The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-26

but they are flashes of glorious light Its
consequences were immediate and far
reaching. II was the first success of the
revolution which bore any fruit. Its guns
sounded the first notes in the knell which
announced that the power of Great Britain
over the colonies she had created and had
sacrificed, was passing away. Burgoyue
heard II, and knew what il meant. Wash
ington heard il, and hearing took heat
again Confidence replaced despair. Gates
succeeded Schuyler in command at Sara
toga, and the militia poured into his camp.
The invincihlity of the British commander
was gone. He fought desperately, but in
vain. On the 18th Of October he Surren-
dered. If Bennington had not been fought,
or had been fought without success, the
junction between Clinton and Burgoyne
could not have been prevented, and his sur
render would not have taken place. eff |
had succeeded there" he wrote to his gov
eminent, " should have marched to AL
bany."
a brief review of the early history of Yer
mont especially in connection with the
claims to jurisdiction of New York, fol-
lowed, the orator pointing out the fact that,
despite the injustice of New York the set
tiers of I" the Grants " rallied to assist in the
war of the revolution. On this point he
said: But with the first guns of the revolu-
tiOu the people Of the Grants threw them
selves into that struggle, without regard to
is effect upon the contest to them much
more important, in which they were already
engaged. Ticonderoga was taken by Ethan
Allen, and Crown Point by Warner. They
marched in force upon the disastrous eX-
petition against Canada, where Allen was
left "A prisoner. They turned out on the APP
proach of Burgoyne to garrison Ticonderoga,
in such strength that men enough were not
left at home to transport the supplies,
which ont of their slender resources they
poured into that fortress. They were with
4. l..
Champlain. They fought under Warner at
Huhbardton before Bennington, and with
Gates at Bemis Heights and Saratoga after
wards. They pursued the British, who re-
treated from Ticonderoga after Burgoyne's
surrender, capturing the last prisoners, and
firing the last shots at the remains of that
expedition.
Touching upon the original constitution,
Mr.. Phelps said: That first constitution of
Vermont cannot be read without admira-
tion. pity the man who, in view of the
time and the circumstances of its compost
ton, can read it without sensibility. Framed
by rural people, in hardship and poverty,
a foreign enemy at their very gates a still
more lnVeterate foe in the sister province
that should have been their protector Its
authors neither statesmen nor lawyers, I'M
trained in political science or literary ac-
complishment; but one of them having
ever sat i'll legislative assembly before.
They We're only doing their best under
every discouragement, with such slender
requirements as they had, toward the foun-
dation of government that might command
the respect of mankind. The constitution
of Pennsylvania, adopted the year before,
was doubtless in a considerable degree their
model. But there was much in their work
that was original. And it displayed a
breadth and elevation of view, "A profound
sagacity, an Independence of thought, and
a sublime faith, not reasonably to be looked
for in such an assembly.
Two of the provisions of the constitution
were referred to- One of these was that
prohibiting slavery" the first prohibition
of slavery ever put forth on this conti-
nent and the other that protesting
against the establishment of public offices
of profit, the usual effects of which are
dependence and servility unbecoming free
men in the possessOrs or eXpectants, fac
ton, contention, corruption and disorder
among the people. But if any man is
called into public service to the prejudice
of his private affairs, he has a right to a
reasonable compensation; and whenever
an office through increase of fees or other
wise becomes so profitable as to occasion
many to apply for IL, the profits ought to be
lessened by the legislature" Commenting
upon these provisions, Mr.. Phelps said
1--WE have lived to see the prohibition OF
slavery in the earliest constitution of Yer
mont become part of the Fundamental
/ law OF this nation May the time be not fan
/ off when its declaration against that Other
| and more widespread curse which corrupts
and degrades free government shall he
| likewise put in force by the body of the
| American people,
The provision of the constitution which
! prescribed the form of oath taken by mem
beers of the Legislature was also quoted. Mr.
| Phelps then made this eloquent commentary
on the life of Vermont as an Independent
state; Under this constitutions Vermont
already for thirteen years an Independent
community became an independent state
subject TO no national jurisdiction. She eX
| erclsed from III to 1891 all the powers %
sovereignty and maintained herself agains
| New York, against congress, and agains
the Union She fought through the revolu
ton on her own account, and with the hell
Of Massachusetts and New Hampshire de
Tended herself. The state flag that still
flies over us was the flag of that earlies
day. No other state in the American feder
alton save Texas ever had an Independent
existence All others were in their begin
ming either colonies of foreign power, o
territories of the United States. Till I'll,
very last both during and after the revolu