The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-24
THE VOICE.
BRANDON:
THURSDAY, JUNE "a, l947.

VOLUME NINE. AS Will DC seen, tnlS nulnDe
commences volume nine of the Voice of Freedom
and since it is the custom of publishers of newspa
pers to throw out few remarks at such periods Of
time in their business, and since we consider the
custom very appropriate, will improve the pres
en occasion by aludng to the past, the present and
the future.
This paper was published at Montpelier through
the first four volumes the first three under the di-
recton and control of the Executive Committee of
the Vermont Ant-Slavery Society, Chauncey L.
Knapp being the editor and chief manager of its pc
cuniary concerns. The fourth volume, and even
the fifth and sixth, were to certain extent, under
the control of said Committee. Volume four was
edited by Charles G. Burleigh. During the first
three volumes, the expense of publishing exceeded
the net income by more than five hundred dollars
per year, exclusive Of the use of the press type and
fixtures; and this excess betrayed by contribu
tons from the friends of the Slavery cause, eX-
cept the balance left for the members of the
mittee to pay. The general circulation during the
first three years did not exceed six hundred, allow
ing Mr.. Knapp's Report to be correct and as shown
by the mail and office, village list of names. Du
ring vol. 4, in three months time, we succeeded in
raising the list three hundred; but the next June,
when the location for publishing was changed, and
the Voice issued at Brandon, instead of at Mont
peer, the list fell down to within four hundred all
| told
AT the beginning of vol. 4, the people here were
favored with no mail facilities except the north and
south and weekly (orrather ,0eakly concern) which
ran east and west but did not stop at the post office
in Sudbury, and ended its trips west, at Chipman's
Point. With such mail accommodations, we had to
compete with the Middlebury Galaxy and the Rut-
land Herald, both county papers, and well establish
ed each having circulation as we were informed
of sixteen to seventeen hundred and each furnished
with mail facilities to their liking. With such odds
against us, and heavy Anti-Slavery debt, as well
as some others on shoulders, and without expe-
rence in this line of business we undertook the bu-
sness of publishing and editing the Voice, looking
up subscribers, collecting money, &c.
In June, 1915, our circulation, including some $50
copies sent to Campaign" subscribers, which held
over to the close of vol g. amounted to between 100
and 1900. Just before the close of Vol. 6, having
become fully satisfied that advocating Liberty Party
claims would exert no influence in favor of the en-
shaved in this country and having been for years in
favor of general protective policy, we announced
through the Voice our design of changing the polt-
cal aspect of the paper. On the reception of this
annuncaton, the strong Liberty Party subscribers
generally discontinued their papers. In October of
that year, the mall running east and west, was en-
tirely taken off the route. This, together with the
other fact named, caused some 800 subscribers to
drop off. During that time, about 400 or $50 new
ones came on, and the first of January, 1916, our
whole circulation was short of 500.
When the mail carrying was discontinued, we
saw there was no other way for us to make the
Voice speak advantageously, between the Herald
and Galaxy, than to procure the re-esablishment Of
the mail route, running east and west. We named
the project of getting this done, and Of getting the
mail run three times week, instead Of once; but
we were met with the response, You cannot sue
ceed for the Post Office Department is in debt and
the Postmaster General will not grant hi-weckly
mail, whom he refuses areekly mail" This was the
opinion of nearly all with whom we conversed on
the subject and some would not even sign a pc
titon for granting the said route. Others were will
ling to do so much, and others, STILL agreed to circa
late petitions for this object When the time came
however, for our departure to head quarters, we had
only the copy circulated by the BLACKSMITH with 13C
names, or thereabouts to carry with us; but we pro
ceeded to the Post Office Department. at Washing
ton, and succeeded, according to our previous de-
sign.
About the first of April, last year, the mail COM
menced running, and people on the line now think
the plan of some use. At the time Of commence
ment on the new plan, our circulation had come
down to about seven hundred but from two months
effort, we raised it to over eleven hundred and wher
we returned from the south, last February, the lis
held out very near as it was six months previous
and since that has been steadily on the increase.
OJ- We have spoken of things which hare trans
pred, and will now speak Of the present. Asamat
ter of encouragement, we can say, the present vol
ume commences with circulation of about Four
teen Hundred, and if we are prospered through thu
season, we hope to add considerable to this number
But while we are encouraged with high list
probably, as any paper in Western Vermont, soutl
of Burlington, we have also to say that we hay,
more than enough due us to cancel those debts anC
if those owing for the Voice for more years
will Immediately pay we can get rid OF the perpex
ity of JorrOCng money to meet our liabilities as the,
: : become due Current bills can be forwarded b,
postmasters and whatever sum that may be forward
cd by any arrear subscriber will be duly credite
= them.
| Now for the future What we will say for the fu
e ture is, we shall endeavor to improve the Voice
from time to time, to render it, in short time
g as good news sheet as there is published in TIL
y section Our facilities are now such that we ca
. obtain as late Mexican and European news, as an
paper in the state; and so soon as we can get som
other business off from our hands, and mind, W
trust readers generally will be satisfied with the ma
ter they receive in exchange for the amount we as
of them.