The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-20
The President at Bennington.

Inc Hr6SlQ6nC at 6ennlnBCOQs
Tho New York Tribune has the following
editorial comments upon our celebration:
There is feature of the current comment
Grafton at Bennington which is full Of sug-
gestiOn. Among the distinguished persons
present to grace and dignity the occasion
will be the President representing the whole
Union,and eight Governors representing as
many States. The events of the last few
years have had tendency, hardly to be
avoided, of fixing the mind of the nation up
on the Washington Government, its deeds,
its policy and Its administrators. When the
Union was endangered, its value assumed
vast. proportions IN the public estimation;
sentiment was aroused and common sense
was appealed to in its behalf; and the units
were somewhat disregdTded i'll view of the
destruction which threatened the gigantic
whole. Again, questions of reconstruction
aud Of finance have since kept the General
Government in state of ceaseless activity,
and what it intended and what it was accom-
plisbing has awakened the highest interest
and helu the most universal attention.
liz is tit that the sentiment of Union should
be represented at Bennington by the pre-
sence of the President. But for the valOr aud
wisdom displayed by the soldiers and states
men of the revolution, there would never
have been any Union, nor even the materials
out of which it was constructed. Inc first
work was to clear the land of the last rem
nant of the mOnarcnical authority, and
through many vicissltude, through ming
led defeatand victory, through SELF acrilices
the value of which il is impossible TO over
estimate, the work was accomplished. The
ment of this achievement, IL is no more than
justice to say, belongs to the army, aud par
ucularly to the prudence and perseverance of
Washington and his generals. 1t would be
ungratetul to speak slightingly of the ser
vices of the Congress, but with all its merits,
4 hon La al m n had "a.
which undertake the business of conducting
aud controlling military operations IL is safe
TO say that none of the leaders in the field
were much assisted by its directions or sug-
gestiOns, and Washington himself often had
occasion to feel that the civilians in Phiu-
dclphia were of little use to hun. II the or
ders of the congress mad been obediently re-
garded, stark would never have fought tho
battle of Bennington at all. 1t was because
he ignored positive instructions that he was
enabled to add most brilliant page to our
history. Perhaps the President NAV recall
this circumstance as he treRds that cOnse-
Grated soil, and may remember that 1t is by
his own frmness and wisdom displaved
within tue bounds of the constitution, that
he is to be judged now and in the future.
1t is also lit that the States should be indi
vidually represented at the commemOration.
The States are older than the Union. With
out the States the Union could never have
existed at all, without their individual
w.
Deen preserved. 1t is right that they should
sometimes be presented In their single and
individual capacity. 1t was to the Province
of New Hampshire that the endangered in
habltants of the Grants appealed; il was to
New Hampshire that all New England looked
Tor aid when BurgOyne threatened a ruinous
march across the New-England Territories
and the occupation of Boston, The States,
after tine achievement Of our independence,
remained in full and seif-suppOrting sOver-
eighty, and the Union was the creature of
their agreement.
Upon day like this, with the President,
and 50 many Governors at Bennington, 1t
ought to be easy TO recall the original rela
ton Of the members of the Union to each 9TH
en- and tO comprehend how far that relation
was changed by the fundamental law of the
Constitution. What are sometimes called
State Rights" are an anachrOnism and alb
surdlty, not 10 be seriously considered with
out endless mischief. But within itself and
SO far as the Constitution permits, the State
is q complete sovereignty, teres atque ro-
tundus," with legislative powers sufficient
for its own international administration of
affairs, IL has its own history, and to a GER
tam extent IL must make its own history. IL
has all the attributes Otindividual character.
1t may win undylng renOwn, and 1t may be
equally dishOnoIed. Its reputation is in no.
wise increased or diminished by ITS area. Its
virtue is independent Of statistics; and the
glory of one is the glory OF all, The President
is the ruler, under the laws, of many mill
lions, but to-day he will be shown the field
upon which mere handful of men, the daunt-
less defenders of one Of the smallest Provin-
ces, helped to save these farm-hOuses and
their fields from the ravages of AN insOlent
foe; and he will see in the local pride betray-
ed by all about him, the same feeling which
he has not been slow tOrecOgnize in other and
less fortunate sections OF the Union.