Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-30

memorial Of Sundry inhabitants Of Thets
ford, demonstrating against licensing the
sale OF ardent spirits, and sundrv o,ter
memorials Oh the same subject, made the
following report, which was ordered 10
be laid on the table, and FIVE hundred
copies printed.
A. L. MINER, CLERK.
PORT:
To the House Of Representatives:
Your Committee to whom were refer
red sundry memorials, praying that The
traffic and manufacture of ardent spirits
may be interdcted by law, respectfully
report That they have endeavored 10
give the subject assigned them for consid-
Grafton, that deliberate and careful ex-
animation which its acknowledged impor-
lance, and the many and serious emEar-
easements with which it is attended, obvi-
ouSlv required And while they are not
prepared to recommend to this Leg is;ature
the enactment Of u lrohibatory law, they
would, nevertheless, Ly no means contro-
vert the position assumed by the mcmorl
alists, that the evil complained of is a
proper and legitimate subject Of legisa-
tive enactment.
The onl y reason why your Committee
(orbear urging an entire change in the
license law, at the present time, is the
want of an adequate persuasion that the
pubic mind is prepared for so decided
measure We would however, by no
MEANS be understood to affirm that the
public mind is not thus prepared. The
memorials, both from their number, and
the responsibility of the names attached
to them, evince that on this subject an ex-
tenslve and most happy change has been
effected in the feelings and views of The
community. But still, in view OF The very
serious evils Of precipi,ae Legislation, we
deem it advisable to recommend a refer
ence of the subject to future legislature.
And we do it with a strong hope, and in.
deed with q confident expectation that the
friends Of this most important ard desira-
bic reform, will then furnish satisfactory
evidence thai the change is decidedly call
ed for. and will be efectua!!y sustained
by public sentiment. &c
In support OF the opinion which we
| have advanced that prohibition of the
traffic in spirituous liquors, except for me-
! dicnaI and other legitimate purposes, is
expedient and necessary, we beg leave to
call your attention 10 some grave, ami in
our view, conclusive considerations
] With regard TO the guilt and the evils q
! ntemperance there can lie no controversy
and in any representation Wht can be
made on the subject there is little danger
! Of eXaggeration. 1t is the most fruitful
source Of crime and Wretchedness.-
, There is no interest Of man, regarded as
| an individual, or viewed in any of his req
lations, civil, social, or religious, which
is not warred upon and subverted by this
vice. Who does not know that it is the
parent Of disease in multiplied forms, and
hat in the sad work of cutting short h1
man life, neither war, pestilence nor
! famine, can sustain comparison wAh the
| ravages this fell destroyer? 1t not on y
occasions in its victims a temporary de-
rangement Of the mind, but 10 an extent
equal to all other causes. ensures per-
manent subversion of reason; and one
! half Of the tenants Of hospitals for the IN
sane, have become maniacs through IN
! temperance. Who is a stranger to the
mental and moral debasement which it
produces? Who does not know how Of
ten it renders man brute, and almost
I hend-how often it converts the domestic
circle, the appropriate seat ofjoy and love,
! into scene of discord and hate. sub',cl-
ing the wife and children not Only, to Pow
erty and want, TO cold and hunger end
rags; but to outrage and cruelty! Who
is not aware how directly it leads to pov-
erty, so that he would need no gift of
prophecy to be able to foretell the teggary
10 which the man who is becoming en-
shaved by this vice, will by and by sub
iect himself? 1t is to this cause that
vast preponderance of the pauPerlsm
which burdens the public, owes It's e1's-
tence Who is ignorant OF the prepara-
ton for every species of crime from petty
larceny up to acts Of atrociouS violence
done to persons and life, which lntemper-
ance occasions, by degrading the intel
Iect. paralizing the conscience, bunting
the kinder feelings Of the heart, and Of
ten firing the passions with violent and
unnatural excitement Hence, in near v
or quite nine cases out often, the murders
perpetrated through the country owe their
commission to the use of ardent spirits
and other crimes spring from the same
source in nearl Y the same proportion.
The question then presents ltseit,-
How can this vice and its consequent
evils be- efectually removed2 Your
, committee believe that this desirable OBJ