Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-16
Some Anti-Slavery "reminiscences.


ROCKFORD, Illinois, February 7, 1881
Mr. Editor IL thank you for the little slip you
sent me, cut from Burlington paper, containing
some interesting facts connected with the death
Of Deacon Hobart OF Wes.ford, and some OF his
CONDUCTORS in organizing the old liberty party"
In that town in 1870 Among the men who were
engaged In the work at that time, the name OF
Reuben Farnsworth ia mentioned. Reference is
also made to the fact that In 1916 Mr. Farnsworth
was elected a representative OF that town by the
old liberty party men, and that he, In connec-
ton with four others, constituted the rear guard
Of that noble party; for, so far as know, they
were the first representatives ever elected upon n
strictly anti slavery issue. Those heroic men who
in 1910 broke loose from their old parties and re-
fused to bow their knee to the slave power,
though numbering but little over seven thou
sand In the whole country, were really the great
moving cause Of the wonderful political agitation,
which commenced at that time and was not al
lowed to slumber until under God, the last fetter
was broken off from the bleeding limbs Of the
slaves of this country. regard it as one of the
proudest acts OF my life that gave my first vote
in 1910 for James G. Birney. All honor to these
men who were our first representatives-who
boldly met the enemy and after enduring all
0Is ".
and secured a glorious victory. well remember
those five representatives above referred to, for
thew boarded during the session Of 1s4s IN NV
family; nor shall ever forget how nobly Mr.
Farnsworth conducted himself and turned the
tables upon those who undertook to make a
"laughiug stock " Of him. lie was looked upon
rs the leader Of that little Spartan band The
evening before the house adjourned, they had
kind of mock session and Mr. Farpsworth was
placed In the chair Thew tried every wav IN
embarrass him but he foiled them in all their
moves. Al last aeme one in snort. moved that
thew adjourn sine die. The motion was mt and
nearly every one voted aue Mr.. Framework
never called for the navs. " lint decided the mo-
ton was car,ied and ,battbe bouse vas adjourned
according In the motion. There was n great COM
motion among the members. for there was some
important business In be transacted the next
morning before the final adjournment. but they
had in fact already adjourned the session. How
thew got ont Of their dilemma do not now re-
member. hut know some of the members said
thew wonld never ATTEMPT again to make sport
OF Mr. Farnswortb. for he was more than their
equal and had the soundest head OF any one in
thu honse
As think of these facts good many interesting
incidents occur to my mind, connected with the
early history of the anti-savery ,rk in YER
mont I'm ls43 | remember being at caucus
nj swanton tGeorqia?l called by the Glib
ertv Marty " man IN nominate n representative
tbough there were not over eight or ten anti
s,averv man In the town Rev Mr.. sabp was
the candidate selected. and in accepting the NOM
nation he said that II might look like a very
anal, nonv m ride On tn Montpelier or Washing
npton Int thew might rest assured that in very
tew years that nonv wou,d grow to A horse big
enough IN carry n man to either place. and then
there would he more riders than horses. A truer
nronbecv was never uttered. or more perfectly
fulfilled think it was the next year after this
that the anti-slayery men Of Vergennes engaged
in ono nj the most protracted conflicts ever fought
in that state. For nearly three DAYS and three
NIGHTS they held the balance Of power between
tho other two parties. and nobly did thew stand
THAR gronnd until finally the wings gained the
victory nv the belp of the democrats. Among
the stauncb "ubertv men there was. for won.
dor n full-blooded Irishman On the second
,;,ht ~ tho con,est saw him eating raw rota-
toss and asked him WIN he WAS doing that He
.o,d ho nod his nocke,s fpI, NJ them and would
,aror o;ro nm 40 lon, as he co,ld GOT enongb NJ
them to eat STAYED bv the polls nearly all
NIGHT encouraging our men to stand by their
nrjncinles and az was leaving the buildng early
in Tho morn,no some NJ the miscreants connected
with one Of the other parties thought tbey would
no roronood on mo ,or ,yha, tbev claimed had
=, ~, -, .a It,
threw stones at me ana came very near pe'ng
There il another trulv interesting fact CON-