Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-06

well as IN distinguished educators 1t small thing
that Vemonter in the of Justin S. Morrill, should
have been the father Of the college land grant, the basis for
50 many State universities and of the noble Congressional
library in Washington.
The University of Vermont venerates names Allen
and Billings and Converse and Williams and Howard and
Kingsley just Middebuy chcrishcs thoughts of Hepburn
ane Porter and other benefacos and Norwich loves to
think Of Partridge and Dewey and Clark All these and others
have helped to make beloved commonwealth what is
Of this generation think of Ira Allen chiefly founder
private fortune to help the State establish As matter of
fact the debt which the eure commonwealth him has
been overshaGowed in small degree by the military halo
surrounding the head of his vocifercus and brilliant
nrGther the hero OF Vermont has been ard
formulated vemonts bill Of rights and declaration of indie
hands Of Britain and becoming part of Canada.
has remained for an enrhusiaStc and loyal adopted
make good the failure of Vermont as Whole to provide fit
ting testimonial TO the helpful life and public services of Ira
CHAMPION of road Ter
mont and other good works has offered to the campus
sns Se the wos e. Fy A on of this
famous sculptors of America at tn present time and will be
to be worthy Of the institution and the State well
Of s distinguished object and its philosophical giver
This famous sculptor mas been in Burlington over the
He secured priced small portrait of Allen which he believes
must have been painted by of the early American masters
taulknef of the leading mural painters of the United
States These artists favored the erection of the Allen
mall leading Io the Lafayette statue Later it is hoped
statue OF Morrill, adorn the southern part of the
Mr. Wilbur behalf of the whole State if glance the
public services of Allen President Bailey his eloquent
tribute Founders day showed that Ira Allen and Thomas
Chttenden the guiding minds of the council Of safety the
authority during the period of formative statehood
That Allen wrote letters to the of Massachusetts
New Hampshire in 777 warning them of the British invasion
that his energy made possible the assembling of troops which
enabled General Stark to win the battle of Bennington.
We need little further and picture the defenseles
ena which the Green Mountain Boys Of that early col
ed Vemonts northern frontier Trench exempi
and theirs eunfro and
were trying to keep Vermont out of the Union.
old was TOR Allen and mis- colleagues to use the
mont.
We need especially bear Aliens friendly and neghbory
warnings to fellow Americans in mind since they help
demonstrate the faseness of the charges made that Ira Allen
them from attacking Vermont was in reality spy for the
British It was part of Aliens program impress the Brit
Vermont to make the British enemy believe he was friendly
while ne was trying British rivalry to help win place
from attack same sort of diplomacy was used in the
late World war many time.
letter from Ira Allen to General Haldmand the British
commander illustrates precisely what we have said This
letter is dated July TO- 1881 and in it Allen says
This State has become the topic of discourse through
the United States. Various the conectures and prog
nostcations of the populace abroad
have authentic accounts from Congress that they spent
several days last spring the question of Vermont That
was the sense OF Congress at the heightened debates
of the war
1.-THE Legislature of this State convened in Bennington in
June last Emissares from the other States otherwise
the great wings this State alarmed on account
Of neutrality They crowded for inquiry from
whence the reports of neutrality &c. originated.
when was called on for information, effected will
ngness to give them information my power observ
ing that on my arrival from Isle Aux Noix exhibited my pa
pes to the governor and those the that then
present who appeared we'll satisfied with my proeders thai
no knowng the assembly would wish to the papers hal
eft them at home: that willing give them verbal
account and fetch the papers When the letters that
had passed between Generals Haldmand and Chttender
General Allen and Major Carleton, Major Dndas myself
were read made speech to the audience in such
to give satisfaction the spies from the nehborng
ana me great wings that there truce neutrality
intended by this State yet that the British
willing to grant Vermont of privileges for colony
If they would accept them.
Then agreed that three agents should be appoint
ed to attend Congress with full to make
posas for articles Of Union between the United States
and to take seats in Congress- when Jones Fay Ira
Allen and Beya Woodward Esq., elected cit is to be
served that they not all on footing)."
The letter also includes this striking personal paragraph
General Allen has resigned and taken his old studies
philosophy General Bellows declined serving Colonies SAT-
ford and Fletcher elected in their stead General Enos
commands TINS States troops service These three gen.
erals acquainted with proceedings at Isle Aux Nox
This letter bears structural evidence that Ira Allen
decevng the British thereby keeping 10000 British troops
ie and preventing the overrurrg of this whole region.
Another real propjact of Ira Allen in the line
canal link the of Lake Champan and