Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-08-21

y
with Arnold in his desperate battles on
Lake Champlain. They fought under
Warner at Hubhardton before Bennington,
and with Gates at Bemis Heights and Sar-
atoga afterwards. They pursued the Brit
ish who retreated from Ticonderoga after
Burgoyne's surrender, capturing the last
prisoners, and firing the last shots at the
remains of that expedition.
When the authority of Great Britain
was thrown off by the Declaration of In
dependence, the organization of separate
government by the inhabitants of the
Grants became unavoidable. The iuris-
dction of New Hampshire over them had
ceased after the Royal order of 1854, and
with New York they were at war. As
early as July, 1916, in convention assem-
bled at Dorset they adopted articles of as
ISOLATION for the purposes OF the war as
well as of domestic government. In Jan
uary, 1777, they resolved to form an indie
pendent state under the name of New Con-
necticut, declaring it to be necessary for
protection against the British, as well as
against New York. In June, 1777, COM
mittee was appointed to draft a constitu-
ton, and the name of Vermont was
adopted In July following, the cOnstitu-
ton was ratified, and at the first election
held under it, Thomas Chttenden was
made governor.
That first constitution of Vermont can
not be read without admiration. | pity
the man. who in view of the time and the
circumstances of its composition, can read
it without sensibility Framed by rural
people, in hardship and poverty, foreign
enemy at their very gates, still more in
veterate foe i'm the sister province, that
should have been their protector. Its
authors neither statesmen nor lawyers, UNI
trained in political science or literary ac-
cOmplishments but one of them having
ever sat in legislative assembly before.
They were only doing their best under
every discOuragement. with such slender
requirements as they had, toward the
foundation of government that might
command the respect of mankind. There
was much in their work that was original
and it displayed breadth and elevation of
view, profound sagacty. an independence
of thought, and sublime faith, not reason
ably to be looked for in such an assembly.
1t contained the first prohibition of sla
very ever put forth on this continent,
through all parts of which the institution
was at that time legal.
Under this constitution, Vermont, al
ready for thirteen years an Independent
community, became an independent state,
subject to no national jurisdiction. She
exercised from l777 to 1891 all the powers
of sovereignty, and maintained herself
against New York, against Congress, and
against the Union. She fought through
the Revolution on her account, and with
the help of Massachusetts and New Ilamp-
shire defended herself. The state flag that
still flies over us, was the flag of that ear
liest day. No other state in the American
Federation save Texas, ever had an indie
pendent existence. All others were in their
beginning either colonies of a foreign pow
en- or territories of the United States. Till
the very last, both during and after the
Revolution. the majority of Congress was
against her, swayed by the power and in
fuence of New York Represented neither
in Congress nor in the legislature of New
York. and without means or influence to
make herself felt in either body. recogni-
ton of her Independence and her admis
sion to the Union were continuously re-
fused, and the title of her people to the
homes they occupied denied. The contest
of the colonies in the Revolution was
against taxation without representation.
That of Vermont, through the war and for
eight years afterwards, was against cOniis-
cation without represehtaIloh' NooppreS-
SION cIldI ~" upon "le"' Dil'"il ny amer
ica, approached tll"t sought 10 ne NlSI'eu
~ e'' a'i' "i L,i ,iJ ,,'i,t
,ta,,, ta ha, Iost mann o,d lost ILL., IN
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lio,t of ;ts du',, TINA ratbar Than n,rs
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u"i! ~ w uii'1'i'H.i u,
ism Tho ,rient Iowa of Iihnrt,. ~ thoso
Main unassnming unrioht rasoIuta God
FEARING men who were STRIVING m the nj
termost NOT for nlace or distinction ~,
wealth. ar mower lint m achieve salf nov
eminent toestahIisb homes to create civil
institutions that shouId he trulv free sal
mary and ENDURING Tho mora cIosel,,
we stuJv their lives and thair works the
Greater is our admiration for tbair cbarac-
/ fer and tbeir canacitv
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roaai,,I ANY III i,,ltinS 80
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