The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-10-02
The First Legislative Reunion.

sentatives was b Id to consider scheme
some one had conceived for holding
a grand reunion of the surviving mem
bers of all the legislatures of the state.
The originator of the idea, it is gener-
ally understood, was W. II. Fullerton,
the member from Manchester in the
legislature of 'S4. Rodney G. Abel,
the perpetual member from West
Haven, was chairman of the meeting.
The deliberations resulted in decision
to holda r4union in October, 1885, and
an organsa ton was formed to manage
the affair. Mr. Abel was chosen presi
dent, G. w. Brownell, secretary of the
senate, and W. w. Stickney, clerk
of the house, secretaries of record
and correspondence respectively; w.
H. Fullerton, F. S. Stranahan, G.
A. Hubbard, H. F. Field and G. d.
Brainerd, executive committee; j. w.
Brock, treasurer; Rev. w. S. Hazen,
chaplain; G. d. Houghlon, sergeant-at-
arms; j. w. Gould and r. j. Coffey,
doorkeepers. The senators ratified the
proceedings of the representatives, and
the members from the counties formed
supplementary associations. Here the
matter rested till August 81, 1885,
when the executive committee met in
Rutland to prepare for the reunion,
which was put down for Wednesday
and Thursday, October Z and s. The
committee on programme, consisting of
Colonel George w. Hooker, Hon. G.
G.. Benedict, Speaker James X. Batch
elder, Hon. w. p. Dillingham;, j. w.
Currier and W. B. G. Stickney, reported
the general features of the programme.
These embraced reception at the
state house by Governor Pingree and
ex-Governors yland Fletcher, Hiland
Hall, Frederick Holbrook, j. Gregory
Smith, Paul Dillingham;, George w.
Hendee, John w. Stewart, Horace
Fairbanks, Redfield Proctor, Roswell
Farnham, John l.. Barstow, and Eb.
enezer J. Ormsbee. Fletcher, Hall,
Smith, Dillingham; and Fairbanks have
gone to the reunion beyond the veil dur
ing the decade that has passed, and 10
the mortuary roll may be added the
name of Bingham, him of the perennial
minority, yet an honorary "governor
by virtue of an unwritten, but unani-
nous, popular assent. Holbrook, ven
cradle in years, still abides with the
living, the dean of the corps of surviv
ing ex-governors. An historical ad-
dress, legislative session, display of
fireworks and banquet were proposed.
At meeting of the committee at
Burlington, September 10, 1885, the
details of the reunion were perfected
and complete programme matured.
For the evening of Tuesday, October
6, promenade concert at the Golden
Fleece was arranged. On Wednesday
morning, October 7, a reception at the
state house by the governor and living
ex-governors; in the afternoon an ad-
dress of welcome at the Golden Fleece,
by George w. Wing, Esq, of Mont
pelier, followed by a Joint legislative
session; in the evening a meeting de-
voted to "reminiscences, anecdotes and
memorable occasions in the history of the
legislature, and display Of fireworks.
On Thursday morning an historical adj
dress, in the afternoon a legislative
session, in the evening a banquet.
Tuesday evening, October 6, there
was a gathering at the capital of all the
legislative clans that had survived the
wrecks of time. The scenes at the
hotels and throughout the town re-
minded observers of the night before
the meeting of the Legislature; except
that there were no anxious candidates
for legislative offices, and the button
holing and log-rolling incident to a
canvass of the members. 1t was gay
and festive scene. Hearty greetings,
the renewal of the associations of "auld
lang syne," incident, anecdote, and
Renaissance, and genial hilarity
ruled the hour. 1t appears from the
roster of visiting statesmen that the
representation of bygone legislatures
stretched back to 1880. On that dis
tant legislative horizon was seen the
familiar form of Rolla Gleason, repre-
sentative from Richmond. He was
also a member again in 1858, and the
presiding genius in the "third house "
of every legislature till times statute of
limitations had barred him out. His
personality aud that of his great COM
patriot, old Hugh Henry of Chester, a
generation ago, were the most pic
turesque features of legislative SEES
sion. Hon. H. E. Hubbell of Fairfax,
senator in 1886, '39 and AZ was the sole
representation of the first senate, the
existence of that branch of the general