St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-02-22
Takers of the Union.
A MassachnsetIs Editor Defends Ver-
mOuts Position.

| mOUt's ROsIIOn.
Now and then the Republican gets a
letter like this
To the Editor of the Republican;
New England may be indebted to Sena-
tor Spooner, but the world is indebttd to
the Republican for this very telling re-
mark"
New England may be indebted to Sena-
tor Spooner for one very telling remark
during the debate on the statehood Dill.
A number Of western senators had criti-
cized the small S re of such states as Yer
mont and Rhode Island. Where upon
Mr.. Spooner said: "They did not have to
be admitted to the Union, they made the
Union" No one can deny so palpable a
truth as that.
which appeared in your ever'illuminat'
ing editorial columns on February z
Deny so palpabe truth? The muse OF
history forbid The ignOramus who
would deny that Rhode Island was IN
cluded in the original United States oil
America, or that Vermont was in exist.
ence as a state when George Washington
was elected President would deny that
Columbus discovered Agawam or that
the United States government can do nc
right. Gratefully, H. R. G.
1t would be cruel not to print sc
bright a communication, which has beer
designed for publication.
But isn't our brilliant correspondent
too severe upon Senator Spooner, the
Republican, Vermont and Rhode Island
Why not allow little rhetorical license
| (n. . a lya nT nh 8
palpable truth? Il some one should CONF
along after hard shower and say, II
'raintd pitchforks' probably our cor
respondent would insist upon having tn
ptchiorks produced.
What were the positions OF Rhod
Island and Vermont with reference to tn
Union? Our correspondent seems t.
think that Rhode Island was not amoni
1.-THE original United States o
America, ," and that Vermont was no
"in existence as a state whsn Georg
Washington was elected President"
is our painful duty to point out that th
contrary is true. Rhode Island, iounde
in 1886, and always one of the most ii
dividual and independent OF the Amer
can commonwealths, was one OF the L
colonies that organized, in 1878, tn
E Union whose name was thus described i
! article of the articles OF confederation
"The style OF this confederacy shall /
The United States OF America
Rhode Island was very much one c
/ the makers of the nation. True, its e!
r ceedingly independent and somewhf
n contrary people first rejected the preseI
constitution OF the United States, whiC
: succeeded the articles of confederation
>e our organic law, and did not finally a
cept it until 1890, two years after Geor
WashDgton's first election as PreSiden
But what OF that? North Carolina, a
Is other OF the "13 original States" did II
~ ratiy the present federal constitution u
ut til 1892 Both Rhode Island and Nor
ve Carolina however, were among
nation makers. The battle OF Guiio
Court House was fought on North Car
D. llnas soil; and as tor Rhode Island,
lg started the American navy years beio
q the constitution was thought OF. II a
.. one dares to intimate that Rhode lsIa
wdsnot one Of the original United Stat
us oil America and did not help to make t
nation, impale him on the spot In
the old graveyards from the Massact
sets line to the ocean lie the bones
the States Revolutionary veteran
who fought both on land and on sea.
Aud there's glorious Vermont.
history is unique among the Origin
States. But shall we rule her out OF
circle OF the sister commonwealth of
cred memory that founded the matte
Vermont's claim to be regarded as
OF the States that made the Unlop,"
quote Senator Spooner's phrase, is
ury impeachable. Vermont was not only
:. existence as state when George W;
ington was elected President, she
you been a separate commonwealth from
i be day, in 1777, when she declared her
,mn dependence. AS early as 1871 the {
,,;+, gress OF the old confederation offered
nv" admit Vermont to the existing unio
tue she would surrender some OF her territ
and that act was recognition OF
Z. mont's independent status. Tie c
I me monwealth was de facto an indepen(
ome republic from 1777 down to 1891, "
rom she was finally received into the COZ
, re. tutional union of the States. Her
most governor, Thomas Chittenden,
CHOSSu III II TO- u'l llISI SOuSlllu
was adopted IN 1777. During the X
lutionary War Vermont, under spec
my trying circumstances, held fast to
OF Revolutionary cause; and she contrib
any Ethan Allen and the Green Mour
that Boys to the shining American galax
ana Revolutionary heroes. AS one oil
the nation-makers, in her time and
lynn Vermont aided in the foundation OF
steau Union
tting Senator Snooner,s en;qram deserv
! my live and in living il must embrace
ser States as Vermont and Rhode Is
Our bright correspondent merits tn
II 10 for atfording us the opportunity OF
I! I ing attention more specifically to
other truth embodied in the distinguished
easeu tors report to those who had alta
3mer' some oil our New England commonwe
the because OF their small population OF
TIE ritorial size Springfield Republic
It, by
lished Bobby Burns OF Barre broke the