The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-02-07

Reading, IS now Mrs. j. S. Campbell
of Omaha, Nebraska, and has a son
who volunteered in the army in the
war with Spain.
LEWIS HOLMES Since this article
was written, note has been received
from Lewis Holmes of Sutton, dated
January 30, 1900, of whom there is no
time to obtain more extended notice.
Referring to the first article of inquiry
he says: "In answer l will say 1 am
proud that my name stands as one of
that number. l was living at Brad.
ford, Orange county, at that time, and
followed on that line which resulted in
the Republican organization in 1854"
Mr.. Holmes is now in his eighty. fifth
year and the youngest of the abolition
boys who have yet reported.
Letters from friends of several Lib
erty Party men now living, after in
vestigation, show that they were not
of the original number, though long
well known as active and true anti.
slavery men. James G. Watson of
Athens has long been known as early
in the field against slavery. Another
of the true Vermont abolitionists is
Jonathan Burnham Story of Cuttings
vile in Mt. Holly. He was born in
1904 and his friends celebrated his
ninety-ftth year on the seventh of Oc-
tober last. John Williams of Royal
ton, living this winter with his son at
Windsor, though early with the old
liberty guard was over persuaded and
voted for Harrison, but, as it turned
out, says he wished he hadn't.
A long and straight record against
the power of slavery is that of Mr.. D.
DeWolf of Halifax. He was born in
Connec icut, January 10, 1911; voted
for Jackson in 1882; became an aboli-
ZIONIST in 1886; helped organize the
Liberty Party and voted for Brney in
Connecticut in 1910; assisted in organiz-
ing the Free Soil and Republican par
ties in Massachusetts; voted for FREE
mont and for Lincoln has been citizen
of Halifax since 1861; writes a clear
and level-headed letter at Green River.
January 10, 1900 (his birthday, and
now, just entering his ninetieth year,
indicates his readiness to help start a
new party, if we con get better onel
In the foregoing have tried to indi-
cate some of The characteristics of the
unwavering fidelity of the early anti
slavery men of our State. They had to
meet obloquy, condemnation, and some
times even persecution, in both church
and state They were men who in
public affairs stood with Lincoln, "with
frmness in the right, as God gives us
to see the right"
This closes my little campaign hunt
to find the survivors of the originals of
lS4O. 1t has been very pleasant re-
union with the veteran liberty BOYS
and lis success is almost entirely due
to those of the Vermont press who so
cordially received and published my
first communication of inquiry. Many |
thanks, of extra intensity, to you all,
gentlemenl Thanks also to maay 9TH
ers in various sections of the State who
have written me kind and interesting
letters about this matter. Should any
more of those "immortas" read these
lines, will they please write me, and
their names will be added to the roster.
The Brattleboro Retormer has raised
the question of priority as to the first
Republican convention having been
held in Vermont, and quotes Wilson's
Rise and Fall of the Slave Power"
What is there said of the action of GER
tain Congressman is no doubt correct,
as Henry Wilson would write only that
which he sincerely believed to be true,
but he was mistaken as to the first
Free Soil organization having been
held in Vermont by several weeks.