Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-12
A NERO WAITING FoR A STATUE.
IOnvor johnson, the veteran Abolitonisi In The In
dpnpudenl

DEPENDENT
As Of Vermont am proud Of her history aud
Of the noble men whose talents, virtues and patriot
ism have made that history illustrious. am a pos
sible prOuder still when remember that her citizens
generally compared with those Of other states have
and love of liberty, and for the possession, In em
mont degree Of all the virtues that eau ennobe COM
munites and statea. 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
whence no fugiiiye from alayerv was ever dragoed
back to the fetter and the lash.
The state as rule has not been slow TO honor her
heroes aud give them their true place In her annals.
The jewels that sparkle upon her brow neither
few nor small, nor can their genuinenesa be mpeach-
ed. Their luster, indeed, commands tho admiration
Of the world. But there upon her records one name
which, for reasons greatly TO be depored, has not
hitherto been honored az II deserves. Before mem
uoning bis name, let me present reminiscence of
the early antsayery days, with which It will forever
be associated In my recollection.
In February, 1896, was present al the second an
nual meeting OF the Vermont anti-savery society. It
held at Mddlobury, IN the "town ROOM"
called, in the building which, at an earlier day had
served az court house for the county Of Addison
The room, by no means large one was crowded by
abotionists from different parts Of the state all Of
whom were filled with that sacred enthusiasm for a
great which persecution fails TO inspire
Hardly town represented on the occasion but had
its story of free speech frowned upon by public Opn
ion and Outraged by mobs. IL was time when the
courage Of the slaves friends sorely tried. A
letter from the founder Of the anti-shvory move
ment, William Lloyd Garrison, was announced. No
voice could have been potential than his in such
an assembly aud there was silence and deep atten-
tiOn the reading began. II eloquent letter
from FIRST to last but one passage in ii awakened
sensations which those who experienced them could
not forget to their dying day.
81 read, some years ago." said Mr.. Garrison, Tan
nnecdote, which Is probably familiar to many, but
which quote Characteristic Of the spirit which
mates the people Of your patriotic state. slave
holder, In pursuit Of runaway slave, finding him In
one OF your villages, Immediately pounced upon him,
and brought him before the court presenting, at the
time, what he considered indubitable evidence
that the victim his lawful property. STILL the
Judge demurred. He wanted other proof. At last
the prowlng oppressor passionatey desired TO know
what evidence rOud satisfy him that the slave belong
ed to the CLAIMANT "A BILL OF SALE FRoM rHE AL
MIGHTYl was the memorable reply"
The audience at this point broke out in cheer that
fairly shook the walls Of the old building In which
they convened. When the reading Of the letter
had been finished, the honorable Dorastus Wooster,
venerable citizen Of Middlebury 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 the Hon.
Theophilus Harrington, OF Clarendon Justice Of the
supreme Court Of the state from 1903 to 1873. The
date OF the Transaction cannot now be ascertained
but the story, told by Mr.. Garrison s believed to
be inaccurate in this phrticular-namely, that the
slave was not brought before the judge but that the
latter refused to issue warrant for his arrest. If
the slave had been brought before the Judge and
charged, the case would have gone upon record but
record Of the Transaction has been found. II ia OF
consequence, however, which version OF the story
is correct since the proof clear that the Judge
the judicial declaration ascribed TO him. slavery then
existed In New York. and it is probable that the slave
whose capture was desired from that state, Not
anOtner man IN the assembly besides MT. Wooster
peared TO have had any previous knowledge of the
cison. certainly had never heard Of it before but
thenceforth for me the name Harrington the
brightest star In the whole galaxy OF Vermont heroes
aud would fain uplif It now for the admiration not
Of Vermonters alone, but Of all Americans in all time
to come. II certainly ought to be common and
perpetuated by the nobest devices OF art and to be
| cherished forever az household word among those
who breathe the air OF the Green Mountains
At first thought 1t seems strange that judicial de-
cision Of such high moral significance, and 80 purely
typical Of the spirit In which the State Of Vermont
had its birth, did not at take its place in her
nails az beacon-hgh for the ages to come, and that
the name Of its author not instantly aud sponta-
neously enrolled among those Of the heroes to be
thenceforh celebrated by orators and poets and per-
petuated by the genius OF the sculptor. The words Of
the olearheaded sonnd-hearted magistrate anticpAt-
ed by than dozen years the kindred sentiment
Of Lord Brougham Tell me not OF rights talk not
Of the property OF the planter in his slaves. | deny
| the right, l acknowledge not the property
BE the appeal made to the understanding or to the
heart, the sentence is the same that rejects It.
There ia a law above all the enactmehis Of human
| codes-the same throughout the world, the same in
| az umesi IL Tue Jaw written by the hnger
| Of God on the heart OF man and by that law un-
ehangeaoe ana eternal while men despise fraud, and
loathe npne, and abhor blood, they shall reject with
| indignation the wild and guilty fantasy that man eau
| hold property IN man." The British statesman and
| the vermont judge however widely separated IN
point Of rank aud culture, yet Ia moral in
sight aud courage aud their names should be togeth
er enshrined IN the hearts Of oil the friends OF Impair
| tal liberty.
The reader will be glad to learn something more
than have thus far told Of Judge Harrington. who
an extract Of letter, written, At my solicitation by
| Hon. +. p. Walton Of Montpelier one of the trust.
| worthy historians Of Vermont: "Theophilua Her
rington was judge of the supreme court of Vermont
from December LIST, 1903 until his DEATH shortly
his reelection in 1873 (He was emphaticaIly Law.
man, yet nominay lawyer, since he admitted Ia
| the Rutland county bar after he had served three
terms as judge OF that county court about the time
OF his election to the supreme court) As Judge be
was eminent for his sterling common sense, HE skill
IN detecting the Justice of each case and his igno
rance OF and contempt for the qups and qurks Of the
| lnW-allRa enpcial an adj l.sn a.
| Phneas White, published in the Rutland Herald in
1896 the most that IL known Of him Is embraced His
genealogy Ia traced, the fathers side, to Connect
cut in 1886, and on his mothers TO Plymouth COLONY
in 1920 He came to Vermont In 1855 aud picked up
| vile on the way. settled at Clarendon Spring aud
raised family of ~ children II OF whom were in tho
district school together. He was farmer, unlearned
rough, uneouth, but great Democrat Of the Jefer.
| sou school. Daniel Chapman, a leading law.
yer in Addison county and Fedelist said he would
have case finely prepared and argue 1t with every
appearance Of success, while Judge II. apparent
ly asleep through IL all. Now, said Chapman think
have got him surely but then the old bear would
wake up and kick bigger hole through that
| l ever saw done in my life by any other Judge"
| Certainly here II q man whom every Yermonler AM
| every American should delight TO honOr-a man OF
clear moral dscernment who had the courage of his
convictions and would not prostitute his power as the
magistrate Of free commonwealth to the base uses
Of the slave hunter. He the North Star Of Amer
lean Jurisprudence, by whose light II ODly IL Ad been
generally followed, the nation might have found q
peaceful way Of escape from the quagmire Of slavery
No marble is too white, metal or stone too endur
ing, for his monument. appeal to the sons Of Yer
mont, abroad as well as at home to make speedy pro
vision for the erection upon the capitol grounds al
Montpelier orin some other suitable place. Of statue
or monumental shaft in honor OF this too long neg