Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-08-13

'tc. | lave net the leisure lust now for
furnishing an article for the press proper
ly., and can only give you some hasty words.
without consecutive elaboration-snch as at
| once occur to me while writing.
The people of the Green Mountain State
are perhaps somewhat unique and indiyid
ual IN their views and ways Of doing things
and on all important crises in the affairs Of
our common country they have spoken and
acted IN no uncertain manner, but have
made their influence felt, ''Small as their
Commonwealth is" Old esquire" Bell. Of
| Walden, VT, used to love to call attention
to Vermont in his speeches at public con-
ventlons. He was gentleman OF the old
school, and dressed in his blue coat with
brass buttons, his buff vest and high stand
ing collar and ruffled shirt bosom, he al
ways made an imposing appearance. He
frequently used to say on these occasions
There is the State OF Vermont, gentlemen
look at her! Small in geographical extent
but almighty in spirit" emphasizing it with
wide extended gesture.
1t may be remarked, in passing. that at
the outbreak of the late war the hot blood
OF the Southern people at once rose to fever
neat almost unanimously, while the more
phlegmatic North was slowly becoming
warmed and awakened to realizing sense
OF the issues presented by Secession. There
was also some division of sentiment at the
North growing out of old and strong polit-
'ca! associations and predictions, SO that
politics more or less entered into the views
OF Its people than was compatible with that
earnest prosecution Of the war which the
situation demanded. But there was verv
little OF this IN Vermont, the great mass OF
the people rising at once to most patriotic
feeling, and our young men cheeriully vol
unteering for defence of the Union.
Vermont had one regiment of organized
state troops in existence before and at the
time OF the outbreak of Secession, and its
companies were at once recruited to fuller
ranks, and the Regiment was promptly
ready to enter the service under President
Llncolns first call for seventy-fye thousand
volunteers. This Regiment did honorable
service for its term Of enlistment. The
three months service of the men in the field
acquainted them with and Injured them to
Army Camp life, so that on their return to
the State very many of the men, both COM
mlssloned and non-commissioned officers.
and also OF privates, were Just the men
wanted for differing the new Regiments 80
soon after called for by the Government
Ihese men, OF some previous army expert
ence, together with quite number of grad
yates of the Norwich University were large
ly commissioned as officers of SUBSEQUENT
regments and organizations, and contrib
uted much toward making the latter Regi-
ment SO famous in the Union army.
1t gives me much satisfaction that we
have such splendid organization, in COM
alete equipment, as that of the Vermont
National Guard. know from pretty thor
ough experience in the late war how essen
lal 1t is for every state and nation to be
always IN readiness for state and national
iefence. No government in the as vet pro-
5ress OF mankind can dispense with organ
zed military force behind it for the preser-
'ation of law and order. The National
Iuard of Vermont will not only be an ever
present defence to the state, but ofimmedi
tie avail to the general government when
'ver the emergency may arise needing
all on stat 5 for its defence Another pos
lble call on the Nat onal Guard NAV arise
or trained men in military tactics for off.
ers and instructors of such volunteer or
as sudden emergency NAV
ender 1t necessary for the National Gov
Tnment to call out
There are few points in which Vermont
distinguished herself in the war which NAV
erhaps be justly mentioned.
l. AT the meeting of her legislature in
october, 1861, it was decided by that body
nat the state should pay one half its extra
Expenses occasioned in . d ng the govern
tent IN the war by direct taxation. each
ear, as the expenses accrued, leaving the
Their half to be raised by the issuance of