The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-28

marked DIN, (G) in his cool, quiet man
ner. Nothing venture, nothing have
let us go for it who dare"
"Let us oppose it who dare ~ warm
" responded Lyon. 1.-THE measure will
be popular one and let it once be
known among the people, as | promise
gentlemen, it shall be- that this
proposition was considerably recon-
mended to us by committee we ap-
pointed for the purpose-let this be
known, and who among us has nerve
enough to stem the storm Of popular
indignation that will burst, on his
head, for the timid and cowardly
policy which led him to go against
it?"
"Vermont, added Rowley-" Yer
mont was the first to show her sister
states the way to take British fort !:
let her also be the first to teach them
the secret of making tories bear their
proportion of the burdens of the war
| am already prepared to give the
measure my support. Mr.. President.
Almost every member, in turn, now
threw in a few observations. The
doubts and fears of the more
cautious and wavering gradually gave
way: and it soon became evident that
the measure had found too much favor
with the council to be resisted. Lyon,
with his rough and pithv eloquence,
had broken the ice of timidity at the
right moment land he and the origina-
tor of the measure, at first the only
unhesitating members of the assembly.
perceiving the gathering current in its
favor, now warmly followed up their
advantage; and, within two hours
from its Introduction, the resolution
was adopted. This was Immediately
followed by the passage of the decree
named in the resolution, specifying
the names of those thus far fairly
identified as openly espousing the
British cause in Vermont, and declar
ing their estates forfeited to its use.
Aliens proposal to raise a regiment Of
rangers was then, as matter of
course, unanimously carried, and the
officers he had nominated were, with
few alterations. as unanimously APP
pointed. All were now animated with
a new spirit Hope and confidence
had taken the place of doubt and de
spondency in their bosOms and the re
mainder of the day was spent in carry
ing out the details of their plan, which |
all agreed should now be put in eXecu
ton with the greatest possible promp- |
titude and secrecy. In this, as well |
as the different appointments, made |
necessary for the execution of the de- |
cree, were completed by the united |
action of the council, all the members. |
individually, took an active part And |
for many hours, they might have been |
seen sitting round the tables, silently |
and intently engaged with their pens ; |
some in drafting dispatches to be |
sent to New Hampshire and Massachu.
sets, some in writing confidential |
letters, unfolding their plan, and ask
ing the co operation of the leading |
men in the different parts of their own
state, and some in making out com
missions for the military officers, or
the commissioners and other officers of
while others were out.
themselves about town.
YEARLY and cautiously inquiring out
prompt and trusty messengers, to be
despatched, as soon as it was dark,
simultaneously and post haste, to con
vey these important missves to their
different destinations round the cOun.
try. And all being accomplished, and
the blow struck, and the machinery
put in motion, the council conclud
,d to adjourn, to meet again in few
lays at Bennington, the interim to be
,pent by them in repairing 10 their ir
'espective spheres of influence among
he people, and there taking an active
part in defending and explaining their
measures, and assisting to carry them
INTO operation. L
Such was the origin of those tempo
airy tribunals in Vermont, subsequent
y termed courts, of confiscation, which ,