The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-09-08
For the Middlebury Register.
A Call to the Friends of Temperance ir
Vermont.


ask moments attention from every
friend of the cause.
The time has come for action in the
form of petitions, and it is important
that it should be general and simulta
neous. You have all seen the Maine
Law: and have given it your hearty
approval. The voice of humanity
and, we doubt not, the voice of the
State, demands its adoption. Yet VIC
are sure it will not be done, except thai
voice be concentrated and poured upor
the ear Of our legislature. This is
what remains to be done, and must be
done. The Central Committee have
circulated some twenty or thirty thous
and copies Of the Maine Law and the
people have had time to read, to think,
and to decide. a Bill will soon be
carefully matured, substantially the
same as the Law of Maine, which we
hope the next legislature will make the
law of this State. What now is need.
ed, is to have the decision of the peo-
pie in black and white, for the law
makers to look at. For this purpose,
petitions are prepared and distributed,
and when community have put their
names to them, the work will be done.
In the opinion of the Central Com
mittce, this is the great LAIR, and the
most important work of the season.
1t is work in which all can bear a
part. If faithfully prosecuted it will
render the most efficient service to the
cause as it will bring the subject
home to every freeman and to every
family, and constrain each one to de.
eide for or against the law, by signing
or refusing to sign. No man should
be left any longer upon the fence.
These petitions, in the present crisis,
will have all the effect of the temper
ance pledge in the early stages of the
reform.
But there is work to be done, and it
cannot be done by counties, nor by
towns it must be carried into school
districts, and organizations must there
be effected for this very purpose. The
Committee, therefore, call upon all
friends Of temperance to put shoulder
to the work, to secure organization, to
provide that every family and every
person, Of suitable age, may be called
upon to sign the petition. Much de-
pends upon prompt and earnest effort.
Let all 90 to work together and in earn
est-plead, persuadc-and the State
will be carried triumphantly.
The Committee expect every Son Of
Tenn Tcrance twill do his duty" and 90
to work with a will, not trusting to their
own particular organization, but favor,
ing and helping every othcr.-In those
towns where there are no Divisions of
Sons, or other organizations, we look
to have some energetic friend or friends
Of temperance call meeting, without
delay, and see that the petitions are
committed to faithful hands, who will
do the work, and report the result
within a specified time, not later than
the 9Th of October. 1t is intended that
all the petitions shall be collected and
combined in one, and thus be present
ed in due form. For this purpose they
must be sent, duly attested, to AsAnEL
SpAULDING, Esq, Montpelier, through
the several Representatives, or other
reliable persons, by the time of the
opening of the session Of the legisla-
ture. We can and we ought then to
present an imposing array of names
and influence. If we cannot have all
the voters, we can have all the women
in the State and on this subject they
ought to be heard at the Capitol, il
they cannot at the ballot-box.
The Committee have not hitherto
been able to secure the services of an
agent, neither are they now able. DR.
Jewett may be obtained after the mid
die Of September, but as this will be
too near the time of the session of the
Legislature for any general and exten
ded operations, the Committee have
concluded to leave it with the several
counties to employ him at their discre
ton. Where his services are desired
application should be made to the Ex
ecutive Committee, through Judge
Howe, of Castleton. Such applications
will receive proper attention. The
Committee would further say, if it i;
desirable to secure other agents il
circulating the petitions, such agent,
may be employed by the County So
cieties, and may be compensated from
the moneys pledged by them for gen
eral operations. AT any rate let the
work be thoroughly done, each county
and town choosing its own method
The time has come for united action
We shall gain nothing, but lose much
by delay. We cannot too quickly di
vest the enemy of his arms and an
munition. So long as these are in hi
possession he will use them Tor hurt.
With these suggestions we commi
the work to the friends of the caus
throughout the State. with great con
fidence that it s0il be done.
WM. c. KITTREDGE,
z. HOWE,
j. STEELE,
L. S. CARR,
Ii. 0. HIGLEY,
A. WALKER,
JAS. BARRETT,
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