The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-05-10
PEABODY MEDICAL INSTITUTE
THE SUMS VERSION
Good HUNDRED, Satirical Summary of
Bennett Young Controversy

Bennett Young Controversy
Under the head When Vermont was
Invaded" the New York Sun says:
In the Civil war the st. Adams raid
was SO faint a fash in the pan that
we wonder why a Rutland Grand
Army post is fighting the struggle
over again in heat and bitterness of
spirit, because Governor Prouty and
Mayor Austin of the raided town in
yited Colonel Bennett II. Young of
Louisville to deliver an Grafton in St.
Adams on~July 5, during the tercen-
| tenary celebration, an event the mere
anticipation of which makes Vernon
ters vow to surpass themselves in en-
tertaining the strangers within their
gates.
Doubtless Governor Prouty and
Mayor Austin viewed in all its lights
the attempt of the said Young to raw
age and desolate Vermont on the 18th
OF October, 1864 the only occasion,
| when a New England state suffered
| the horrors of war during the historic
conflict and might conceive what the
operations OF General Sheridan and
his efficient lieutenant Hunter meant
! to noncombatants in the Shenandoah
valley,
Doubtless the governor and the
mayor concluded that Bennett II.
Young had lived a blameless and use
| full life since. as a commissioned of
| ficer of Confederate service under or
ders from the war department, he in
yaded Vermont territory and it may
even have seemed to them an act of
Cancellation and good will, stretch
| ing OF the hand across the bloody
chasm, as il were, to invite the author
of the woes of St Adams on that
memorable day to address its citi-
zens on such a hospitable occasion as
| he celebration in July. But they had
| not reckoned with some of their
neighbors who fought the good fight
land were still fighting it, For in
stance there was Ex-Governor Orms-
bee. who has denounced Colonel Ben
nett II. Young as "a brigand, pirate,
a guerilla" and has characterized the
invitation as "a deplorable perfor-
nance" And there were other brave
men who nevertheless could not for
get and were not in a forgiving mood.
In our judgment the st. Adams rail
was a futile and ridiculous demonstra-
| ton, whether the object was to retail
late for the laying waste of the Shen-
endoah valley, or to embroil Canada
and the United States. But the rec
ords show that Lieutenant Young was
| a duly commissioned confederate of
licer acting under orders and bad as
| the affair looked to the folk of the
smiling Champlain Valley so rudely
disturbed i'm their peaceful vocations.
| it was regarded by the young enthusi-
asst in command as a military opera
| ton. The question of its nature and
of his guilt was examined at the time
| in the Canadian courts when our state
| department asked for the eXtradition
of the whole party after their appre-
hension by the authorities, who acted
with commendabe activity and zeal.
| 1t might cool Ex-Governor Ormsbee's
martial ardor If he were to read the
opinion of Mr. Justice Smith of Mont
real, who reviewed the facts in the
case. construed the Ashburton extra
dtion treaty and discharged the pris-
| Oners. Mr.. Justice Smith held that
the acts of Lieutenant Young do not
| fall within the purview of ordinary
criminal law but within that branch
of international law which treats of
the laws of war"
The st. Adams committee in charge
| of the celebration has paid its respects
to the scandalized protestants. and
particularly to Ex-Governor Ormsbee,
telling that overweight gentleman
that he was not justified in melting
| by his prominent example the patri-
otto sentiment of Vermont to a wrong
| impression of the affair."" Perhaps
Colonel Young, who since the war has
become a distinguished and honored
citizen of Kentucky, publicist. histor-
ian, churchman and officer of many
I benevolent societies. would convince
even EX-Gov. Ormsbee that he was
not as black as he was painted if he
spoke to the citizens of ST. Adams and
their guests, but rather than cause
any discussion among the brave vet
Grams of Vermont he has considerable.
ly and in the best taste withdrawn his
acceptance. The incident, however,
has not been in vain. The hospital
ity and good sense of the great body
of Vermont people have been emphas-
lied and others may have learned the
lesson of magnanimity and realized
that the war is over.
ADA REHAN'S EAUINO urh,rL,