Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-02


December 81, aged 90 years, months and
Is days. After having out lived all of his
cotemporaries and seen them disappear one
after another, the good old man has at last
gone to his rest. Thomas Prentiss was born
in Weatherslield, Vt. His father, who was
one of the first settlers of that town, was
descended from some of the best blood of
New England. He possessed strong
mini and that sterling integrity which
characterized the pioneers of our state.
with such father il is not strange that
the son should early be stamped with those
impressions that gave promise of future
usefulness. At that day opportunities for
schooling were very limited; books were
scarce and there was hard work to be done
on the farm, yet, with all these difficulties,
Young Prentiss early formed that taste for
reading, reflection and honest investigation
which furnishes the key to his character
through life. We very soon find him en-
gagged in stern debate with the leading
minds of that day, and handling questions
with an ability fur hey ond his years Then
was seen the impetuous charge, the re-
pulse and the victor's palm, and although
aboring with an impeachment of speech
which he was pleased to call d" his clog by
nature" At no time of his life was he
ever tedious in debate. Such was the
force of his mind and so earnest was he in
his reasonings that the listener very soon
lost sight of his bad articulation and was
carried away with the theme. Previous
to his leaving his native town he had gain
ed the confidence of large circle of
friends and left an impression that fingered
long, that fingers still. Very soon after
his removal to Waitsfeld, we find him
filling offices of trust in town and also n
representative in the general assembly of
the state, and was acknowledged by all rs
IL man of no ordinary endOwments. Here
we find him at the fork of two roads--the
one, famed by the popular breeze, led to
places of honorable distinction; the other to
ignominy and insult if not disgrace. 1t was
at the dawn of that anti-slavery sentiment,
which has since agitated the country from
center to circumference. Mr. Prentiss, in
obedience to the high mandate of con-
science, took the latter road. He fully
identified himself with that despised band
of aboltionists who believed that the
immortal declaration that all men are Gre
ated free and equal was applicable to the
black man as well as the white. Here was
IN ample field for the exercise of his best
reasoning powers. Planting himself upon
the inalienable rights of man, he defied all
opposition, rejected all compromises with
the slave power, not unfrequently acting
and battling almost entirely alone. On
one OCCASION when he was warmly advo-
eating his side of the question stranger
asked, "is that man crazy?' Some one
replied, mo, but he is what is tantamount
TO it; he is II political abolitionist." He
was sometimes considered singular, as
though he chose to act alone, but this was
not the case; he only meant to vote con-
sistently with his principles His far-see
ing mind seemed to grasp the end from
the beginning; he saw light that Others
could not see; he heard voice that they
could not hear. We all remember how
much satisfaction he expressed when, in
the election of President Lincoln. he found
himself battling with a majority of his
townsmen. Happy man, he lived to see
the ultimate triumph Of the cause he had
so long advocated. And, as we look back,
it is hard to find the place where Mr.. Prem
tiss was wrong. She last fifteen years
would have been the happiest, if not the
most active period Of his life, had it not
been for a fall that dislocated his hip joint,
which caused him great suffering. His
mind, however, was unimpaired and it
was privilege, improved by not a few, to
sit at his feet and learn lessons of wisdom
He was older than the constitution of the
United States He could remember when
Vermont became Il state Of the Union. He
could remember every administration from
Washington downward, but the weight of
years was upon him. Gradually his
strength failed, slowly but surely, his
mind became clouded. Once only did he
realize it was the last Pickering of the
flame that blazcd up for moment to 90
out forever. He was in imagination
chairman of an anti-slavery convention in
those days that tried mems souls. After
stating the object of the meeting and the
momentous consequences that hung upon
the decision of the hour, lie called upon
his co-workers, one by one, commencing
with Judge Upham, to favor the meeting
with their views, but the feverish vision
was soon ended. 1t was the last throw
of the die" and that noble mind went
into Il cloud to re-appear no more, forever.
He fingered calmly aud serenely but for
day and the patriot and Christian was gone
forever.
80 sinks the gale when storms are Ger;
So dies the wave along the Shore
The deceased leaves an aged widow who
has been his companion through life, and
also numerous circle of children and
grandchildren and great grandchildren
who have delighted to sooth his declining
years.