The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-21

ness OF the cause he presented, won |
him friends everywhere.
His visit 10 Boston nc this time was |
for the purpose of enlistlng the clergy
men OF this cultured city In behalf OF |
this humanitarian movement. In this
he failed, but the youth Garrison who |
was present at the meeting was stir
red and he won In him recruit who |
was later TO give an account of him |
self. This visit of Lundy 10 Boston
did not last long but was repeated |
within n few months. This time the |
subject OF a petition TO Congress for |
the abolition OF slavery In the District |
OF Columbia was preached. II would |
be too long a story TO go into the con
ditlon OF the public mind on this sub |
ject at this time Suffice II 10 say. |
that while the public thought abroad |
had been aroused by several Congress-
es on the subject OF Emancipation In |
the West Indies, the United States was
yet apathetic. partly because this was
question for the states to deal with
individually and partly because II was
thought To be an economic question OF
such Importance that II was best left
alone. The District OF Columbia, how
ever, presented different phase OF the
question. since IL was under the CON
troll OF the general government and the
constitution was, ! believe. not unsym-
pathetic to the idea OF emancipation.
A Colonization society had been form.
ed whose ayowed purpose was progress
siye emancipation and the Transports
ton of all free negroes To Liberia.
| 4 10 HRat In a.
ored this society. but the problem was
how TO get the free negroes To deport,
30 Mr.. Lundy favored the emancipa-
ton OF those that the United States
could control. 10 wit. In the District OF
Columbia. as an initial step. For this
purpose II was proposed Ia circulate
petitions In the several New England
states To be- sent 10 Congress To iniiu-
ence legislation. Garrison volunteer
cd 10 do what he could.
hut just nj this time n change In his
newspaper connection interfered for
the moment. and this brings us. as Il
brought him 10 Bennington. licnning
ton In those days was a leading factor
IN Vermont politics Strong men OF
both sides of the great questions OF
the day had their home here. II was
near the close OF John Quincy Adams
administration and the Wing party
was In process OF incubation. At this
time II was called the National Repub'
llcan party as distinct from the Demo
cratic Republican party. and It's prin
clples were national rather than indy
idualistic. The latter party had an or
gan here IN the shape OF the Vermont
Gazette. The former party was In the
ascendcncy In the county aud the
state and demanded an organ TO re
present It's Views. So some time In
the summer Of 1885. Il Is supposed
three men were taken by DIR Harmon
behind his well known span OF grayH
and In his familiar coach. over ths
road by the Elbow 10 Iirattleboro and
10 on down the Connecticut valley and
along the present line OF the Fitchburg
Division OF the Boston and Maine "a
Worcester and Boston. n journey ol
about three days. The three men
b wcrc.-that tower OF strength. indie
: pendent and fearless. who acted ~
, well citizens part In the community
deacon In the old church and be
loved physician OF this town. just ther
about 80 years old. Dr Noadiah Swift
With him was associated another ol
the famous names OF bennington his
tory of equally stalwart mould aud In
dependence OF character. littls
! younger. Daniel breckenridge. who n
lad had been brought up amid stir
ring scenes on the farm. which had "a
signally figured IN our controversy
with New York state. The third ol
this group was Joseph Starin. a name
not 40 familiar In our history. but ons
p who evidently commanded the esteem
OF his townsmcn. for he H. recorded NJ
Justice OF the peace aud trustee oi
one Of the schools and was connected
with the well known Dimock family.
They and their supporters had heard
OF this young Garrison. his indcpcnd
ence and his promise. and made their
way 10 Boston 10 Interview him. Theii
meeting was successful and thcy
agreed ON their part to give him a fres
field n he would only come to liennlng
ton and edit n National Republican "a
per and 10 secure him n support In thi,
effort. lie on his part was willing q
come N he might exploit also his views
OF righteousness aud public reform
This vas agreed 90 and he came a.
bennington and published the first ~
sue OF the Journal Of the Times Ia On,
little one and quarter story Office
which stood just west ~ the site OF the
marker on the third OF October. 1898
when he was not yet p years old.
This Office had been built as n Law
Office for SIR Charles Wright who came
here from Pownal. II n remembered
at first as having It's entrance on thu
north end. az u stood parallel with the
street and 90 have consisted of two
rooms. II was In the main or north
room that the printing press stood
while the south room was the editor
lal Eanctum. II VAS afterwards used
az n cabinet shop and later oycrhauicd
and made into dwelling with the On
trance on the east side.
Mr. Garrison's appearance IN tho
bcauty and strength Of early manhood
IN we'll remembered. lie was n man
days. though well proportional. HIS
hair n rich. dark brown: his forehead
high and very white. HIS cheeks dccid
eddy roscate; his lips full. sensitive
and ruddy: his eyes intent. wide open,
Of ycllowiHh hazel. with fine teeth,
rather larger than the average. and a
complexion more fair. more Eilycry
white than IN common with men. lie
wore n black dress coat. black trousers
white vest and spcctaclca and walked as
erect ms an Indian and was
at first looked upon by some Of the
rough and ready citizens OF this place
~ something Of dandy: moreover he
was here M the fgnrc.hcad or Epokes'
man Of the Hocallcd aristocratic party
and when his temper became known
By his editorials and clippings II was
found that he aimed high and sought