The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-28
appointment

OI Jne Legislature Oh vermont re
spectfully submit the following re
port:
BY the provisions of the act o
Congress we learn that Each Stat
is invited to furnish statues, not ex
ceeding two in number, of deceased
persons, who have been citizen,
thereof, and illustrious for their his
torical renown or for distinguished
civic or military services, such al
each State shall determine to be wor
thy of this national commemoration.
And we find the terms of our ap
pointment require us to examine tn,
subject, so far as it relates to this
State, and to report such facts ant
make such suggestions to the Legis
lature at its next session, as we shall
deem material and best calculated tt
enable the Legislature at that time
to take definite action in relation
thereto.
The most important branch Of oui
duties is one of great delicacy, anC
is undertaken with unfeigned diff.
dence, but the action of your Com.
missioners, happily, is not final, an6
the Legislature, in its revision Of
the subject, will promptly correct
whatever misjudgments may appear
1t appears that the selections must
be limited to deceased persons, not
exceeding two in number, who have
been citizens of the State. Beyond
this, all would seem to be left to the
discretion and good taste of the re-
spective States.
The choice of fit names for this sig
nal mark of distinction at once raises
the question, from what era in our
history shall they be taken? Vermont
was founded by those who, even in
that early dawn of our country, had
found Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
New Hampshire and New York toe
old and tame for their restless spirit
of enterprise, and their descendants
have compensated the country, fol-
lowing the migratory example of our
forefathers, by contributing in no
stinted measure to the building up of
other and fresher States beyond us
in the limitless West. Though never
a colonial dependency of Great Brit
ain, nor belonging to the Confedera-
ton, and never a Territory of the
United States, yet Vermont bore a
part in the War of the
and was the first State
admitted into the Union after the
adoption Of the Constitution. The
history Of the Green Mountain pion-
GERS has so many marked features,
so many important as we'll as ro-
mantle incidents, that it will always
possess charms for the student and
the statesman. Our part of the
then sometimes the
New Hampshire Grants" and some
times New Connecticut only
began to be attractive to settlers
when the nation declared its indie
pendence of the mother country, and
the War of the Revolution succeeded.
The founders of the State, therefore,
were blended with those of the his
toric period of our first great nat
ional struggle, and the chief actors
of the times were almost equally con-
spicuous as the pioneers and heroes
of the Green Mountains.
1t cannot be doubted that there will
be a general concurrence of opinion
in looking to this epoch to find at
least one of Vermont's deceased cit
liens to represent our State in that
National Hall of Statuary, where will
be assembled, in enduring marble
and bronze, to be gazed upon by pre-
sent and future generations, the i'm
ages of those worthless who have
most largely contributed to the in
terest and grandeur Of our history.
This point being considered a!
settled, one half of our allotted tasl
is ended for it is undeniably tru'
that the most prominent figure stand
ing in the forefront of our early an
nails. Is the stalwart form of Ethal
Allen. His name is the oftenest Oh
the lips of our people at home; AM
abroad it is most frequently TYPICAL
used to honor the character of GU
State. 1t is useless to criticise hi
shortcomings, as in spite OF these
by the tough muscularity and ever
present vitality Of his character, h
won his claims to greatness. Fl
was a leader of men, and havin
genius and character entirely orig
nal, he excited the admiration of hi
contemporaries, the terror of his enc
! mics, and his State will never ceas
to be proud of his memory. His
deity, activity and resources in civ
life secured the absolute faith OF oil
early back-woodsmen and his ma
tial feats won the clear-eyed conf
dence of General Washington. H
rude, magical words lost none
their strength by being filed in
bright and attenuated forms, but thu
were launched forth with a vigorol
meaning and last we'll AS the age
of the State, he said to Congress
March 9, 1881: