and to this celebra.
ton the association has invited, through
his excellency, the governor, president
Of the association, the president and
vice-president Of the United States, the
members of the cabinet and the Cover.
nors of the several states. As this is
the first celebration of the kind in the
history of the government-the centen.
NAL of the birth of a state never having
yet been commemorated-the commits
sion are extremely solicitous that the
occasion shall in every respect be
worthy of the great event the celebra-
ton Is intended to signalize. The peo.
pie of Vermont take an honest pride IN
the Green Mountain state, and though
reasons multiply why they do so. they
"Love their land because it is their own
And scorn TO give aught other reasons why
While, however, they would not claim
for it perfection, except the perfection
of beauty of landscape, they consider ii,
and rightly, too, the model state of the
Union, the best exemplification of free
government to be found on the face OF
the earth. Born of a civil contest that
taxed the resources OF a political man
agement of the highest order: held At a
distance by the general government for
nearly n score of years; the land claim
ants of ncighboring states making its
territory their fighting ground, and En-
gland during the revolution trying
through Canada to caiolr. wheedle and
bride her, Vermont held her slcadfast
course, turning neither to the right
hand nor the left, as firm as her hills,
developing those principles of self-gov-
ernment which have stood her in good
stead for a full century, which have
given her a place. in the galaxy of states
more than commensurate with her pop-
ulation and wealth; which have enabled
her citizens widely scattered over the
world TO impress her influence and her
laws in new communities and new
states, and which, through a long line
of her sons, eminent in character, skill
full in legislation, and wise in states
manship, have constantly maintained
for her n proud position in the councils
of the nation.
The cOmmemoration of an event so
marked in a nations history as a state
centennial is certain alone to bring to
our borders a large concourse of people
from all parts of the country. A mo-
ment's reflection will suffice for this
and it is a point in which it is unneces-
sary for the commission to enlarge i'm
presenting the subject to the people of
the state. 1t is proper, however, to i'm
press upon them the necessity of max
ing ample preparations for so important
an occurance, and especially of urging
them to keep constantly in view Of Its
high and worthy object.
On the 10th Of August, 1877, the ell
tennial anniversary of the battle of Ben
will occur. For ninety and
nine years the town of bennington hae
observed the annual occurrence of this
day. Gen, Stark in sending some
trophies of the battle TO Massachusetts,
of it as ga glorious victory
which sought TO be kept in memory
and handed down to futurity rs q laud-
able example for the sons and daughters
Of the victors." This Injunction has
been faithfully obeyed in Remington,
the scene of the hero's greatest achieve
ments. Thirty-nine years after the bat
tie, a Bennington committee wrote a
TO Stark Informing him that every
year since his victory his name had been
remembered by a public celebration in
town; and every year since some
public notice has been made OF the day
there and now Vermont herself has
sent greeting TO New Hampshire and
Massachusetts,, proposing to crown tho
century by a celebration that shall
worthily honor not only the memory of
the hero who so thoughthlly enjoined
Il, but also the states aud The people
shall participate in II.
Particularly must Vermont be careful
that the state takes no detriment, through
any negligence on her part 10 make am
pie preparation for this great event, On
this occasion she acts the host; all 9TH
ers are her guests. Massachusetts, has
through her government and
her legislature accepted her invitation
as such; and New Hampshire. whose
leadership in the events which
shaped the battle, and in the battle Itself,
are matters Of history, viii, when her
legislature conyenes, doubtless moi be
behind her sister state. the guests
which have been invited TO the cclebra.
lion of Vermont's centennial have also
been invited TO the centennial Of the
battle of Bennington. Military organi.
IN very great numbers IN all
parts OF The country are anxious 10 par
Iloipate in the Festivities ofthe occasion.
The soldiers reunion Of onr own stale,
The editors and publishers association
Of Vermont, and the Vermont historical
So