The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-01-27
For tho Culedonan.
Vermont Temperance Society,

The Convention was called 10 OiuCf ny Inc IfeSl-
dent, ERAsrUs FAIRBANKS tsQ,o ~ Johnshnry,
and pray or offered 10y REV. DR.. MERRILL,of Mid
dlebury, in which he mpressvey alluded to the pro-
gross Of the cause Of temperance IN the state, the
passage Of the late law, the present cheering ihoogh
partial success under IL ard tho prospects OF m ult-
mate triumphant issue, aud closed ny nscrihlng the
praise to tho Three that bcur record in Heaven.
After SHINE general discussion, the hour for hearing
the Central Committees report having arrived, the
Committee reported as follows -
REPORT
To the Termomi Temperance Society In calling,
briefly, the attention Of the Stnte Society 30 those
things which seem to he nrchiefand Immediate i'm
portanCc, the Central Committee observe that tho
yoar past has given u new complexion TO our pros
peCs, and opened new varieties OF duty and at leasg
ono new Geld Of labor. Through the entire period
following the last anniversary the eXertions Of our
friends, in large sections, at least Of the State, have
been put forth with an unusual degree Of hope and
vgor. The results, If not so complete as ardent
henevocnce might have expected, have certainly
ceeded the anticipation Of those whom experience has
instructed in the righteousness Of the process and the
sowness Of the detail hy which great and good meHs-
ures are commonly brought to pass. Our recent eH-
pcrerce, nevertheless holds the promise Of somo
things which have been the hope Of and verges
towards practical commentary, in some particulars,
on the irtr remark, that eudeavors long pcrsevered
II, with hat partial encourlgement meet often in IhS
end, with sudden and uncN prCeG success.
Two distinct adanccnents manifestations Of
public opiron-suilar in their class, bot diverse in
lIET iOTtS ma occurring al periods OF The ulE
tlut from each othcr-may be appealed to in evidence
Of the foregoing remarks in "a" earlier period Ur
the year the question Of granting refusing licenses
TO vend intoxicating drinks was brought, in many
towns Of the state to an express vote; and, in the
great majority Of those towns, the vote strong
and full for n refusal. In many other instances the
boards Of town authority cane To n similar decision.
, The instances Of this description, without going into
particulars in comparison with those Of the opposite,
numerous to encourage the belief that the
long coninu ed abors throw upon this subject the
light necessary to "A sound public sentiment n
bout succeed. sun worthy of mention is the
fact that, ut subsequent period, the petitions
the Legislature, in conformity with the recommends
tous Of your Society At the annual meeting Of 1874,
which PRAYED for 20 much proecOn-or rather OPP
pJriuaUV for pr0ic,ti0R-as would consist in giving
the question Of license TO the people, in their primary
capacity, were answered by enacments at oncs
effective ond conscnant 10 the spirit Of our American
/ institutions
In community 81 purely republican as ours it is
the uatu raj aud of questions Of
ieclng the body polite be brought before the body
for Immediate adludcnllOn. But out Of this republic
can issue and course Of things there arise special du
ties ct personal nature The conscientious citizen,
constituting as ne does. member of the primary
and supreme assembly for the FINAL adjudication Of
matters which he peIceives to involve the public well
fare or detrinent, cannot excuse himself from being
At his post and casting vote for the general hupp-
ness. Again-ailer the adjudication shall have he
come completo--he will feel that lars aud decisions
become operate only by EXECUTION; and that the
tN'NhtloH ol can lake pace only on me agency OF
citizens in cooperation Dh courts and ministers of
justice. If barns fired it republican to point OUT
the ncendary; in Of murder, il ia republican
to raise the cry and unite in the pursuit; if theft and
robbery take place, is eminendy republican to bring
;hem to the cognzaRce of law and, on the same
principle and by the necessity, if, by the vend-
ing Of Ill gal commodities the lives of citizens
wasted and families robbed of wealth und-vei
worse-oi the domestic peace which cannot repay it
Is at once anti republican and ndiscreet not TO draw
the practice from its lurking place and cooperate for
It's CONVICTION IN the capacity, occasion may direct,
OF judge, jur lyman, prosecutor witness Here then,
fellow citizens, in contemplating the commemorative
necessities and those duties which the general hoppi-
enoins upon the citizens, let discern the patti
Of truly upright and honorable action.
Soon alter the annual meeting of 1874, the Central
Committee induced Air Mos Es r. PARISH of Mas
sachuses, in view of the pledges of action of the
Society, to act as State Agent Mr. Parish has pros
ecuted his iabors from that tue forward and has dis
gently devoted to our service the ample experience
which he bronsht from his long occupied field IN the
State just mentioned For account of Mr. Parsh's
labors and their results in part, refer his Re
port to the Central Committee which accompanies this
document Of our With respect TO our pecrn-
ry agreement with Mr. Parish, ought to be observed
that the stipulation agreed upon that his salary should
he paid out OF his collections, intended simply TO
AVOID personal pecuniarv responsibility the part
of the Central Committee, and srbvert any just
expectations which might bo based either upon the
State Socety's action at the annual meeliag referred
to, on the qutabe generous isnosiiien of the
Temperance community.
The subject Of enlisting the weekly newspapers in
our good work, so far to publish articles supplied
by the Central Committee. has been under consider
alton. Several articles prepared by the Stnte Agent
have appeared The address also of tho Central
Committee, on the subject of Petitions for Legislative
action, was sent forth through that channel, as. well
as by circulars If this the occasion of nc.
knOwledsemen:s to Editors who have thus aided in
circulating our official productions the acknowledge
ments would be warm, despite the small number ia
whom they could apply.
Aiter the Legislative ennctments upon Licenses
were promulgated, the Central Committee delbern4
ted respecting the duties that might be deemed TO dc
vo've upon themselves in consequence. II was, in
inc result, considered that their only suit
able actionmust be to draw public attention
to the subject, through the County Correg-
pondng Secretaries. To each Secretary an of.
fetal communication accordingly made either
verbally or in writing. Respecting the action which
has just taken place in The towns your meeting will
acquire full information. Respecting it we ourselves
only take occasion to repeat the sentin ent-.t the
PEOPLE decide the great questions ,chich concern
the people nc majores, in any cases, are, in our
opinion wrong, we abide the evils Of their decision,