The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-14
Greeting to the Bay State Yer.
mOnterS,

Some generations ago descendants OF
the Pilgrims or other immigrants from
England, desiring more elbow room
than the shores of Massachusetts, Bay
afforded or moved by an enterprising
desire to better their worldly fortunes,
began to move up into the wilderness
regions to the north to which the early
explorer, with better idea OF the fit-
ness of things in nomenclature than
his latter day successors have custom.
arily exhibited, had given the euphoni-
GUS and faithfully descriptive name OF
Vermont. Here, with their neighbors
from Connecticut and New Hampshire,
they began to obey, in the good old
fashioned manner,the scriptursl injunc-
ton to multiply and replenish this part
OF the earth, and incidentally to make
life very.uncomfortable for the Workers
who challenged their right to seat on
this rough edge Of the Almighty's foot
stool.
One OF these hardy emigrants, Col.
Jacob Davis, was the fret settler and
the founder of Montpelier. Later gen.
erations of Vermonters began to repay
to Massachusetts the obligations OF
first settlement. The tide of emigra-
ton turned it's course. That the debt
has been cancelled, with interest "com-
pounded" the invasion Of the State
Capital today by the Boston society OF
the Sons and Daughters Of Vermont.
is convicing proof. Montpelier is glad
to welcome these people, who do not
bear the garb or mien Of prodigals, and
the Governor comes here to give them
greeting in the name Of the whole
State.
Vermont has paid her debt to Mass
achusetts in the legal tender Of brains.
In every department OF business, in
the professions, in all occupations, Yer
monters there are on the firing line of
active service, and they are sustaining
their traditional fame, with its incre-
ment from the battlefelds of the civil
war and the late conflict with Spain.
They are not all of the rank and file.
At the head of this association Is AVER
monter high in rank and honor in his
adopted State, Judge Edgar j. Sher-
man, of the Superior Court, ranking
next to the Chief Justice in seniority
OF service. Dartmouth students of a
former generation were wont to hear
much of "Tutor Field" of his wonder
full scholarship, graduating in 1855 with
perfect mark, distinction previously
monopolized by Rufus Choate and Prof.
Putnam, occupying the Greek profess
sorship. Walbridge A. Field was son
OF Vermont, born at Springfield, an in
structor at Dartmouth some years after
his graduation. He, too, went to Mas
sachusetts, began the practice of law
and in 1887 was elected to the Supreme
Court, becoming its Chief Justice in
1890, and retaining this high Office till
the time of his death in 1899. In all
departments Of activity, on every rung
OF the ladder, from bottom to top, in
the Old Bay State Green Mountain
Boy has now his stand, or there has
placed his feet, and always with honor
to himself and great benefit to the
State OF his adoption.
1t is somewhat surprising, but his
tory makes no mention of Vermont at
Bunker Hill. The explanation must
be that Vermont was then too busy
making history for herself. Indirectly,
however, Vermont contributed to the
effectiveness of the siege of Boston,
through the capture of Ticonderoga
whose guns were hauled overland to
the coast and helped drive out the
British. The "clash of resounding
arms" which Patrick Henry's pro-
phetic ears were strained to catch on
every breeze from the north was first
heard in Massachusetts, followed by
echoes from the decisive field Of
Bennington. At Bunker Hill and
Bennington are the sister shafts, the
most conspicuous memorials of the
War of the Revolution erected on the
locality of the events they perpetuate,
and the guns in the portico Of the
State House for the visitors are mute
reminders Of Burgoyne's Gettysburg,
the staying Of the tide Of British invas-
ion and presaging the surrender at
Saratoga.
At the portal of the Capitol the
statue Of Ethan, within its precincts
the tsttered standards Of the regiments
of the civil war and the battle picture
Of Cedar Creek, on the terraces the
guns Of the Csstella, will interest these
people and remind them of the glories
the home State has harvested from
land and sea, and it's mighty contribution