Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-08-11

etc. l have not the leisure Just now for
furnis hing an article for the press prol err
ly, and an only give you some. basty wol IDS
without consecutive eJabol atior such as at
once occur to ME while writing.
The people of the Green Mountain State
are perhaps some what unique and indvid-
ual in their views ard ways Of doirg thirgs
and on all important crises in the affairs of
cur common country they have spoken end
acted in no uncertain manner, but have
made their il fluence felt, 'Small as their
Commonwealth is" Cd Squire Bell, of
Walden, Vt, used to love to call attention
to Vermont in his speecht at public con-
ventions. 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 ruflled 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
heat, almost unanimously, while the more
phlegmatlc North WIS 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-
zeal associations and predile ctions, 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 very
IItf1a of the Narmonf fh, ~
the people rising at orce to most patriotic
feeling, and our young men cheeriully vol
unteering for defence of the Union.
Vermont had one regiment of organized
state troops i'll 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 |
Lincoln's first call for seventy five 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
lssloned and non-commissioned officers, |
and also OF privates, were Just the men |
wanted tor offering the new Regiments so
soon after called for by the Government.
These men, OF some previous army expert
ence, together with quite number OF grad
yates of the Norwich University were large
ly commissioned as Ulcers of SUBSEQUENT
regiments and organ izations, 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 organic alton, in COM
2lete equipment, as that of the Vermont
National Guard. know from pretty thor
ough exoerience in the late war how essen
tlal t Is for every state and ration to be
always in readiness tor sat, and national
defence No government in the as yet pro-
gress of mankind can dispense with organ
ICED mil try force behind it for the preser-
Walton of law and order. The National
Guard o. Vermont will not only be an ever
present defence to the st,t., but ofimmedi-
ate avail to the general government when
ever the eme' gency may arise needing a
call on st't for its defence Archer nos
sibl, call on the Mt onal Quad may arise
Tor trained men IN military t,ct'ts for off
GERS and Instructo OF such volunteer or
ganIzat'ons As sudden emergency NAV
render 1T necessary for tie National Gov
eminent to call out
There are few points in which Vermont
distinguished hers. II in the war which may
perhaps De Justly mentioned.
1. At the meeting of her legislature in
October, 1861, it was decided bv that body
that the state should pay one half its extra
expenses occasioned in q ng the govern
ment in the war by direct taxation. each
year, as the expenses accrued, leaving the
other half to be raised by the issuance of