Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-05-26

Vi lliC AsSOClulloHs llc itSlucub anu
Nice-P President of the United States,
the. members of the cabinet and the
governors of the several States. As
this Is tie frat celebration of the kind
in the history of the government-the
ceu' ennial Of the birth of State
never yet having been commemorated
tho Commission are extremely
solicitious that the occasion shall in ).
every respect be worthy of the great
event the celebration is intended to
signalize. The people of Vermont
take an honest pride in the Green
Mountain STATE and though reasons
multiply why they do 50, they simply
say.
"Thcy love their land because it Is their own
Aud scOrn To give aught otEcr reasons why"
While, however, they would not claim
for it perfection, except the perfection
or beauty of landscape, they consider
it. and rightly, too, the model State
of the Union, the hest cXcmphfcation
of free government to he found OH the
face of the earth. Born of civil
contest that taxed the resources of q
political management of the highest
order; held at distance by the gen
eral government for nearly score of
years the land claimants Of neigh
boring States making Its territory
their fighting ground, and England
during the revolution trying through
Canada to cajole, wheedlc and bride
her, Vermont held her stcadfast
course, turning neither to the right
hand nor to the left, rs firm as her
hills, developing those principles of
self-govcrnment which have stood her
in good stead for a full century, which
have given her place in the galaxy
of States more than commensurate
with her population and wealth /;
which have enabled her citizens wide
ly scattered over the world to imp ess
her influence and her laws in new
communities and new States, an
which, through long line of her
sons, eminent in character, skiful in
legislation, and wise in craftsmanship,
have constantly maintained for her a
proud position in the councils of the
nation.
The commcmoration of an event so
marked in the nations history as a
State Centennial, is certain alone to
bring to our borders large concoursc
Of people from all parts of the
country. A moments reflection will
suffice for this; and it is u point in
which it is unnecessary for the Com
mission to enlarge in presenting the
subject to the people OF the State. 1t
is proper, however, to Impress upon
them the necessity OF making ample
preparations for so important an
occurrence, and especially Of urging
r them to keep constantly in view its
high and worthy object.
On the 10th of August, 1877, the
Centennial anniversary Of the battle
: Of Bennington will occur. For ninety
, and nine years the town of Bcnnlng-
ton has observed the annual occur
renee Of this day. Gen. Stark in
sending some trophies of the battle to
Massachusetts speaks of it as "a
glorious victory" which fought to be
, hcPt in nIUnno!y and handed down to
futdrity as lasting and laudable
example for the sons ard daughters
of the victors." This Injunction has
been faithfully obeycd in Bennington,
the scene Of the hero's greatest
achievements. Thirty-nine years attcl
the battle q Bennington committee
wrote Il letter to Stark informing him
that every year since his victory bis
name had been remembered by pub
lie celebration in that town; and
! every year since some public notice
has been made of the day there; and
now Vermont herself has sent greet.
ing to New Hampshire and Massachu
sets proposing to crown the century
t by celebration that shall worthill
honor not only the memory of the
hero who so thoughtfully enjoined it
but also the States and the people
which shall participate in it.
Particularly must Vermont be care
full that the State takes no detriment
through any negligence on her part tc
[ make ample preparation for this great
event. On this occasion she acts tho
t host; all others are her guests. Mas
sachusetts has already, through hel
Government and her Legislature
accepted her invitation as such; anl
: New Hampshire, whose leadership il
the events which shaped the battle
and in the battle itself are matters o.
: history, will, when her Legislature
convcnes, doubtless not be behind hcI
sister State. The guests which hay,
been invited to the celebration of Yer
monts Centennial have also bccl
t invited to the Centennial of the Battl,
of Bennington. Military organiza
= lions in very great numbers in al
D parts OF the country, are anxious t
: participate in the festivities of til,
t occasion. The Soldiers Reunion O
our own State the editors and Pub
: fishers Association of Vermont ant
I the Vermont Historical Society hav,
t arranged to have their annual O
biennial gatherings there during Cen
5 tennial week; and while for many O
l these organizations, the commission
1 do not feel the same degree of respon
t sibility that is laid upon them by tn
l law Of the State in regard to the tw,
celebrations Of the 18th and the 10th
S still their presence here, while they ad,
to the dignity and character Of fin