Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-07

Thus, com ales. we nave briefly recalled 10 our
minds the ansN sr 10 our question:, who were thr
soldiers OF Vermont. They were the bp'y Of the
State, the substantial entity OF our Green Mountain
Republic. as II was twenty years ago.
Aud by two family drawn hut fairly chosen u.
lusifslons, we have revived oar remembrance oil
the sunoring5 and tn success which by turns OPP
pressed ana cNhletiirh lis during the years OF wdr.
The prison-pen and the victory what aconttdst
do they present n " hard Il II FOR u, TO realize
even in memory aud Imagination, the lives we
lived white we helped to put the rebellion duwn.
How npossiDleit Is to impress the truth concern
Ing The slmpl st facts aud scenes OF war upon the
minds OF others! We may not fail to garner thest
recollectlons and recte them to one another from
time 10 time on Out reunion ays. The memory OF
the past II the surest safeguard OF our cOu trys fu-
ture. The result was worth the price We paid, but
the payment must never be again de handed. One
war must suffice TO preserve our Union 49,.
one iilia question remains: VINO ard thi YER
mont veterans OF to-day
My comrades, they are those soldiers OF the war
whUm death has not yet suninphcl OF the JO,ODj
men and more, VINO represented our state IN the
army OF the Union, onr-siXth remained forever
lar from home. vi those who by Kind favor OF
Providence were permitted to return. another large
proportion brought win then shattered cUnstitu-
tons ana manned bodies, and Unr-haf, at least,
have already found 100 early graves. the winnow-
ing OF deaths harvest now Is all about u.s. day by
day. Many conrad nave left US since our last
reunion.
But those OF US who remain, aud who arc blessed
WIN health and Nigor, nave the utmost reason TO be
strong aud proud. We ue proud OF our former
coinradesp and OF ourselves. We are strong IN tue
support We nnd IN the hearts OF our feilo~ citizens
Oh every hand. The young men vino IN 1861
tNrOngtu 10 the camps oil war, IN lsS2 are pressing
forward In the Industries OF peace. They have
well earned the leadership wnch Is SO readily ac-
cJIded to them. Earned It by activiliv, ami emery
les at homc developed from the germ u youtnu
PAL ioc service Ia the Held A niIu VINO was 20
soldier IN good cau.c Is almost sure to be goo I
cltiz.n under ev ~ trial. Aud IN our case he re-
sut SHOWS tua sllcn al expectation mas not NJ all
inseltiicl.
1t Is true tnat the cnlistments embraced oil
classes that not AL our soldiers were good SOL
diers tni the mere fact OF service in the army IS
not tho only crcdcntml careful men require. 1t
snOuld not be. But III the trying ordeal VI those
Few years when We lived 50 fast and SO long to-
geher tue true character OF each OF US WAS reveal
Ell to one another. And rare examples among Us
have shown that the advancement TO positions OF
| tIust ani confidence OF some who were known Us
0rthy sDiulers III the war, has been regulated
by tneir coinrades, and rejected with dlsdaln.
Where do We mad our veterans who were faith
III TO their couuttys trust LOOK at my own home
Of Rutland for an answer. Our chici Industry Is
tho wfencning Oi marble from its native NILS. In
| every proinneut hrm md corporation thus en-
gagged You mud the active leadership OF u veteran
Oh the war. Our other business enterprises arc
largely IN tile hands VI the soldier boys oi the past.
Our merchants, many OF tueul, saw service IN tile
| Held. Two Of our cergyucu were In the ranks,
one Of whom bears to-day a rebel bullet in his body,
aud the other carries to MS desk empty sleeve.
My own profession of the law us represented Is al
most veteran phalanX Of Itself there two Of our
number have served the state US judges OF our gi-
cal court another Is our represent In Congress-
another still has been Governor Of our state
Our list OF physicians embraces some OF the Ill Jst
| eminent surgeons OF the war, anu some, again,
who were private soldiers IN the ranks our mas
ter-mechahlcs. our machinists, our skilled work
men Of every KIND, are farmers many OF them, who
are active IN sustaining the public burdens OF the
day, all furnish largely to our list Of veterans Aud
SO II must DC IN every community. Where the sur
vivors of the war bent their energies to the
pursuits of peace, 1t soon became apparent that the
time OF service was not time lost Tor any useful
calling. 1t gave 10 the man VINO had original man
Illness about INN hardened common sense the
fruit of experience and the Iced Of success. And
lime mas brought 10 the veterans OF o-day lead r.
