The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-22
Barnet, Amf2 Is, 1917.

contend with foes without and foes within, In their
day of peril.
Barnet Alma15 18l7.
FRIEND HoLCoMB: I assure you that | was
much pleased with the biographical notices of many
distinguished men late of Rutland county, as pub
lshed in your paper. ] enclose you an act of the
General Assembly, passed June, 1778. Also the do
ngs Of said court or commissioners, in one particu-
lar case. 1t appears that Col Ethan Allen recon-
mendcd the passage of this law, and nominated the
commissioners, of which he was chief. There are
many other cases which this court passed upon
The whole record of this court has not yet been
covered. By publishing the enclosed, it may posi-
bly, be the means of restoring the missing files. Ev
erythng in relation to Col. Ethan Allen at this par
tcular time, is Of Importance.
have lately recovered the records of the court
of Conhscaton, from April 49, ITS to 10th July, $780,
At some leisure time may send you "a copy Of some
of the most interesting cases.
Your friend, HENRY STEVENS.
an act for appointing Commissioners for the
purpose therein named.
Whereas, there are sundry persons, inhab-
itants in the state of Vermont, who do now,
and others who may hereafter, stand charged
with inimical and reasonable conduct towards
this and the United and Independent States
of America
And whereas, no measures have hitherto
been adopted sufficient effectually to deter
and detect such inimical persons from forming
dangerous conspiracies against the lives and
liberties of the loyal, good and wholesome in
habitants of this and the Independent States
aforesaid, -therefore to prevent as much as
possible the baneful influence Of such pests Of
society for the future
Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted by
by the Representatives of the freemen of the
State of Vermont in General Assembly met,
and by the authority of the same, that Ethan
Allen, Nathan Clark Joseph Bradley, Reuben
Harmon and Joseph Fay, esq's, or any three
of which to be a quorum, be, and are hereby
appointed commissioners for the trial OF any
person or persons charged with being guilty
conduct or conspiracics against this and the
independent States, within and for the coun-
ty of Bennington, either of whom are hereby
authorized and empowered (on complaint
made) to issue his warrant, commanding the
Sheriff, or any or either of the constables with
in said county, to apprchend the body or
bodies Of any such supposed inimical or trea-
sonable person or persons, and cause him or
them to be brought before said commissioners
at such time and place as shall be appointed
in any of their warrants, and all officers with
in said county, both civil and military, are
hereby commanded to grant all necessary aid
or assistance in experimenting any such inim-
ical or reasonable person or persons, and to
cause him or them to be duly examined by
,od tho sold commissioners who arn
hereby authorized to summon, as well the ev-
idence in support of such charge or charges
which may be brought against any person or
persons, as also the evidence Gf any) in sup
port of any plea that may be Justly exhibited
by any delinquent, to the Court of Commits
sioners, in his or their defence; and if,on due
examination and evidence, it shall appear to
the said commissioners that the conduct Of any
person or persons so assured render it dan
gerous to society and the Independence of the
United States for him or them to remain
longer within the state, that then the said
Commissioners be, and they are hereby au-
thorized and empowered to Danish and cause
any such person or persons to be conveyed
within any of the British lines on the south
ern coast of America, and to tax a bill of cost
for the examination, trial and transport of
any such delinquent, and to grant execution
accordingly.
And be 1t further enacted by the authority
aforesaid, that if any such person or persons
so banished and transported SHALL after such
Punishment, presume to return again into the
state, without special license first had and OBJ
tanned from the Governor and Council of this
state, shall be punished by being whipped on
the naked body, not exceeding 500 lashes, at
the direction of any court within this state
proper to try the same, and shall be again inn
mediately banished, This act is to remainin
force one year from the date hereof, and no
longer.
Bennington Jne, 1871, 1878.
Passed in General Assembly,
BENZ. BALDWIN, Clerk.
Copy examined by Robt. Hopkins, Clerk of
General Assembly.