The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-05-08
THE BENNETT YOUNG CASE
Some Commentary From the BurlIng-
ton News on the Subject.

few persons VINO seem W lhinh
they have the honor OF the Whole
state locked up in their private keep
ing have stirred up tiny tempest In
n teapot over the invitation to Gen.
Rennett II. Young to participate in
the tercentenary exercises at ST. Al
bans this summer. Our readers al
ready know that General Young-who
was then Lieutenant Young-was
leader of a raid upon the village oil
st. Adams during the Civil war. rms
raid was successful and he carried
off a considerable amount of money
and escaped into Canada. One life
was lost in the raid.
With forgiveness in their hearts 1t
occurred to the good citizens or ST
Adams who understood that the war
ended As years ago, that 1t might be
a desirable thing to invite Southern
gentleman to help them celebrate the
natal day of the republic and the
tercentenary of Lake Champaign.
Their choice fell upon General Young
as one fitted to honor the occasion.
Bv reason of General Young's youth
full activity he was known to st. AL
bans and this invitation might help
to remove former animosities and aid
in filing any remaining gecesses in
the once bloddy chasm. The COVER
nor OF the state agreed with the SEN
timent and with generous hospitality
wrote the following letter:
state of Vermont, executive de-
partment, Newport, VT, March 10,
19O9.-Gen. Bennett II. Young, Louis
Vile, Ky.,-My Dear General: I'M
derstand that the people of st. Adams
are very anxious that you should be
with them in their celebration of the
Champlain tercentenary to be held on
Monday, July 3. ! am delighted to
know that they have this in contem-
plation, and trust that there Will be
nothing to prevent your accepting
their invitation ! know how earnest
they are in sending il and how desir-
Gus they are that you should accept. |
wish also to say on behalf of the state
that it will give us great pleasure If
you will accept the hospitality of the
city. | understand perfectly well that
the last time you were here there was
some little unpleasantness over 1t but
that has simply become a memory
and can assure you that if you come
there now. your reception will be ex-
tremely cordial. Let me, therefore,
second their invitation on behalf of
the state, with the hope that you will
see your way clear to accept. Yours
very sincerely,
George II Prouty,
Governor"
General Young made a courteous
reply to the governor as follows;
April 8, 1909.-The Hon. George II.
Prouty, Governor. Newport, Vt.-Dear
Sir. / have received your kindly COM
munication of March 10 asking me on
behalf of the state. to accept the hos
pitality of the city of st. Adams on
the celebration of that city of the
Champlain tercentenary, to be held
on Monday, July 5, 1908.
THE cordially and generousness Of
this invitation is greatly appreciated
by me. In view of all the circumstan-
ces which connect me with St Adams
feel much flattered at the spirit
which prompts your action as chief
executive of the state, and | beg to
say that | have this day written the
mayor and chairman on the commit
tee of arrangements that | would be
glad TO accept the honor rendered by
them to speak at st. Adams on the
day mentioned, and that unless some
providential interference arises, be
delighted to unite in the celebration
which the occasion commentaries.
Yours trulv
Bennett II. Young"
Following Governor Prouty's cordial
invitation two equally earnest and af
fectionate letters were sent from ST.
Adams, one penned by e. ]. Alexan-
der. the chairman of the committee,
and the other by the official head of
the city. Mayor Warren r. Austin.
These two letters were acknowledged
by Mr.. Young who expressed his pro-
found satisfaction at the cordial invit-
atoms. saying that he was Surprised
and gratifed." So far so good. 1t
seemed to be a case where the citi-
zens of the town which Mr.. Young
raided forty-fve years ago had for
given the man who despoiled them
and wished now to entertain him az
their honored guest. This, so far as
we can see, was an entirely proper
act, If the citizens desired so to do.
1t was also in complete harmony with
Christian ideals and as Vermont is
said to be a Christian state nobody
seemed to think that the case was
The news of this invitation perco-
lated in Rutland, however, place
that, so far as we know, has no rea-
son for harboring any grievance
against Mr.. Young-and Roberts post |
the Grand Army post of that city, re-
solved protest against ST. Adams |
honoring its former raider. The dis |
cussion of the case then began in the |
newspapers and some individual pro-
tests have been recorded. Some of |
the protests-even that of Roberts |
Post-seemed to take the ground that |
Lieutenant Young was a mere vulgar |
operating without authority.
wagons wheelbarrows and carrie M