Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-07
CHAPTER |
THE ABOLITIONIST.

The Representatives OF the State
of Vermont had adjourned their ses-
sion for an afternoon in October,
1888, to listen to an address on the
momentous question then rising be-
fore the American people.
A large cohcourse of people had
gathered before the Capitol building
in the hill.girt village of Montpelier
to hear man with a message.
He stood upon the steps of the
State House, tall. straight figure
of sinewy frame the tough Yankee
form of the mountaineer and forest
subduer. softened by scholarship to
the dignity of the statesman, and
clad in elegant raiment worn by his
profession in those days.
Mark that lofty brow. white as a
woman's, so chiseled as to tell that
a noble spirit, deep scholarship and
thoughtfulness dwelt within. That
eye, dark, large and tender in quiet
ness, but blazing with intellec yual
light or fiery with scorn, when he
denounced oppression and wrong.
His face, long and denoting the
strength that clings to conviction
even to martyrdom. A nose, prom
inent, straight, but indicative Of a
fearless spirit, and a delicate refine
ment that dwelt in his mobile lips.
Behold the man, Alyan Stewart,
first of emancipation orators, X
a NOTF:-Re'erred to as such by President
Crime |, # Grirnel College. Grinnell, Iowa, in
a speech he gave before a large audience at
New Haven, Vt, in the summer OF 1888, on
which occasion I've spoke OF the eat leaders.
state builders, moral recruiting sergeauts and
pioneers of political and national reform,
who were sons OF Vermont and very terse y
/ mentioned the part each had taken, for which
they mad ONE efninently distinguished, ana
thus spoke Of Alvan Stewart as the first OF
emancipation orators"
Afterwards President Grinnell told the auth
or tn ( heard AlNau Stewart at the time stat
ed, that it was the most eloquent speech to
which he had listened OH the abolition of Slav-
cry, aud had most profound effect.
whose mission was to arouse the
people of the North to the moral
wrong of American slavery. He
stood silent for a moment, calmly
surveying his audience; then launch
ing into his theme he delivered one
of those addresses portraying the
evils of slavery that finally set the
people of the North thinking and
troubled their consiences sOrely when
they came to realize their guilty
participation in the great national
sin.
The marvellous compass of his
voice. a more manly his hearers new
er heard, carried every word and
its most delicate infection to the
fartherest bounds of the assemblage.
When he spoke of great principles
his voice was like the resonant bass
of the mighty Webster. When in
his plea, he passed to pathos and
tenderness, the tears flowed down
the cheeks Of strong manhood from
eyes unused to the melting mood,
but wonted to facing stormhlasts
and driving SHOWS of winter in the
mountains. ,.r, .,,:i
When he turned to wit or humor or
sarcasm there was no smile upon his
face, no levity in his voice; but the
play of his mobile features fitted SC
completely to the exquisite quaint.
ness of his humor that the soberest
most matter-of- fact of his auditors
laughed the hearty gurgling laugh
of boyhood. His address WAS al
ingenious appeal to the state pride
of his auditors, and stronger ap
peal to their consciences, and to thai
love of liberty ever the characters
tic of mountain bred races. Hi
face was aglow with the great theme
He spoke as a prophet speaks, fol
he, first of all the early abolition
lists, saw that the struggle was tt
be thrust into our politics, that i
was to form party to cope will
both the Wings, and Democratic
organizations. and as he predicted
in the end overthrow both of them.
From his lips the truths of religion
seemed diviner, Truth more evidl Mt
liberty more priceless, the TRACED,
of slavery darker. the burden o
human sorrow more grievous.
He held learned judges, able law
vers, eminent divines listening en-
tranced to his slightest word. AM
the unlettered. whose dali
range OF thought was only of tn
cares of the farm or the gossip o
the ntighborhood, he led into int