Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-04

trbute paid to his eminent worth. IL is with
deep regret that your Committee have again
to record the death Of another Of the early
and long-tried friends of the Society, the
Honorable and the venerable Peter Starr
Though advanced in years, he yet retained a
lively interest in every object that was pro-
motive Of the public goods and none had q
greater share Of his active sympathy and hear
ty cooperation than the cause of Temper
race. These recurring deaths remind us Of
the brcvity Of time for labor and Of the duty
that rests upon us of bringing our best abili-
ties into more active effort to secure the final
success Of this important work.
In making a brief statement Of what has
been done the past year, the Committee re-
greet their inability 90 present more iavora-
BILE result, compared with what they had hop
ed to accomplish, and what you, perhaps,
had o right TO expect. Soon after their APP
poiutment, however, they engaged tho service
of Rev. b. B. Newton, Of st. Adams, and the
Rev. H. p. Gushing, Of Bradford, as your
general agents. They also, in accordance
with a resolution adopted at the last annual
meeting, appointed one person in each Coun-
ty to act as agent of the Society and to be
their official co-laborer, and requested such
county agents to designate some one in each
town in their county to aid in the general
work. Your Committee also, as a signature
to the Constitution was necessary 10 consti-
tute membership Of the Society, authorized
the printing ofcoples of the Constitution for
the use Of the State, County, and Town Agcn-
cies
These arrangements were but partially car
ried into effect. The Row Mr.. Newton made
some preparations. but never entered upon
the active duties Of his appoir rent. The
agencies of the town and county accomplish
ed but little. The most important results
we're secured by the efforts Of the Rev. Mr..
Cushing His labors we're principally in the
towns of Bradford. Chelsea. Randolph. Fair
lee, Brookfcld, Wells River, Corinth, New
bury. Barre. Williamstown. Montpelier, St.
Johnsbury. Peacham. Groton and Topsham.
where he obtained the names. as members Of
the State Society, of more than two hundred
Of the intelligent and influential citizens OF
the Counties of Orange. Washington and
Caledonia. Mr.. Cushing was in service only
during the months of February and March.
when. as it was near the time that the atten-
ton of the agricultural and other classes Of
community would be more fully engaged. he
thought it best to suspend his work. and as
the public mind soon became generally alb
sorbed in the excitemen. of Presidential
election. he did not deem il advisable to re-
sumo it.
The revised Constitution entities each mem
Der TO a copy of such temperance publication
as the Society desirnates. to be paid for out
Of the Treasury The members Of 1860. num-
boring nearly three hundred. have all been
supplied. through the Secretary. with the
Temperance Alliance, published al Boston.
monthly. with the exception of two whose
residence was not given. and could not be
found. As the wear ends in January it will
be necessary for this meeting to select the pa
per for 1861.
In closing this part of their report the Com