The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-02-01
WEST FAIRLEE SKETCH
CONTINUED.

IT will be remembered that just
prior to the war of 1912, while
Europe was convu1sed by the
great struggle between republican
France and England, that the
rights of neutrals became very
insecure from the depredations OF
both be11igerants, that parties d1-
vided largely on this question,
that the Federa1ists we're warmly
accused of favoring England,
while the Republicans sympa-
thized with France.
At the outset the war OF 1872
was not popular in Vermont, ex-
posed as the state was to hostile
inroads from the north. Gov.
Martin Chittenden's message
strongly expressed this opposl-
ton to the war of 1872, declaring
it unnecessary, unwlse and
hopeless in all its offensive oper-
atoms" Niles fought these sen-
timents with resolute energy.
He was chairman on the part
of the House of the joint COM
mittee to consider the invitation
of Massachusetts, to send dele
gates to the Hartford convention,
which to the lasting credit of
Vermont by the unanimous vote
of the six Federa1iStS and three
Republicans was refused the
scheme. Judge Niles was a stren-
uous opponent to the various
banking schemes proposed early
in the century. In his report he
states this proposition. "Credit
is not less liable than money to
be misimproved, and while the
misimprovement of money merely
.dininishes property, that of cred
it creates debt, and when it is EN-
ployed to discharge one debt by
mourning another, nothing can
commonly be gained"
At the age of "A Judge Niles
retired from public life and pass
ed the remaining fourteen years
of his life on his farm at West
Fairlee, where he died in 1928,
honored and revered.
Judge Niles was twice married,
first to a daughter of Rev. DR..
Joseph Lathrop of West Spring
field, Mass, and second to Eliza
beth, a daughter of William
Watson of Plymouth, Mass, a
lady of the highest accomplish
ments, and the intimate friend
and correspondent of the most
eminent theologians of the period.
He left two SONS of considerable
intellectual attachments, William
Niles, Esq, '1awyer Billy" and
Nathaniel Jr., who became Unit
ed States consul to Sardinia, act
ing plenipotentiary to Austria,
and secretary of legation at the
court of st. James, under Gen.
Cass. No direct descendant is
doW living III lOWH.
We are indebted to Mrs. Kim
ball, a great granddaughter of
Mr.. Niles, for many of the facts
above stated, and also to the
Men of Vermont.
The story of Nathaniel Niles,
cultured and gifted man, or
ganizing his little church amid
he solitudes of the wilderness re-
minds one of the apostolic work
If St. Paul. The gloom of the
woods, the hard conditions of life,
he serious aims and occupations
# the people, were all favorable
O grave reflections and religious
ervor. The people, rich and
'oor, gathered from far and near
o the one church in town, un-
Gated by stove or furnace for
he great event of the week, and
.stened to the word propounded
1 two good long sermons, from
he lofty pulpit with sounding
ard, when the big framed
hurch with high backed pews
ad taken the place of the first
og structure.
Was not the stern simplicity of
hat time in closer accord with
hrist's doctrine and example
IAN the elaborate and sumptu-
us elegance of some modern
hurches that exclude the poor.
Will the average general read c
r inquire why so much space is $
iven in town sketch to the sto- c
y of an individual? 1t is be- '
ause Nathaniel Niles was the
lost influential and distinguished :
ian of his town, not only be- :
ause he best typifies in his va :
ed attachments and efforts, the :
ldustrious. ingenious and self E
,1iant pioneer, the man who as :
,casion required was farmer, Il
utcher, cooper, carpenter, hunt h
:, lumberman, legislator, the i
-chitect of his own fortunes. a
UGH men are undaunted by op- sl
osition and unconquerable by Il
iSfortuue. i,