Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-08-08

lie hNed IN comparative poverty anu tht'
about eight wears since. He wrote thes'
"reminiscences hoping that he might have then
published for his benefit. hut he was al
extremely modest man and after wrtin.
them they remained in his possession unit
he died
Very Respectfully,
FERDINAYD WALKER.
"REMINISCENCES OF A RETIRED PmNrEE-Go
ING BACK SEVENTY YEARS.
40. 1.
The writer of these numbers began hi'
newspaper life and apprenticeship in the art
and mystery of printing in the year 1907
in the village of Montpelier, Vermont,
1t may be remembered that this was
the period when Federalists and Demo
Gratis, or, as they were sometimes styled
Federal Republicans and Democratic Re
publicans, were most helligerent and thelI
controversy most cmbittered when the
Press on both sides regarded reason and
truth far less than the maintenance OF party
profession and ascendancy ; and when a
change of political opinion or transfer OF
allegiance from one party to the other-foi
there were but two parties thcn-was sure Il
subject the offender to be stigmatizcd as an
apostate and traitor. Mr.. Jellerson's admin
istration. now drawing to Il close, was de
clared by its friends, to be in the full tide
of successful experiment, but its opponents,
while cJnccding to it the character of expert
ment, denounced il at the same time as parti
san and sectional and devoid of practical
or National Craftsmanship. The admins
traticn was also charged with leaning TO the
side of France, and that the real motive for
the purchase of Louisiana was with one hand
TO help Bonaparc to a little cash (tiitcen
Millions which he was then sadly in need
/ Of and with the other TO extend the area OF
slavery, and thus rive the balance of power
10 those States that held their fellow men in
bondage. The opposition, in its turn, wa-
accused OF partiality to England: and the
| impressmcnt of our seamen, the orders in
council and the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
were severally topics of angry controversy
between the parties, and of bitter denmcia-
| ton of one or the other of the offending Eu-
ropean powers.
! In the Autumn Of 1903, the Legislature Of
| Vermont held its first ,,ssion at Montpelier,
that village having been previously made the
permanent seat of State Government 1t
was the desire of the residents as well as
Of the representatives Of the neighborng
towns that the Opening of the session should
he attended with some public demonstration
Accordingly a procession was arranged,
music engaged, and other prcliminarics
agreed upon for the outside show, and due
preparation was also made for suitable cXcr-
cses within the State House. The eagerly
lookcd-fo dav at length arrived, and the
little village was peopled for the time rs II
never had been before, for there was conGIc-
gated within il nearly all the humanity OF
the surrounding country The procession
came of according TO the programme, the
military display was quite crcditabe, and
the performances within the capitol, with
one exception, very satisfactory. The sing
ing was under the direction of DIR. W ood-
bury, then u surgeon in the army. One OF
DIR. Watts lyrics beginning, . Father, how
wide Thy glory shines" was sung us an
"a
awful throne" to noble old Denmark Both
were finely sung and would have compared
creditably with the improved music Of the
present day.
The exception 10 the proceedings within
doors above alluded TO- originated thus: II
is the custom in Vermont, as in MassaChu-
sets and some other States, IL precede the
usual legislative business by sermon rs
well rs other religious exercises. The preach
er on this occasion, who had been appointed
by previous Legislature, was the Rev.
Leonard Worcester of Peacham, a man Of
talents and picty, but Of strong political feel
ing adverse to that of a majority OF the mem
bcrs, which was largely Democratic. Mr..
Worcester founded his discourse on Il part
of the 18th verse of the 2d chapter Of Deu-
teronomy "Jeshurun waxed fat and kick
ed" intimating and going on to show, that
though prosperity and tranquility had at
tended the previous administration Of the al
fairs of the State. yet the people were not
satisfied, and had discarded their tried and
faithful servants, and put in new men, who
had given no evidence that they possessed
either the ability or the principle 10 serve
them truly This, he contendcd, was fresh
proof of the truth Of the position that the
people were often their own worst enemies,
and it was to he feared that the rctributiun
of u righteous providence would lie visited
upon them for their discomfort and inEraii
tudc.
The sermon, as was the practice, was
printed, and was the occasion OF the most
vehement denunCiation on the one hand and
the most strenuous defence on the other and
the storm was scarcely allayed until, in the
following year, the opportunity occurred To
reialiate by the PRONUNCIATION Of counter SEN
timents.
Another cause for an Outburst of party in
dignatiOn was IA reprehensible though per
haps thoughtless expression which fell from
the marshal of the day, Capt. Lamb of the
United States army When the prrccssipnh had
nearly reached tho State House, the drum
major or leader OF the band, approached the
marshal and said How far shall the mem
bers he attended 10y the music" Drum
them to HI where the mosl OF
them ought to have gone long
ago" was the rash and profane reply
Though no one justified this Irritating re-
mark, the odium of ii was visited upon the
Federal party to which Capt Lamb was AT
tachcd and the captain himself soon after
paid the penalty of his harshrcss lay having
his commission revoked, which was effected
through the influence at the War Department
oi James Fisk, then the Representative in
Congress of the Montpelier district
Although the Democratic party had sue
rccdrd in choosing Il considerable majority of
the members Of the Legislature, the Federal
Governor, Isaac Tichenor, was elected hy the
people at large. lie had been the governor
for the ten Years preceding 1907. in which
year he was inicrmittcd by Israel
Smith, Tichcnor coming in again in
lsOS. In his message, the governor made
allusion 10 the embargo, which then operated
81 dcstruCtlvcly to The commerce and business
OF the Northern States and while condemn
ing the iniraCtions OF the law, OF which some
portions OF the population had been guilty,
suggested that due care had not been
taken lay its enarlors, first 10 ascertain its ne
ccssity, and thus proved, then t" render the
law less Objectionable hy limiting desperation.
| The majority answer Of the Representatives,
took strongly an opposite course Of reasoning.
To this n moderately expressed amendment
was offered and Rejected, and after long dis
cusSl"n the answer Was passed rs reported.
| The embargo of this period, il should hc
horne in mind, was declared unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court, AMI was subsequent
ly repealed or modified, though other en-
inrgocs or non importation acts followed.
The appointment of electors ot President
dcvolycd ~ This Legislature, and they were
all, Of course, in the interest ol Mr. Madison,
VINO hAd htrn designated 10 uphold tue hphnl
and Influence Of the Old Dominion, and who
acccd"d 10 the Presidential chair on the 4th Of
March 1909; Charles CoteswoTth Pinckncy
Of south Carolina, was the Federal and op-
posing candidate
In September, 1909 II Democratic Gov
crnor, Jonas Gdusha, was elected, and con
tnucd to hc for the three following years.
Having, in his first message characterized
himself ns plain farmer. without special
cducalion for political hfc, his opponents al
tempted 10 disparagc him, charging that hr