The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-02-06
BRANDON, Thursday, February 6, 1916.

Erastus A. Holon, Windham
Harry Hale, Esq, Orange
]. FiInt, Caledonia "
COL A. Simpson, Orleans
J. Thompson, Washington "
Rev. w. Parker Lamolle
Geo. w. Benedict, Chitlenden
On motion, committee of one from
each county was raised to nominate Off
GERS of the society for the ensuing year ;
Rev. Mr. Leavtt, Addison; Mr. HoIton.
Windham; Mr. Wheeler, Rutland; Doct.
Powers, Windsor; Mr. Sanborn, Orange;
Col. Dudley, Washington; Rev. Mr. Pi,
per, Orleans; Doctor Cobb, Caledonia
Rev. Mr. Robinson, Lamoille Mr. Villas,
Chitlenden.
On motion, a committee on statistics
consisting of one from each county was
raised, viz;
Mr. Holton, Windham; MIR Churchill,
Windsor: Mr. Wheeler, Rutland; Hon
F. Smith, Orange; Rev. Mr. Leavitt, Ads
Olson; Mr. Jennings, Chittenden Doct.
Spading, Washington Doct. Cobb, Cal
edonia; Mr. Cooper, Orleans; Rev. Mr.
Robinson, Lamoille.
On motion, two o'clock p NJ. was as
signed for hearing the report of the Slate
Central Committee, when on motion, the
convention adjourned to meet at l,2 o.
clock, P. NJ.
AFTERNOON.
After some general discussion, the hour
for hearing the Central Committees re-
port having arrived. e o'clockI the com.
miltee reported as follows -
REPORT:
To The Vermont Temperance Society,":
In calling, briefly, the attention of the
State Society to those things which seem
TO DE of chief and immediate importance,
the Central Committee observe that the
year past has given a new complexion to
our prospects, and opened new varieties
of duty, and at least one new field Of la
Dor Through the entire period follow
ing the last anniversary the exertions
of our friends, in large sections, at least,
OF The St"te, have been put forth with
an unusual deglee of hope and vigor.-
The results, not so complete as all ar
dent benevolence might have expected;
have certainly exceeded the aniicI
patton of those whom experience has in
STR cled in the righteousness OF the pro-
cess and the slowness of the detail by
which great and Sood measures are COM
monty brought to pass. Our recent ex
perlence, nevertheless, holds out the
promise of some thing, which have been
the hope Of years, and verges towards
practical commentary, IN some particu-
lars, on the trite remark, that endeavors
long persevered in, with but partial en-
couragement, meet, often, in the end,
with sudden and unexpected success.
Two distinct Announcements or mani
festations ofpublic opinion similar in
their class, but diverse in their forms and
occurring at periods oil the year distant
from each other may be appealed to in
evidence of the foregoing remarks In
The earlier period of the year the ques-
ton of granting or refusing licenses to
vend intoxicating drinks was brou hit, in
many towns ofthe State, to an express
vote; and, in the great majority Of those
towns, the vote was strong and full for
refusal In many other instances the
boards of town authority came to sim
liar decision. The instances of this de-
scription without going into particulars,
in comparison with those of the opposite,
were SO numerous rs to encourage the
belief that the lon continued labors to
throw upon this subject the light neces-
sary to sound public sentiment are a.
bout to succeed. Still more worthy of
mention is the fact that, at subsequent
period, the petitions sent to the Legis
lature, in conformity with the recon-
mendations of your Society at the annu-
al meeting of 1914, which prayed for so
much protection, or rather opportunity for
prOtecliOn-a as would con sist in giving
the question of license to the people, 10
their primary capacity, were answered
by enactment at once effective and con.
sonant to the spirit of our American in.
stitutions.
In community so purely republican
as ours, it is the natural and unsmpeacho-
bic issue of questions affecting the body
polite to be brought before the body for
immediate adjudication. But out of
this republican issue and course ofthings
there arise special duties Of a personal
nature. The conscientious citizen, cons
shutting, as he does, one member Of the
primary and supreme assembly for the
final adjudication of matters which he
perceives to involve the public welfare
or detriment, cannot excuse himself
from being at his post and casting a vote
for the general happiness. Again -
after the adjudication shall have become
complete--he will feel that lao0s and de-
cisions become operative only by ExEcU.