The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-14

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Gil in 1874. At that session there was q
question up regarding the revision of the
chancery system, and William A. Griswold
OF Burlington, another member of the
Council, who, in speaking of the laws de-
lays, said this would occur. and then that,
and so cases would go round, and round, and
round unaking rotatory motion with his
hands,. He did not seem to know where he
was coming out. " He seemed" said Judge
Barrett, " like dog running round after his
tail"
AT the conclusion of Judge Barretts re-
marks, General Thomas was called upon
Sergeant-at-arms Brainerd said he had had
the general under arrest several times, but
he had escaped. If the chair would APP
point deputies enough, the general should
be produced. AT this point there came
voice, in stentOrian tones that rang round
the house, saying: Mr.. Chairman " Ut
was that of the old generaD: Il am an
old man. / came here to listen, not to
speak. | am no speaker. A voice, You
made good speech in 81. | find here
men present who are three years ahead of
me. | am doing my best to catch up with
them, and If they get much the start of me
when they get to the end all | can say lis they
are good fellows" The general then made
one of his ringing speeches upon the gal
liant response made by Vermont to the call
of President Lincoln. He said that not
alone was honor due to those who went to
the 'front.' but it was equally due to the
loyal men who remained at home and did
what they could to help. Provisions were
needed, clothing was wanted, arms and
ammunition, and those who engaged in
such work aided the good cause to a large
extent; they were entitled to as much glory
and as much renown and as much respect
as those who buc<led on their armor and
went forth to the front.
The genial Hinckley was in great demand,
and the audience were anxious to hear from
Hinplxlpy Of 10.
some OF his attractive stories. He told them
of a lawyer and clergymen who were fellow
representatives. The lawyer told yarn
about the clergyman-how he had an old
fashioned donation party call on him. taking
few turnps, and in return eating up all his
bread. Reflection on their conduct made
them somewhat ashamed, and they pre-
Sented their pastor with a horse. While
driving his new acquisition the minister
met n wag, who asked about the animal
The pastor said it was as good beast, he
thought, as that upon which Jesus rode into
Jerusalem Opening the horses mouth and
looking intently therein, he exclaimed
by George, elder it's the same boss"
Laughter. The minister said he was liable
to make mistakes in his preaching, What
do you do" says the lawyer; do you go
back and correct" THAT depends upon
how material the error is; if it does not alter
the sense, | keep right on. For instance,
the other day said: All lawyers should
have their part in the lake of fire and brim-
stone, so and So ! found | had made
mistake, but it was so immateral, and
changed the sense of the text so little,
kept right on" Laughter. Mr.. Hinckley
continuing, said he hoped his friends present
were having as good a time as he was him
self There were several on the stage he was
sure the audience would like to hear, among
them General Grandey of Vergennes and
Hon. A. p Hunton of Bethel
MR. GRANDEY was disinclined at first to
address the meeting, but those present per-
sistently and loudly manifested their wish
that he should do so, and he complied He
said 81 should not have assembled this
platform this afternoon if | had not been
assured should not be called upon to adj
dress you. / am not going to say that |
feel embarrassed, because | do not feel out
OF place here among you. | am no stranger
in Montpelier-no stranger to the Legislators
that have made up our General Assembly
for the last forty-tve years, for most of
that time have been among you. 1t is
source of pride and happiness to me to meet
and greet so many old friends as | have in
the three or four hours since my arrival
here. Like the captive amid the Splendors
of ancient Rome, what surprises me most is
TO find myself here. AS look round at the
old legislators present, / see old familiar
faces, and it seems to me as though could
call you all by name, or at least name the
town you came from. 1t was not my inten-
and happy that you have broken the silence.
! cannot amuse you with the stories of my
friend Hinckley; they come from his lips
like the bubbling of spring from the
mountain-side, enlivening and cheering all
around him. | remember a meeting once at
which he was present-a large audience.
mostly politicians. The order of exer-
cises was the nomination of Lieutenant
governor. Lyman was a candidate and
things looked rather dark for him. Half
dozen men had seconded the nomination of a
popular man, and thought he would get il.
Brother Hinckley, in his despair, wrote
brief note, and it was passed from and to
hand until it came to me. 1t said: 'Grandey,
FOR Gods sake second my nomination. and
of course did so in "A modest way, most
earnestly and pathetically presenting the
name of Lyman q. Hinckley, ESQ. of Chel-
sea, VT. | don't know but it was because
he was such good story-teler and genial,
whole-souled man, but he came out ahead
with an overwhelming majority. l think |
may turn round to him and say: Lyman,
May your life grow rich as it groweth old
And its latest sands be sands of gold
But forget the business you called me
up here for Judge Barrett set me a
good example by stating some legislative
"reminiscences | call wildly to mind the
circumstance he alluded to in relation to
Judge Phelps. 1t was severe and SharD
struggle before we could get a caucus, as we
called 1t. | remember | presided over one
of those caucusses. The room was crowded
almost to suffocation. AS "a last resort, it be-
came necessary that Judge Phelps should
himself appear before that assembly and
answer the serious charges that had been
made against him from almost all quarters
OF the Union. Letters had been read there,
and have those letters now in my possess
sion. Well Judge Phelps made his appear
ance that night. He had been furnished with
copies of the letters. He came out and was
introduced by me. He bowed to the audi
ence and raised himself up to his own
natural dignity, which was equal to that of
Daniel Webster in his best DAYS land he
much resembled him. He used these words
appear before you tonight in my own
defence have been charged with corrup-
IONS oil various kinds-among others, dssi-
patton and drunkenness. | come to make
profert OF myself. Look at me! Do appear
a subject of dissipation and drunkenness?
DO L show in any way that | am broken
down, ruined, intellectually and physically
and disqualified for further public service in
the Senate Of the United States?' And he
continued for an hour and "A half in his own
eloquent self-defence. He made such an
appeal to us, such complete answer to the
charges against him, that we reelected him
by an overwhelming majority. That was in
1914. The year before US43) | was in the
House, the youngest member hut one.
Will not stop to enuinerate the notable MEM
beers of that year, but | well remember who
was III that chair (the speaker)-it was An
drew Tracy OF Woodstock. If were to select
any man from among the many speakers |
have seen who was in all respects perfect
model of speaker, | should name Andrew