Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-06
Executive Committees Report of
the Vermont State Temperance
Society.


= laid aside from ministerial labors man
/ months.
+ He has been entirely unable TO rende
aid in the preparation of the report 70
! the present occasion. This is TO be re
GREETED for, from his pen, as all kno'
: who are acquainted herewith, wouI
have come forth "strong meat" but 5
favored with pleasing rhetoric, touching
appeals, and convincing reasoning, as 4
have put TO shame some who are selling
themselves for less than a mess OF pot
tage, and to have confirmed and quicken
ed some Of the protested friends of ten
Derance--the latter as much needed anC
as difficult OF execution in some instance,
as The former.
Rev. Mr.. Drake wrote to Hon. c. "
Willard, OF Montpelier, as it was prop
for him to do, he being second on the
committee to prepare report.
Mr.. Willard being under engagements
which prevented compliance with the re-
quest, wrote to the Secretary, stating the
condition of affairs, and directing to
Mortified, which communication was re-,
ceived at late day, and in distant part
Of the State, and when so occupied with
other duties and frequent migrations, as
to prevent suitable attention to the sub
jeet.
This explanation seems just, and will
elicit the exercise of a generous charity,
while few paragraphs will be read,
written only because of the apprehension
that in the confused state of affairs there
would be an entire failure of anything in
the form of a report.
For reasons as above intimated, less
has been accomplished and less attempt
ed probably, than might otherwise have
been expected. Loyal subordinates wait
for the movements Of their leader, and
will be guided by his suggestions.
No lecturer has been employed the
past year, nor has there been any special
distribution of temperance documents.-I
There have been town and county meet
ings, and addresses in different portions
Of the State, and it is believed by your
committee that the judgment of the pub
ic mind is strongly in favor of the total
abstinence principle.
This seems obvious from the fact thai
notwithstanding the clamor in many quar-
srs against the law, our Legislature
Gems not disposed 10 repeal it. Legis
,;ive enactments may be taken, ordina-
lily, as resy Of the desires of the people,
nd especially if the present incumbents
re anticipating reelection.
1t is believed also, that prosecutions for
iolations of ''the temperance Law"
ave been more frequent the past year.
han 10 any previous year since this strin-
zen; principle has been upon our statute
,ook.
fthis should prove to be so, it must be
considered the result of some cause -
And what is that cause? Not that offen-
es against the law are so much more nu-
nerous than formerly, so much as be-
.ause the people are disposed to put a
top to this wicked, illegal.traffic.
Did the public heart censure the work
# prosecution, the agents of the law
you'd readily find reason for inaction.-
Another reason for the increased number
If prosecutions, may, be found perhaps,
n the fact that live, earnest men fill thu
flee of States Attorney But here
gain may be seen cropping out public
,pinion demanding advanced movements.
In one county between two and four
thousand dollars have been put into Il e
Treasury Of the State as the proceeds Of
ines. Other counties may have done ,
more and better; if so they have done well
And we would love to have developed at
his meeting the fact, and they shall have
he thanks OF many. Another reason
or the increased number of prosecutions
nay be found, no doubt, in the influence
If "ProhibiIory Law Leagues"
AT the Annual Meeting in Burlington {
! year since, the following resolution was
,assed
ReSOired, That we recommend the for.
nation of Prohibitory Law Leagues in
he several towns in the State, whose OBJ
ect it shall be the vigorous enforcement {
# the Prohibitory Law. /
OF the whole number of organizations t
# this character in this State, we are not {
but in Burlington, WilIistop,
Rutland, Montpelier and other populous |
owns and villages, where violations d
'ould most likely occur, such organizs>
ions have been completed. They seem I
D be an extra law measure, to give to