Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-05
The Question all Settled.


There is no need of going any farther; the
question of furnishing liquor at raisings, re-
ferred to recently, and by a correspondent this
week, is all settled by the Burlington Times.
1t says:
AS apt an illustration as can readily be
given of that species of intolerant fanaticism
which is injurious to Law and Order, and sick
ening to the judicious friends of both, has late
ly been given in silly and malicious attack
upon Judge Poland, of the Supreme Bench, by
a rabld correspondent, and the more rabid Edi-
tor of the Montpelier Freeman. That paper,
with an air of arrogance that is simply ludi-
crous, assumes to be the special representative of
the Temperance and Anti. Slavery sentiment of
the State, and founders and plunges about, in
miscellaneous warfare against imaginary viola
tons of the Liquor Law. calls frantically upon
Powers for help, Ito the great amusement of
that sensible gentleman) and assumes hostile
attitude generally, that is somewhat frightful
to behold The latest exhibition of the kind is
the one to which we have alluded, in which
Judge Poland is arraigned for giving a judicious
and correct legal opinion in an official way, to
delegation from perplexed Grand Jury in
Orleans County, who, with much good sense,
applied to him for advice instead of the Free
man.
1t appears, from the very statement of the
case in the paper named, that no violation Of
the liquor law whatever took place. The sim
pie facts were, as stated, that a farmer in
Greensboro invited his neighbors, after the good
old custom of our respectable fathers, to help
him raise barn which having done, (still
adhering to venerable custom) he invited such
of them as pleased, to such hospitable treatment
as they might find in q glass of toddy or grog.
This is the Il head and 'front.' (and back and
tally of the offending and for this entirely
legal exercise of hospitality, the offending farm
er WAS brought before a Grand Jury, (who,
having the good fortune to consult an honest
lawyer, were saved from further folly in the
premises) and thence before the august tribu-
nal, (Judgc Poland being in the mean time
joined as co-violator) of that astute and Sc
we're custos morum, the Green Mountain Free
man Here, process was rapid and conviction
easy, because legal forms and legal authority
were alike unimportant. The Editor lends his
feeble aid to the malice of the Informer, and
these twins in fanaticism proceed to vindcatc a
law that has not been violated, on the strength
of case, the only effect of which, on its very
face, is to stultify themselves
We copy from the Laws of 1858 the follow
ing plain and simple section, with which it is
probable that the farmers of ordinary intelli-
gence, in Orleans County, are familiar:
SEC. l. The words give acay,' wherever
they occur in the act to which this is an amend
ment shall not be construed to apply to the
giving of intoxicating liquors at private daoeL-
ings or their dependencies, [barns, to wit. I'M
less given to habltual drunkard, or unless
such dwelling or its dependencies, as the case
may be, shall become place of public resort.
This is the LAW, to be sure, but what is that
to such fiery and laundering zealots as the Free
man and its correspondent, who substitute per-
secution for proof, and defamation for argu-
ment, and from whose loose and injurious accu-
sations no character nor position, however res
pcctable, is exempt"
The Times adds remark requesting the
Judge to take no notice of the matter. Per-
haps when he takes notice of his expected re-
election next fall, the people will notice it. AS
the Judge is just now stopping in Burlington
at the term of the Supreme Court, we presume
he dictated the above to the Times himself, it
wears such an air of authority.