The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-06
REPLY 10 ROBERTS POST
For It's Criticism of Invitation to Col.
Bennett H. Young.

DSnnett II. Aounk.
A reply had been prepared by the 81
Adams Champain tercentenary commit
tee to be presented to Roberts Post
4 g. A. r., Of Rutland, which had criticised
the invitation to Col. Bennett H. Young
of Louisville, Ky, TO speak in st. Adams
on July ). This reply was as followss
a news dispatch from Rutland tells
how the officers Of Roberts Post, q. A,
! r., Rutland, has received from ex.Gov
Ebenezer J. Ormsbee Of Brandon, mem,
Der Of the order, letter approving ~
unmistakable terms the action Of the
Rutland post in passing resolutions crit.
icizing Gov George II Prouty Of New
port and Mayor Warren X. Austin Of
St Adams, in inviting to st. Albans
Bennett II. Young, leader Of The Sc. Al
bans raid Of 1864. to be the guest Of
honor during the tercentenary celebra.
tion- Ex-Gov. 0rmsbee saidi
i write to express my unqualified
approval Of your resolutions IN reference
TO the unaccountable, II not disgraceful
action, Of the powers that be, in inviting
the so-called Col Bennett Young to par
ticipate in the Lake Champlain tercente-
nary celebration. Had a similar invita-
ton been extended to a regular Confed.
crate soldier or officer for any sufficient
cause or reason, ! would not say a word
in protest, but this Mr.. Young played
the part of brirnd, q pirate, Elier-
rilla, ia the st. Alhans raid at the ex-
pense Of one or more lives, and @ quarter
Of a million Of property. Ii this III
considered and depl0rable performance is
to go on and Vermont il to have an ex-
hibition Of this bFigand, why not resur-
rect Wifz. of Andersonville fame and
shame, and have him mummifed ana
take a seat in the procession by the side
Of Mr. Young / feel that there IL
something due 70 the patriotic sentiment
Of Vermont, not only 70 the veteran
soldiers and their families, but to the
people generally, who are no less patri.
otto, although perhaps not quite 20 SEN
sitive 81 appreciative as the old veterans
something other and different and more
in accord with the real sentiment Of our
people than this proposed outrageous
performance
s'When a man Of the undoubted impor-
tance o. ex.Ciov Il. J. 0rmsbee sets out
to publicly denounce successor in the
high office he himself has held and the
mayor and other responsible citizens Of
leading Vermont city as the authors
Of an outrageous performance he ought
first to be sure Of his facts.
Gle says, it viii be observed Had
similar invitation been extended to q
regular Confederate soldier or officer for
any sufficient cause or reason, | would
not say word in protest, but fhis Mr.
Young played the part Of brigand, a
pirate, a guerrilla, etc.
If Ex-Governor 0rmsbee means exact
III what he says, he owes it to Governor
Prouty and Mayor Austin to publicly
recall his letter to Roberts post and ten
der his apologies, because Bennett Fl.
Young was a Confederate soldier and
officer and held the rank Of lieutenant
III that service when he led the ST. AL
bans raid.
"The Messenger has already printed
the text of the commission Bennett TT.
Young had from the Confederate secre-
tary Of war aud the letters Of instrnc-
ton, etc, from the secretary of war and
another official. The fact was clearly
long ago that the ST. Adams
raid was a part Of a great plan set
afoot by the Confederate government in
It's last desperation, that ii was organ
lied ana executed BY Confederates acting
under the official sanction and direction |
of their government, and that it was re-
garled bv them as a fair attempt at I
retaliation for similar injuries done to
the South. If Ex-Governor 0rmsbee will |
consult The Official Rebellion Records. he /
will have no trouble in verifying this |
assertion. on, If he wants to be more
expeditions ii arriving az the truth. he /
AN quickly find all its essential features
aid down by James Ford Rhodes, the
most critical and authoritative historian
II the period
Rhodes says Young was a lieutenant
n the Confederate service, and acted IN
he raid in obedience to the general line
i instructions Of his goyrnment
Bennett i. Young is recognized BY
lie Confederate veterans themselves AZ
! comrade and as one deserving high
lonor, because they have made him pres.
dent Of the Confederate home. and the
lead Of their organization il the state
i Kentucky. and when the late Gen.
Iohn B. Gordon was commander in-chief
i the Confederate Veterans. he appoint
q Young a member Of his personal star.
"This invitation, then, fulhlls the con-
Elton named By Ex-Governor Ormsbee
n that it was extended to a regular
Confederate soldier or officer, and he il,
therefore,, in duty bound to retract bis
Fotest
But Ex-Governor 0rmsbee says Youna