Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-19
AnrKowAIrING FOR A STATUE.
IiY Oliver johnson.

that history lllUStrlOuS. am, II possible,
prouder still when remember that her
citizens generally, compared with those
of other States, have ever been distin-
guished for their plain common sense ana
love of liberty, and for the possession, in
an eminent degree of all the virtues that
eau ennoble communities and states. No
man, to whatever other State or country
he may have wandered, ever found occa-
sion to blush in rene mbering that he was
born in Vermont where no slave ever
cll ked his chain, and whence no fugi-
tive from a cry was ever dragged back
to the .fettcr and the lash.
The State, rs 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, com
mands the admiration of the world. But
there is upon her records one name,
which, for reasons greatly to be deplored,
has not hitherto been honored rs it de-
serves. Before mentioning this name,
let me present II "reminiscences of the early
anti-slavery days, with which it will for
ever be associated in my recollection.
In February, 1896, | was present at the
second annual meeting of the Vermont
Anti Slavery Society. 1t was held at
Middlebury, in the "Town Room" so
called, in The building which, at an earlier
day. had served Us Il court house for the
county of Addison. The room by no
means a large one, was crowded by abOli-
tionsts from different parts of the State,
all of whom were filed with that sacred
enthusiasm for a great cause which perse-
cution never fl lis to inspire. Hardly a
town represented on the occasion but had
its story of free speech frowned upon by
l,l hx,,, ,I,g
was time when the courage of the slaves
friends was sorely tried. A letter from
the founder of the anti-slavery move
ment, William Lloyd Garrison, was an
nounced. No voice could have been more
potential than his in such an assembly,
and there We're silence and deep attention
as the reading began. 1t was an eloquent
letter from first to last but one passage
in 1t awakened sensations which those
who experienced them could not forget to
their dying day
Il read, some years ago" said Mr.. Gar
risou, IAN anecdote, which is probably
familiar to many, but which | quote as
characteristic of the spirit which animates
the people of your patriotic State. A
Shareholder, in pursuit ola runaway slave,
finding him in one Of your villages, imme-
diately bounced upon him, and brought
him before the court, presenting, at the
same time, what he considered indubta-
bic evidence that the victim was his law
full property. still, the judge demurred
He wanted other proof. AT last the prowl-
ing oppressor passiOnately desired to
know what evidence lUOuld satisfy him
that the slave belonged to the claimant ?
A bill of sale from the Almighty y was
the memorable reply"
The audience at this point broke out in
a 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,
a 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 as
Sembled The Judge referred to was the
Hon. TheOphilus Harrington of Claren-
don, Il justice of the Supreme Court of
the State from 1903 to 1918. Tire date of
the transaction cannot now be ascertain
ed but the story, lis told by Mr.. Garrison,
Is believed to be Inaccurate in this partl-
cular-nanely, that the slave was not
brought before the Judge, but that the latter
refused to issue Il warrant Tor ms arrest.
IT the slave had been brought before the
judge and discharged, the case would
have gone upon record; but no record of
the transaction 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 judicial dec
laratlOn aScrlDed to him. Slavery then
cNlSlcll III new 1 OIk, duIl III II DlODdD!t
that the slave whose capture was desired
was from that State. Not another man in the
assembly besides Mr.. Wooster appeared
to have had any previous knowledge of
the decision. certainly had never heard
of it before but thencefOrth for me the
name Harrington was the brightest star
in the whole galaxy of Vermont heroes,
and | would fain uplift it now for the ai-
miratiou not of NermonterS alone, but of
all Americans in all time to come. 1t GER
tainly ought to be cOmmemOrated and
perpetuated by the noblest devices of art,
and to be cherished forever as house
hold word among those who breathe the
air of the Green Mountains.
At first thought it seems strange that u
judicial decision of such high moral sig
niIicance, and 50 purely typical OF the
spirit in which the State of Vermont had
its BIRTH did not at once take its place in
her annals as IL beacon-lighJ for the ages
TO come, and that the name of its author
was not insta lily and spontaneously en-
rolled among those of the heroes to be
tneucefOrth celebrated by orators and
poets, and perpetuated by the genius of
the sculptor. The words of the clear
headed sOuud-hearted magistrate antlci
pated by more than II dozen years the kin
dred sentiment of Lord Brougham Tell
me not OF rights; talk not OF the property
OF the planter in his slaves. | deny the
right, acknowledge not the property,
" BE the appeal made to the I'M
derstanding or TO the heart, the sentence
is the same that reiectst. There
is Il law above all the enactments of hu
man cOdeS-the same throughout the
world, the same in all times; < it il
tue law written by the finger of God on
the heart of man and by that law, un
changeable and eternal, while men de
spise fraud, and loathe rapine, and abhoI
blood, they shall reject with indignation
the wild and guilty fantasy that man can
hold property III man" The British
statesman and the Vermont judge how
ever widely separated in point OF rank
and culture, We're yet one III moral inslgh
and coura -, and their names should bt
together eushrned in the hearts of all tn,
friends OF impartial liberty.
But it is easy, after all, to see why Jndg'
Herringtol and his memorable decision
have been well-nigh forgotten. lie spok'
for the negro at time when his humani
ty was half doubted, and his enslaye
ment, once begun, was deemed neceSsar,
in order to avoid still greater evils. Tn
compromises with slavery, incorporates
in the Constitution Of the United State
on the same plea of necessity, had alread