The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-26

riotism, its clear conception OF the virtues
essential to the noblest citizenship, and its
solemn and impressive injunction to their
practice, all together constitute 4 rich leg
acy to us and all coming generations of the
state he served so faithfully and loved so
well, These imperishabe words are the
BETTING crown of his noble service. Could
he visit these once familiar scenes and
speak to this assemblage gathered to honor
ms memory, methinks he would repeat his
wise and loving injunction of 1896 as a me-
mortal more precious to him aud more on
during in its beneficent results than any
symbol of marble or granite we can
fashion, for the guardianship of our priceless
Inheritance is in the hands of the living,
and only by the ceaseless vigilance of the
living and the practice of the virtues which
his life illustrated, and which he com
mended, can that Inheritance be preserved
and made perpetual. And so we dedicate
this memorial to the memory of Thomas
Chittenden-not for his sake, for he needs
none, for his name and good works are en-
shrined in imperishable history, but rather
as token of our grateful and undying APP
probation OF his inspiring example, his
lofty character, his eminent virtues, his
loyal devotion, his unselfish patriotism and
his inestimable service to our beloved tate.
And so, in this home wrought by his hand
out of the wilderness, and where on the
twenty-fifth day of August, 1876, he laid
down the burden Of a noble life, may this
monument stand to all coming generations.
Not only as a sacred memorial OF the hon
ored dead, but also as an abiding pledge of
renewed allegiance to the faith and virtues
OF the fathers whose heroic valor and en-
durance carved this model republic of ours
out of the hearts OF an untrodden wilder
ness 1t has always been the home of free
dom and the nursery Of free men. May her
sons and daughters ever stand like wall of
fire against the influx of evil and the inroad
OF every form of pernicious political heresy
at variance with system established and
approved by the fathers, and tested by
mountains shall stand, may the honor and
good name of our beloved state remain un-
furnished"
Hon. l.. e. Chittenden of New York,
who was register of the treasury under
President Lincoln and who is q direct
descendant of Governor Chittenden,
was then called upon for a few re-
marks. He said:
Mr.. President Vermonters and Fello,o-
1otcnSn1en and Women Of My Natiye Willis
excellent governor, in inviting
me to these ceremonies, suggested that l
should, very briefly, express the thanks of
our family to the state for this beautiful
monument to our ancestor. But / do not
feel any obligation on that account.
claim that Thomas Chittendep, the founder
OF our state, by the example of his life and
his unseltish devotion to her interests, es-
tablished claim upon the gratitude OF
Vermonters which is not entirely dis
charged by even so beautiful monument
as this, erected a century after be passed
away. think we may close that account
with a balance to the credit of the family.
My fellow-townsmen, at this moment
my heart is full to the overflow Yonder,
two miles away, on the bank of the laugh |
ing Winooski in a glorious landscape of |
in
part of the old homestead, | was born to a |
happy childhood and youth. Out here,
only mile away, stood the Red School. |
house. where l was first instructed in the |
three RS reading, writing, arithmetic. |
All around were the homes Of the Taylors,
the Thompsons, the Bradleys, the Chapins, |
lhe Bushnells, the Fays, the Clarks and |