The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-02-01
HEPORT or THE STATE TEMPER
ANCE CENTRAL mIT'TEE.
HEAp HEFDHF AHp ApnFTEp ~ Tn STATE e'f
vIsrlns a. hppLrRuHF, jan lbr itbl'


Ia presenting another Annual Report the Central
Commites congratulate the Society upon me sue
Co.'s which has crowned tho efforts Of another year.
Last ynu 10 we're happy "a report ihai ille chAfn'-
ler ~ Vermont hud been redeemed frega the impu-
taHDn shirh the aots OTIS previous year had cast
upon IT, Nov We rejoice a. say, Vermont looks ns
ii Lilo meant 90 stand hu, and do her duly, Win
humble gratitude W. Acknowledge ro g'ud hSHi Of
God which has prusprred our wtTk'
A. ihe Last Annual Meeting the Central Com
mttee we're instructed "lu the event Of favorable
decision VI the pulls in March, 10 circulate memo7-
as praying the iaR.-latufg NJ Vermont ~ n'efdiei
the sale demonstrating lquors, ~ o beverage by
peunaneHflaw." Although the vote WHs not ~ de-
csiye seemed tnhe anticipated a. tie meelinHsuh
the committee deemed IL incumbent on them % pre-
pare MEMORIAL and copies sufficient ~ supply
every lowu Va tho STATE, were printed and cent OUT
/ by tho propdet0rs ~ the Vermont Chronicle
/ Tho Committee have 40 means IT HscertalniuF
/ how extensively thsse were circulated or how ma
uy signature we're obtained me result, however
is we'll known, We have ~ length secured per
manent prphhitpry Law, We de- mo- Say u b. O per
feet law, bat We venture a. affirm there il "none
better, II o. good" Aside from H. pennnncncy IL
il decidedly an improvement upon foup.r legsla-
lion. Il concurrent Jurisdiction a. iusticcs,
| giving II enirisngy no, 70 be- had when oVcry case
luust wait hearAg At the county conus. ~ the
pf0VisIou 10 oNn agent. ~ ell flf medicinal aud
mechanical purpose, Il remover the tcmpiauon 90
Feit improperly arising nom ne pccuuIary profile
! II also provides a remedy whom any particular town
Ia reIniss IN sufariua the law and Il furushe. now
f-oiHtirs r the prosecution aud conviction Of those
who violate H. ~ these RESPECTS there u decided
! mproyemenluPon the old law,
| Il nov remnins ior the friends ~ Temperance a.
accept th. law In good faith and 10 unite In sustain
Ing H. Legislation hns done MI We had hoped fpr
but Legislation alone cannot accomplish the work -
Il hus Withdrawn H. direct support itum the traffic,
AMI now offers IL aid IN supprcssing w. lhis BE- all
that the law can DO, and this uynIs ~ nothing un-
Ices Ne u.o it wisely,
What tou i our prescit positlouy By securing
permanent law, We have r,,aei something, and
have also lot Notwithstanding very impor-
iaut iu iho successful pr-svut,pp ofour enterprise
Heretofore Ne have been compelled o. meet this
question once year at the ballot box Once 4 year
the frvcmcn IT Vermont have been called oui lp me.l
o distinct i,sue. Th, has been the signal f1r effort
for discussion, fur camcst appeal, Tho results Of
each campaign we're AWAY. palpahlr telling with
ndthmciicnl certainty, where We sto,-L While the
fate OF the day hung IN suspense, hundred. and
thousands engaged with thcIr might, -lccmriug, cu,
listing recruits, employing the tongue aud the pre-.
20 culg liicn and direct public sentiment Even de-
feat only aroused To- moro united aud determined
cllcrt7 The effort was like thnt Of tie burning or
our cupiJul IN the late war with England, which
called out the cucrac, ui the nniiuG aud put uu end
a. thr war
But now the scene !. chnnr'l, and we have l".'
thi. incentive a. clluri, There Z, uu longer yearly
trial If strength ut the ballot box there b. mo- Ion
ger distinct issue before ~ md no cd.i. regularly
returning io give energy 10 our movements. A.
mnttcr uf course Il viii bee more difficult tu awaken
intcrcs, and sccurc attention twill not be- ~ cu.t
10 determine uur rrprr.. II our cuu.c advance ui
a. rrNc that vc nrr rcirnrHd'rg, should the cnu.,
decline / there no danger Tint the friend, Of tenn
pcuncc, like Hannibal amer the battle of Cnnnac
will go into Wiutcr quarters for rot and relaxation
concludIngthat 40 i- safe amer 90 great victory
We would uu' iu,lpotc That We have Lost more
than We have gained, by the chungc Of the law but
Ne would have Il well uuIrr,loui that there :. d
change in our position M demands earnest con.
'idcmtun. We have giM'd au advantage, but h
require, our united wisdom and energy To holdit-
u i' our dcrhclconyiciuu that The lrt gcnt ohic,
Yiil ill sleleil ~ ui-rl. Ill l.4il!4.
.tion, and to provide tNmc such substitute Tor the
incentive which Is lost, A. will mako 1t certain thu,
held up and urgoj With continued lcal aud spirit
From the tccc,.i,c. Of the case the contest for wear.
pust hhs been ehlyny with the lcgnlIlcd traffic. Il
hay directly neru-s pnth aud pa,icd All our cl-
forts. Ih. barrier Is nov broken through, and the
lev Stands ready aid u. 30 iurn, 10 guard and de-
tcnl the ground which Ne may gain Wr-urr now
lgcG 10 ilIreGi III 49, l. ,...--,--+i-r-
our original work, which WIS bat hall accomplished
Public continent cygn now Is but very impcrfcctly
Instructed and settled thousand, are vet to be ghh-
od over To temperance by arguments aud appeals,
aud other thou.nnds are ready 10 iall back 10 ihr
ranks 81 inicinpcrnurc sDDnos efforts cease. II
must not Dee forgotten that our work Il st "as the
.wimmcrs; the vast ocean still threatens To- dcvour
rs; II We front It not buycy Il will keep H. wor'
The Committee recommend this point to the par
ticunr attention of this meeting. We are deeply
concerned 20 see the law executed, aud to rcndcr
every possible aid to Il, efficient action. This de-
mnnds wise dclbcmtion. But the law itself opcr-
utos only 10y It's penalties and It would be most I'M
sAsAo as well rs most impoc To rest cur cause sole
y'hpon the pcnnltic, Of tho law oven though those
would be visited upon offenders with the certainty
| of fate. We must demonstrate the righteousness
of the law, we must pc beforehand and peranade
men not to engage, not To do Themselves and the
community the wrong Of entering upon II courrc of
transgrcssion.
Why is It that We entertain fears for the temper
ane law, moro Than for amy other law of the State
DO we doubt it, justioe2 DO we question It's wis
dom or It's importance2 None Of these. II is be-
cause we have not full confidence that all in com
munity are right, that those In authority are all
friends of temperance, aud that public sentiment
will not every whore demand obedience To It.. For
such fears wntchjulness civil authorities surely
Is not the only remedy. Ono far more important
and efcctual will he found in the prevalence of tenn
pcrnnce principles and in clcvnting tho law to the
dignity Of n mon'l statute The burien of labor is
with public sentiment, correcting and iustructrg
Tin disregard OF this law will brand deep stain
ofmG,my, as disregard Of the law against then, or
adultery When this ia donc we shnll mot fear n
Disregard ofthc laws and never till this Is done can
our fears he sRicly put to sleep
Heretofore the cause Of temperance has suffered
from the unequal distribution of lie friends and sup