The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-21

the year before, was doubtless in a con-
siderable degree their model. But there
was much in their work that was origi.
nal. And it displayed a breadth and
elevation of view, profound sagacity,
an independence of thought, and sub
lime faith, not reasonably to be looked
for in such an assembly. 1t would be
an interesting task to review this con-
stitution, if the flying hour allowed.
Two or three points only can be most
briefly touched.
1t contained the first prohibition of
slavery ever put forth on this continent,
through all parts of which the institu.
tion was at that time legal. The Ian
guage is worthy of quotation.
"That all men are born equally free
and independent, and have certain nat
ural, inherent and unalienable rights
amongst which are the enjoying and de.
Tending life, and liberty acquiring, pos.
sessing and protecting property and
pursuing and obtaining happiness and
safety. Therefore, no male person born
in this country or brought from over sea,
ought to be holden by law to serve any
person as a servant, slave or apprentice,
after he arrives to the age of twenty.
one years nor female in like manner
after she arrives to the age of eighteen
years unless they are bound by their
own consent after they arrive to such
age or bound by law for the payment
Of debts, damages, fines, costs or the
like"
may pause to read one other paper,
on the same subject, that has found its
way down to us like a scattered leaf
from the foliage of a departed year.
When in November, 1777,a Slave woman
and her child fell into the hands of a
company of Vermonters, commanded by
Ebenezer Allen, who had fought with
great distinction at Bennington, he gave
her this writing, and set her free.
"To whom it may concern, know We
Whereas, Dinah, a negro woman with
her child of two months old was taken
prisoner on Lake Champlain with the
British troops the 18th day of inst. No
Vember by scout under my command
and according to a resolve passed by the
Honorable Continental Congress that all
prizes belong to the captivators thereof.
therefor she and her child become the
just property of the captivators thereof
| being conscientious that it is not right
III blSlib VI OOu w hOtD SldNC co
fore obtaining leave from the detach-
ment under my command to give her
and her child their freedom. do there,
fore give the said Dinah and her child
their freedom, to pass and repass any
where throu, ii the United States OF
America, with her behaving as be.
cometh, and to trade and traffic for her.
self and child, as though she were born
free, without being molested by any per
son.
In witness whereunto l have set my
hand and subscribed my name,
EBENEZER ALLEN.
Capt. in Col. Herrick's Regt. of Greer
Mountain Boys"
There is not much lawyership in the
form of this document. 1t is neither
elegant in style, nor faultless in orthog
raphy. But perhaps it has found RECORD
where such deficiencies are overlooked
Another article in that first constitu
ton should not be passed by in silence
Its authors appear to have seen with {
prophetic eye, when they founded FREE
government, that its greatest danger wal
like to be the greed for office which
turns places of public trust into thu
bBOllo VI pil anu OhO OpHOl OtlllbASP AZ
plumber. And they adopted this clause
GAS every freeman to preserve his in
dependence Gf without a sufficient es
tate), ought to have some profession
calling, trade or farm whereby he ma,
honestly subsist, there can be no neces
sity for nor use in establishing offices o
profit, the usual effects of which are de
pendence and servility unbecoming free
men in the possessors or eXpectants
faction, contention, corruption and dis
order among the people. But if am
man is called into public service to TIN
prejudice of his private affairs he has ;
right to a reasonable compensation; anC
whenever an office through increase o
fees or otherwise becomes so profitabl,
as to occasion many to apply for it, thu
profits ought to be lessened by the Leg
islature.''
We have lived to see the prohibition o
slavery in the earliest constitution O
Vermont become a part of the funda
mental law of this nation. May the tint
be not far off, when its declaration
against that other and more widespread
curse which cOrrupts and degra es free
government, shall be likewise put il
force by the body of the American PEG
pie.
One more provision in this instrument
may be quoted. From each representa-
tive in the Legislature was required be
fore taking his seat, this declaration:
"You do believe in one God, the Cref
tor and Governor of the Universe, the re
warder of the good and punisher of the
wicked. And you do acknowledge thu
Scriptures of the Old and New Tesla
ment to be given by Divine inspiration
and do own and profess the Protestant
Religion"
Under this constitution, Vermont, al
ready for thirteen years an independent
community, became an independent
State, subject to no national jurisdic.
ton. She exercised from TIT to
1901 all the powers of sovereignty
and maintained herself against New
York, against Congress, and against the
Union. She fought through the Revolu
ton on her own account, anC
with the help of Massachu
sets and New Hampshire
defended herself. The State flag tha
still flies over us. was the flag of tha
earliest day. No other State in the
American Federation save Texas, evel
had an independent existence. All 9th
ers were in their beginning either colo
MES of a foreign power, or territories o.
the United States. Till the very last
both during and after the Revolution
the majority of Congress was agains
her, swayed by the power and influence
of New York. Represented neither il
Congress nor in the Legislature of New
York, and without means or influence tx
make herself felt in either body, recOgni
ion of her independents and her admis-
sion to the Union were continuously re
fused, and the title of her people to thu
homes they occupied denied. The con
test of the colonies in the Revolution
was against taxation without representa-