ship and commanding influence in all the public
| relations Of our State that is accorded 10 them
gratefully, and Is successfully assumed. No man
| ever aeard veteran ask Official position for a COM
rade, On .he bare ground OF his service IN the war
| That was m accident of the time; u duty which
no honest citizen of that day hesltated 10 assume
| But when chUicc Is force when men whom W.
knew as good aud faithful soldiers IN the war, have
by their diligence ani lIlthfulness at home earned
the right TO cherish aspirations for civil recognition
or are presented by their friends Us worthy OF pub
| lie consideration and favor, We can never forget
the former elbow touch, nor can We fail to think Oi
hesitate 10 say, If the fact is true, our brother was
good soldier, fact which OF itself Is entitlet
TO consideration when other ella ms arr
equal. So far we IAN go IN proper modesty, and
without vain glory for the proposition can never Ut
| denied. Efficient h noraDlc service for the STATE
| In war is patriotic cndeavor of the highest melt
| This has been the universal concession OF every
nation in every age And We love TO feel In our owl
Sate,as meet It's citizens here and there that tn,
fire OF generous recognition for our Efforts, hazird
anu .c-lces, has not yet expired. That still quick
ems and burus as III the years of our country peril
tha the grand old State which cared Tor Its sodier'
| In time oil war as no other State did, by extra pay
and bouu,lcs. and watchf1l care and provision f0
the families OF the slam. still honors the records o.
its sons, and gladly yields TO them to-day It's hghcs
| civic hOnOrs
| Comraues our lesson Of the day Is this Let u
st i've by faithful service IN the ranks OF the Re
public, IN peace n IN war, to merit the approval o
| cur fellow-cizens peace hath her victories Duu:
hrong on every hand Our state IL what her Citizen
make 1t. Our country inuH remain the home u
fieedom. As new public dangers comeT1et Us lis,
to meet them As social and political problems Al,
presented for solution let US decide each Tor our
selves with reason aud good juiginen, on VIII Oh
! t.l.,r ..it.n. l.f
| throw in our influence cOurageOusy and actively
according to the light that ~ gwen Us. Lei Us no
suppose tnat our duty rs cltlzens was done whei
the muser-Out was granted. nut let us MAINTAIN III,
spirit OF the war 81 Tar as the day demand, II, Illus
ration and never forget that our iustut Gus require
OF every cltzen MS active service IN their behalf
not In war only, but in times of peace rs well.
This able, interesting and eloquent ad
dress was listened to with close attention ant
was applauded to the echo, and at the clos,
Colonel Walker was given y vote of thanks
in the form of three cheers aud tiger.
Governor Farnham was then called for
and as he appeared before the assembling,
was greeted with three rousing cheers lie
briefly excused himself from speaking ant
introduced General Barstuw us ''another wal
Governor, who is to be my successor" Gen
Barstow, who was also received with cheers
expressed his pleasure at being present ut ,
meeting of so many of his old comrades
Col. Red6eld Proctor was then loudly CALLED
for, hut the wary Colonel had made his es
cape before the speech-making session set in
Election orOmccrs.
A business meeting was then held, at which
the following officers were elected for thu
year ensuing
ommander-Coloncl Rcdfed Proctor o.
Rutland.
Senior Vice ommander-Gcneral w. w
Henry of Burlington
Junior Vice-Commandcr- Colonel C. d
Gates Of Morrisvile.
General Henry then read General Grant,
letter and General llancock's telegram, al
ready given, and the following telegram from
Hon. John Gregory Smith:
Sr. ALBANs. July4.
had hoped up to this last moment that
might be with you to-day to participate il
the soldiers reunion, but to my great regre
circumstances which can not control viii
prevent. The grand proclamation of tn,
martyrcd lincoln which struck of the fetter
of the poor slave and elevated him to man
hood, unfortunately was not broad enough L
manumit the slave to business or clrcum
stances, to which | belong; and hence
must endure the bondage and serve in tn
letters till some higher power releases M
| auu VIII NC Win you III sPirl however ah'
beg that you will convey my compliment
and fullest fellowship TO your comrades.
JoHS GREGORY SMITH
Last on the programme was dress parad
by regiments, which passed of nicely ant
to the great satisfaction of veterans ant
spectators. The evening was devoted Il
camp-fircs, but with the last dress parad
the glory of the reunion passed away. Al
many OF the veterans as could, took the late
afternoon and evening trains, and compare
lively few remained over night, AS we sait
ut the outset, the reunion was grand sue
cess, on which all concerned are to be con
graduated and if future ones equal it tn
soldiers will have cause for rejoicing.
Railroad Meeting nj Bristol.