Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-02-12
rFrom the Burlington Timesl

Editor Of the Times:
DEAR SIR Allow me 10 correct, in your col
umns, one or two statements of the article in this
mornings TINES, in reference to the meeting Of
thu League on Friday evening last; as that arti-
Gle, without perhaps any intention on the part of
the writer, may give rise to unfair and injurious
inference, unless corrected.
1t was not urged, as stated, that only those re-
presenting the views of the League should be ell
ected to the offices of Selectmen and Town Grand
Jurors" 1t was urged that men who would
faithfully and iearlessly perform their duty in
the prosecution of offenses against the prohibi-
tory law, as against all other laws, without refer
ence to party, should be elected to the offices Of
Town Grand Jurors and Constables. The Bur-
lington TINES. under your direction, will never
gainsay that proposition, know.
Nothing was said of the election Of Selectmen
IN the next March meeting, and for three sutii-
Gent reasons, LIST, The Selectmen now have moth
ing to do in the enforcement Of the prohibitory
Law. "a, No objection has, TO the knowledge Of
the speaker, ever been made to the official action
of the present board of Selectmen. Sd, The
speaker referred to believes that the town never
had a more efficient board Of See;tmen than
those now in Office
1t Is true that as an illustration Of the diff
Guilty of enforcing the law with officers hostile to
II, reference was made to the well known fact
that when, under the old law towns were liable
for the costs of prosecution, the law was render
ed partially imperative by the refusal Of the
Selectmen 10 allow sufficient fees 10 the execu-
tive officers.
No nomination Of Town Grand Juror was
made, as is stated. The frequent failure Of moral
and good men to carry out their principles at
the ballot box was alluded TO, and II was said
that if as une1ceptiOnable man ss } udge Bennett
was nominated Town Grand Juror, he would
be defeated in March meeting, unless the public
mind wss stirred up by discussion, and voters
friendly to the enforcement of the law were ready
TO do their duty at the polls.
Mr.. Adams made no reference whatever to the
Town Agent, and Mr.. Huntington simply stated,
as fact, that when the keeper of billiard ss-
loon in Burlington recently declined to furnish
whisky to certain young gentlemen, they pro-
cured bottle at the Town Agency, and did
rather pointedly intimate doubt whether the
playing Of billiards was mechanical" pursuit
for which Town Agents, under the law, are e1-
pected to furnish whiskey.
If an effort TO secure the reelection ofour pre-
sent lst and I'd cOnstables, already threatened
for their faithfulness as police officers, and the
election Of two good and reliable men as Town
Grand Jurors, without reference TO what party
lhtg u4af ue4VAE 20, y an tl-uIt 10 cuutIol inc
election Of town officers, or to - drag the tenn
perance question in politics, then whom has the
League offended
1t cannot be that the TINES, which has so fire.
quently and forcby contended that the apathy
OF the friends of temperance in regard to the en-
forcement Of the prOhibitory law, and the non
enforcement Of that law, were convincing argu-
ments IN favor Of its repeal, can reasonabely OBJ
ject to an earnest and fair effort to show that
the law can be enforced, and that a majority Of
the citizens OF Burlington wish it to be enforced.
Please insert the above and obhge
Yours, truly,
J. ;. ADAMS.
Bnrlinrfnn Eeh s 1851