The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-05


the battle is prolonged 1t is great reforr
war upon system Of great age an
strength, and when the work is fairly con
pleted, we shall find to our anna cement an
joy, that society is renovated, and that he
very foundations have been laid anew. Tn
is not the work of a day. Every mob
work is at first impossible" Every grei
work too has cost labor and time. "A
work of man. says Carlyle, ais as tb
swimmers n vast ocean threatens to levou
him if he front it not bravey, it will kec
its word" So it is with the work of temper
ance. We must still prepare for worl
There is work TO be done TO secure publ
sentiment on the right side and keep IT ther,
Work TO be done TO secure full erpreSsic
of it at the ballot box. Let us 90 to it ik
earnest men, wasting none of our energic
on unimportant things. Whether it be we
or not that the frecmen of the State shou
be called every year 10 determine the law
this is not the point about which We need +
waste words. That question will take car
of itself in due time. In its present form
operates well by giving warning that it is n
time net TO sleep. The law, as il stands
must be sustained, or the Philistnes are upor
us. Only let some Delilah charm us TO sleep
and all the batteries Of intemperance vii
open afrcsh. We have no other defenc,
Dut the law, from the assaults of the vender
We have no other for numerous class o
foreigners who are daily increasing in ou
State, Whatever Father Mathew might d,
if he were here,-we certainly have no pow
er TO reach them with argument. If the Law
appoint agents Of ntemperance, these mel
will surely drink and be drunken; and We
must take care of them, till mother earth re
ceives the trust.
a single amendment in the present Law
would render it far more eflicacous in il.
operations, and your committee think il
would be well TO take measures for securing
it. 1t is that of giving concurrent jurisdc
ton to the Justices OF the Peace. Prosccu.
ton in the County Courts is attended with
many obstacles. Justice is too lcng in over.
taking offences. A single officer has it in
lis power, if he will, to make the law dead
letter for whole county. Important wit
nesses are often out of reach at the time oi
trial. If jurisdiction were given 10 Justices
the great majority CT cases might be despatch
ed with far greater prompness, and far less
expense while the inhabitants Of each town
could better judge Of each particular offence
the witnesses would be at hand, and all the
circumstances fresh in recollection We
therefore recommend that application be
made, by petition or otherwise, to the next
Legislature 10 grant this amendment
Notwithstanding the strong majority last
March, we are confident the hope is enter.
tanned that it will he reversed this year.
There are strong motives to impel the advo-
Gates of License TO great effort for this.
The gain to be derived is powerful motive
But This is not all. There are great num-
Der of indictments which have not been
tried, and the hope of escape depends upon
delay and change of the law. Here is a
motive which will suffer no stone TO remain
un,urned. The friends of temperance must
therefore awake. One great object of this
meeting should be to create a strong mpres.
sion throughout the State that there is much
to be done, and no time for delay. Measures
should be taken to secure meetings at an ear
Y day in every county and town and school
district in the State. If the scales should be
turned again, it would take years of hard
labor to regain the confidence which will be
lost by it. Let it be seen that Temperance
is awake and in the field, and we have moth
ing to fear. The great matter is 10 secure a
few earnest men in each town, who will stir
up the people, who will employ the press
which we are happy TO say has been ready
to lend its support the past year, and to see
that all is done which ought to be done. A
uniform plan of efforts is not necessary to
success, perhaps is not desirable. Earnest
working men will find out way for them
selves and that is generally the best way.
The late movement in Franklin county de
serves to be initiated. We want decided
and an ayowed purpose TO carry out the law.
II is true we think that our cause makes pc
culiar claims, at the present time, upon tho
services of professional men of all classes,
especially upon ministers OF the Gospel, to
Sc, forth the great principles of mercy and
Justice embodied in the statute which pro.
hibits the sale of intoxicating liquors,
In conclusion, we congratulate the Socie-
ty now convened for their annual meeting
May candor, earnestness, harmony and de-
termined purpose characterize all our delib-
erations.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JosEPu STEELE,
ZIMEI HOWE,
HARVEY O. IIIGLEY, Central
WM. c. KITTREDGE, Committee.
j. NEWMAN,
CHESTER SPENCER.
Windsor, Jan l6, 1850.