The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-19
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS COMMITTEE
It Was for Political Purposes, Not
to Hang Murderers

Much virtue in an II, says
Shakespeare.
Much difference is created by
slight change in the wording of a
phrase.
People read of vigilance committee
in the early days of California and
at once see visions of lynch law, and
outraged people taking into their own
hands the affairs that lax admins
tration of law had neglected.
Vermont had committees of vigil
ance rs years ago, about 20 years be-
fore such an organization became ac-
tive in California. The Vermont com
mittees, however, were political or
CARNATIONS, and except in the appar-
ent similarity of name had nothing In
common with those of the Western
The commission of a member OF
one of those committees recently dis
covered by Hon. III. w. Lyford, of
Warren is of interest. II was issued
to John Vincent, Esq, of Middlesex,
in 1886 in the midst of the campaign
in which Van Buren, was successful,
and reads thus:
"To John Vincent, Esq, Middlesex.
"Sir:-At a Democratic Republican
meeting held at Montpelier June Both
1886. you were appointed committee
of Vigilance for your town. You
are desired to accept the appointment
and enter Immediately with zeal and
industry upon the discharge Of its du-
ties
'The Democratic party in Vermont
can undoubtedly attribute the fact that
hitherto 1t has been in minority,
more to the want of an effective and
thorough organization than to any
other cause.
1T is confidently believed that an
actual and thorough organization
such an organization as will bring
every democrat-every friend of the
administration of the General govern
ment TO the ballot box, at the APP
preaching election, will ensure a tri-
umph to the democracy OF Vermont
and elect to office all who have been
put in nomination by our political
friends.
1--WE are encouraged to vigorous
exertion by belief that every honor.
able means must be used, by our
friends in every part of the state to
secure success.
THAT an unity OF effort, will now
be made throughout the state, by ev-
cry committee, whether state, con-
gressional, county, town or district
to bring every man to understand and
realize his rights and duties and to
induce every true friend TO Democ-
racy-to free institutions. to the liber-
~ purchased Of our fathers, to act
and act efficiently.
ITO you, Sir, we look with conf
dence, for perfect and practical organ
ization of our party in your town and
we beg you to bear constantly In
mind that the success Of all our ef-
forts must depend on the manner in
which you and the other town COM
mittees discharge the arduous duties
imposed by your appointment.
"You with the Town Committee and
others OF our friends are requested to
meet at a proper time and place to
dIIdnbtultllo III thV tANt1tOh
OF Gen. Isaac Fletcher, and other off,
GERS nominated on the Democratic
ticket; you are requested to select
some one who will procure votes suf-
fIlcient for each voter and be careful
to see them distributed.
1--WE shall, from time to time, make
to you such communications as may
seem best calculated to promote the
objects of our organization.
"Your county, in proportion to its
numbers, has stood first In patriotic
exertion--nrst in the ranks OF genu-
inc, unadulterated Democracy, and
let us now convince our friends In
Vermont and throughout the Union,
that we have aroused from our leth-
argy, like n strong man from his
slumbers, and the defeat OF the Phil
istines In such more than probable.
AT q crisis like the present when
the administration Is opposed, with a
virulence hitherto unexampled, by
the odds and ends OF every anti-re-
publican, anti-democratic faction-by
an mprinclpled and despotic money
ed corporation, more dangerous to our
liberties. than British armies, or
Hartford conventions, every effort OF
every patriot should be put forth, to
sustain the administration-to pres
erve inviolate the constitution OF our
beloved country, and check the mad
career of this mammoth mammon OF
all unrighteousness which In It's ruth
less and reckless march, has set at
open defiance the constituted author
tiles OF the government, corrupted the
press. inflicted wanton distress upon
the commercial. agricultural and man
ufaoturing community, and threatens
the destruction Of Republican Liber-
ty."
This interesting document is sign
ed by Nathaniel Bancroft, Joseph Saw
yer and George w. Barker, county
committee, and John Vincent Aaron
Ladd and Hubbard Wiley, town COM
mittee for Middlesex.
The truth OF history compels tho
abatement that Gen. Fletcher was not
elected governor and that the vote OF
the Senate was not cast for Van Bur
en- but as the vote OF other states
4.