Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-22
TEMPERANCE IN ADDISON COUNTY
Meeting of tho County Convention.

The annual temperance convention OF the
people OF Addison county assembled in the
lecture room of the Congregational church in
Middlebury at 1880 p. m. on Wednesday,
Rev. Cyrus llamlin OF Mddlebury, pres-
dent, In the chair. The meeting was opened
with prayer by Rev. A. d. L. F. Palmer,
pastor of the Middebury Baptist church.
The report of the secretary, Mr. Il. H..
ThOrp, giving tho details OF the meeting Of
last year, WAS read.
A committee on nominations was then
appointed, consisting OF the following gentle
men: Deacon George Porter of Middle
bury, Cyrus Bump of Salisbury, Mr.. Bris-
tol of Pantop, f. NJ. Haven of Vergennes,
Deacon Benedict of Middlcbury, and
Seneca Hazard OF North Ferrisburgh. A
committee ON resolutions was next appoint
ed, composed of the following gentlemen 4;
Rev. Mr.. Palmer and Rev. Mr.. Spearc
OF Mlddlcbury and w. IL. s. Whit
comb of Burlington. While these COM
mittces were out considering the mat
tiers concerning which they were ap-
pointed to act, Rev. DR.. llamlin made ex-
tended remarks considering the general pro-
gress which had been made by the temper
auce cause during the year past. DR.. liam
lin thought that in some directions progress
had been made He considered that in the
matter OF temperance literature there had
been apprecablc advancement, and that tenn
perance publications had become more inter-
| esting and valuable. DR.. Hamin thought,
too, that some Of the stock arguments against
prohibition had had to be abandoned, and
that supreme courts had decided time alter
time that the enactment of prohibitory laws
I,, I'm
In North and South Carolina and Georgia,
great progress had been made in the work of
temperance, while the great West was NOV
ing in the right direction. Here at home,
Dr. Uamlin thought, progress had been made
backwards, and there had been more drunk
enncss and consequent quarreing in Middle
bury than al any previous time since
| Middlebury became town. He con-
sidered that the stand taken by DIR.
| Crosby few years since in favor OF wine
| drinking had had a bad effect among the
higher or richer classes in the city of New
York. Finally, DR.. Hamlin thought that
there must be renewed effort and renewed
| prayers, or there was great peril to the future
welfare of the country.
Mr.. Whitcomb Of Burlington followed DR..
| Hamlin, starting out with q proposition
which he recently read, that the consump-
ton of alcoholic liquors was in proportion to
the facilities Of procuring them. II this waf
80, he thought it settled the question between
prohibition aud license, aud Mr. Whitcomb
| thought no intelligent man could doubt lte
truth. Then he took up the statement tina,
there is as much or more liquor sold and
drank ia Vermont as in New York proper
tionaly, and lie denied it, citing some care
full observations made by himself in favor Of
his view of the matter. Mr.. Wbitcoml
talked at considerable length and was listen
cd to very attcnively by the audience, which
nearly filed the lecture room of the church
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr.. Whit
comb was vigorously applauded. Mrs. E
| q. Greene of St. Adams was expected TO b,
present and address the meeting, but She
| was not present, and was reported TO be il
in Weybridgc
The report of the committee on uomina
tons was then made as follows: For pres
dent, Cyrus Hamlin vice. presidents, Mrs
Clinton Smith Of Middlcbury and Rev. G.
S. Sargent of New Haven; secretary ant
treasurer, f. II. ThQrp, MIddlebury cxccu
tive committee, Rev. Mr.. Archibald of Addi
son, +. X. Haven of Vergcnnes Sencci
Hazard Of Ferrsburgh c. T.. Smith of Bris
tol, Rufus Smith of Addison. Il. t. Bristo
of Panton, c. II. Dean OF Monliton, S. W
Stone Of New Haven, +. +. Stewart of Wcy
bridge, G. A. Bump of Salisbury w. II
Matthews of Cornwall and j.. c. Barrows o
Middlcbury. The report was accepted anC
adopted and the foregoing list Of officers wa
declared elected.
The committee on resolutions then report
ed at some length, one of their resolution
ccnsuring the officers of the law in the coun
ly for their failure to do their duty in en-
forcing The law. The resolutions gave rls
TO considerable discussion, ard were passed
A collection was then taken up and the meet
ing adjourned.