The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-06-19
copy of statement of Philip Roberts.
A Hero Waiting for a Statue.

AS a son of Vermont | am proud of
her history and of the noble men whose
talents, virtues and patriotism have
made that history ilustrious. | am, if
possible, prouder still when | remem-
Der that her citizens generally, COM
/ pared with those of other States, have
ever been distinguished for their plain
common sense and love of liberty, and
for the possession, in an eminent de-
! gree, of all the virtues that can ennoble
communities and states. No man, to
whatever other state or country he
may have wandered, ever found occa-
sion to blush in remembering that he
| was born IN Vermont, where no slave
ever clanked his chain, and whence no
fugitive from slavery was ever dragged
back to the fetter and the lash.
The State, as a rule, has not been
slow to honor her heroes and give them
their true place in her annals. The
jewels that sparkle upon her brow are
neither few nor small, nor can their
genuineness be impeached. Their
| luster, indeed, commands the admira-
! ton of the world. But there is upon
her records one name which, for rea-
sons greatly to be deplorcd, has not
! hitherto been honored as it deserves.
Before mentioning his name, let me
present a Renaissance of the early
anti-slavery days, with which it will
forever be associated in my recolec
ton.
In February, 1886, | was present at
the second annual meeting OF the YER
mont anti-slavery society. 1t was held
Inf IlnI I,,
called, in the building which at an
earlier day had served as court house
for the county of Addison. The room,
by no means a large one, was crowded
by abolitionists from different parts of
the State, all of whom were filled with
that sacred enthusiasm for great
cause which persecution never fails to
inspire. Hardly town represented
on the occasion but had its story of free
speech frowned upon by public opinion
and outraged by mobs. 1t was time
when the courage of the slaves friends
was sorely tried. A letter from the
founder of the anti-slavery movement,
William Lloyd Garrison, was an
nOunced. No voice could have been
more potential than his in such an
assembly, and there was silence and
deep attention as the reading began.
1t was an eloquent letter from first to
last; but one passage in it awakened
sensations which those who expert
enced them could not forget to their
dying day.
81 read, some years ago" said Mr..
Garrison, IAN aneCdOte, which is prob
ably familiar to many, but which |
quote as characteristic of the spirit
which aaimates the people of your
patriotic State. a Shareholder, in
! pursuit OF n runaway slave, finding him
III one or your villages, Immediately
bounced upon him, and brought him
before the court, presenting, at the
same time, what he considered indubit-
able evidence that the victim was his
lawful property. Still, the judge
! dCmurred. He wanted other proof.
AT last the prowling oppressOr passion
alely desired to know what evidence
would satisfy him that the slave belong
ed to the claimant? a bill OF sale from
the almighty was the memorable re-
! ply"
The audience at this point broke out
in cheer that fairly shook the walls of
the old building in which they were
convened. When the reading of the
letter had been finished, the Honorable
! Dorastus Wooster, venerable citizen
Of AlidIlebury, rose and stated that the
decision cited by Mr.. Garrison was
made in his hearing, in the very room
where the society was then assembled!
| The Judge referred TO vas the Hon.
'IheOphilus Harrington of Clarendon,
II Justice of the Supreme court of the
fnF. 4 4
the transaction cannot now be ascer-
tanned; but the story, as told by MIR,
Garrison, is believed To be inaccurate
in this particular-namely, that the
slave was not brought before he Judge,
but that the latter refused to issue
warrant for his arrest. fthe slave had
been brought before the Judge and dis.
charged, the case would have gone up
ON record; but no record of the tran
saction has been found. 1t is of no
consequence, however, which version
of the story is correct, since the proof
is clear that the Judge made the judi
cial declaration ascribed to him.
Slavery then existed in New York, and
1t is probable that the slave whose
capture was desired was from that
State. Not another man in the assem-.
bly, besides Mr.. Wooster appeared to
have had any previous knowledge of
the decision. | certainly had never
heard of it before, hut thenceforth tor
me the name Harrington was the
brighl est star in The whole galaxy of
/ Vermont heroes, and | would tain up
lift it now for the admiration not of
Vermont alone, but of all Americans
in al. time to come. II certainly ought
to be commemorated and perpetuated
by the noblest devices of art, and TO be
cherished forever as household word
among those who breathe the air of the
Green Mountains.
| At first thonghl il seems slrnnpe that