Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-04-02

and the people will Say so one OF these Pleas
ant days.
o. The following is the leader IN yes,er-
days Sentinel. We give it so that the funny
old grunbler who signs himself "A Towns
man." can bring his case before our readers as
well as the Sentiners.
The Lyceun.
At the request of a Respectable citizen of Burling
ton, we publish the following Communication. As
we know nothing OF the facts Of the casr, leave
the subject 10 our neghbor o the FIRE. Press, who
will understand that he Is spoke TO- and viii gov
ern himself accordingly" 1t sPeus to us that our
Correspondent takes rather too solemn OF the
matter, but we viii let INN speak tor himself
Mr. EDIToR From early lie have been warm
friend 70 all associations formed Tor the purpose ot
improving the mind ,aud when such associations are
managed with proper discretion, ! have doubt
they will be productive ot much good. But when
improper questions are ptt Stuted Tor DISCUSSION or
an improper time, calculated in degree, by their de-
cslOu, to iorestnll publ Cplon, they may then be
productive Of much evil and will be looked upon
with much jealousy by those, vino do not belong to
the institution. These ref 'ctons have presented
themselves to my tlnd in consequence ot tie cues
ton discussed before the Society connected viii The
Lyceum, last Friday evening. individuals as well
corporate bodies, apt to act from selfish
tives1 No wonder then, that the question was deCld
ed IN favor ot Town hail. for one OF the strongest
points pt the arguments, was thai the I.yrcun was
greatly in want OF such Han tor It's own conven-
fence. The time OF dscusslon Object to, as calcu
lated to ioresia public opinion lnst before the acton
OF the town on the subject. A. an evidence nj tins
assertion hear the l1ngADe OF the editor ct the / rec
Press the SUBJECT who IL the President of the So
ciety. After stating n his Daily ot Saturday thar
the question was decided in favor Of building Town
Hall, he says, tine next Town Meeting viii govern
themselves accordingly 1t appears TO me, Mr..
Editor, that it would have been rather more modest
for the honorable Pres dent to have sugc sted TO the
Society over which be- presided the pr'prletY OF de-
laying the decision OF the question until after the ac-
ton OF the Town on the SUBJECT aud advise the 80
cietv to govern themselves accordingly"
These Telna ks are no: produced from any unpca-
SAINT feelings towards the Society, Tor they hnv" my
best wishes for their suCce ana usefulness, and II
this communication shall be r-crived AZ it IS intend
ed, ~ I caution from a trend, 1t VIII have accom-
pllshed Its object.
A TowysuAx
The Sentinel lnclircs to think It's corespon-
dent ''takes rather too solemn view If the
matter" Not by any manner Of means. We
can scarcely refrain iron tears when VIC think
on it. What! the Burlington Lyceum Deba-
ting Society. presenting to discuss and debate
question before it is So tied by 'thc action of
the town. Who ever heard of such aggrava-
ted and contumacious rascalIty Obviously,
the proper time to- debate question is after ii
, Is settled. Nothing can be palmer! TO be
sure the Debating Society consists of some
thing over two hundred of the young, active,
living thinking, voting. taX-payng citizens OF
/ Burlington, all Of whom are personally inter
/ estpd IN the Ho"c House question. Eu, tina;
makes NJ Offence Nothing can exceed The
gross and manif9st nlecoru AMI inprapyicly
/ Of the proceeding winch a Townsmln'
grlycy raprehends. It's intja,ic,Ly the clear
est absurdity for the Debating Society to de-
bate dny question before it is settled, for tn,
I lucid reason given by the SentlneNs oracle
that such a couyse might ''torcstall public opn
'public opinion" not to attempt by discus
sion, debate, argument, or persuasion. to lead
or direct it. Can't every body soc :
The true IDEA of a Debating Socie'y In:
been grossly perverted. Dictate means dis
cussion of the reasons and considerations ic
and against principles or projects that have
been previously settici, 'by the action Of tie
town" or otherwise. 1t is as clear rs a thun
dcr-cloudl We wonder It has not been nhserv
ed before Debate questions before thcy are
decided Who ever heard ofsuch consun
ate impertnence and folly. us it eXpedlen
to declare this Country Independent :'-"ihpI
the Central Railroad track be laid through til,
Village shall Lake Champlan be located
cas-, or west of the Green Mountains :'--thest
are the >crt of questions that are the Legitimate
subjects of debate, otherwise, public opln
ion' may be "torestalled !"
But "!he President ofthe Debating Socio'y,
with extraordinary arrogance directed "the mex
Town Meeting" to govern itself accordingly :
He ought to be forthwith deposod. Nothing
could exceed such d2spotjc tyranny. III,
Town Meeting will OF course do as il is drec
ted, ana then where are our liberties Fcllc
citizens we are on the brink of rum Is thcr,
no patriot who will assasslnate 1.-THE Fresidcn
of the Debating Society" and thus proven
public opinion from being torestalled: l.
there no Brutus to prevent this ambitious CTsa
from ordering about our "rown Meetings a
though he had hired them by the day; w
PAUSE for reply.