Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-10
N u NJ B E R Pa.

For my part, am not going to break away
from the temperance cause, let the resolu-
tons turn which way they will. Ibe.
lieve it to be the cause of God, and that
it will prevail, but we must conciIiate our
brethren.
| do not ask for any compromise of
principle. If thought the resolutions
involved sacrifice OF principle by the So
ciety, l would oppose them. But shall
we suffer mere difference of opinion 10
go on creating dissension, separating the
trends OF the society from it's ranks? Al
though not using any Of these drinks my
self, yet can make allowances for many
who have not ccme on as far as | have
| Wantto hear the arguments the gentle
man spoke of, against the use of the old
pledge. out do not wish to drive off from
US all who adopt it and who do not see far
enough to adopt the new do not want
to ose the hold may have on their afec-
tons and their confidence. | would not,
however, carry even these resolutions, or
any resolutions to conciiate the city, bv
bare majority, unless | could also carry
the feelings ofthe people in the country,
whom love, and who have gone farther
in temperance than those of the city.
MIR Turner, agent ofthe society, wished
to safe few facts, as reasons why this
resolution should not pass 1t is known,
said he, that | have teen for four years all
agent of the New York State Temperance
SCc'tty. The greatest number of names
that have teen obtained to the pledge by
any enc man have be en- obtained BY me
l used to obtain the pledges ofabout $500
in year W htn USED the old pledge
Alter the resolution oflast year, for taking
higher ground, | supposed that your
agents were authorised and indeed re-
quiIed TO carry another pledge, that of to-
tai abstinence from all intoxicating drinks.
A.! according y, for six months | present
cd lcth pledges wherever | lectured. But
uniformly obtained the largest number
OF signatures to the new pledge In Co.
toter | went to Canada, where | labcrcd
until the 10Th day of December, when
commenced in this state again, and then
presented only the total abstinence pledge,
and received names to no other. During
the last two months l have leltured in cit
les, IN villages, and in country townsend
in that time have obtained more than
3eOOnames to the total abstinence pledge.
If should continue unsuccessful through
the year, should collect more than three
times as many names as | ever obtained
in year to the old pledge.
= Another thing wish TO mention Uu-
I'll We adopted the new PLEDGE it used to
be said almost every where, that the cause
lad declined. Some said it was on &C,
count of agitating the wine question. l
asked them where it was the wine oues-
ten was agitated, and they could not tell.
Is it agitated here? mo; we have had
no meeting in year, and the last We had,
there were but handful! of people attend
ed" No, sir, it was not agitating the
wine question, it was the ineficacy ofthe
old pledge to destroy intemperance, that
dl>heartencd our friends and Quoted our
foes. have found very few towns where
the old pledge has be- en- relied on, that
there are not drunkards who have gone
lack. And where it is said that evil has
been done by agjtating the wine question,
have made this challenge in the public
meeting, Where is the man who has
gone back by first drinking ardent spirit o.
, And have never found one On the con-
trary, have had it, not unfrequently from
) the relapscd drunkards themselves, that
; what | said was God truth, that a drunk.
? ard cannot be reclaimed without total alb
| stLtnce, and that they had lost their char
, acter, and their sel1-respcct and confidence,
? bv first taking little Wlne or some other
= teImtntcd drink.
? Very often it is in this way. When
? drunkard is reclaimed, it is like life from
? the dead. Every body is pleased-every
: body loves him, and all wish TO show Linn
, kindness. And there is no way in which
S his old friends can show their kindness SO
easily as by asking Inn 10 take glass of
e beer, or perhaps a glass of wine. He
= knows his weakness, and ne says, " No,
i don't want it. But his friend replies,
- i" am a cold water man TOO, YOU know,
s but we are not pledged to abstain from
: this" The man is silenced, not convinc-
e ed, but ashamed to refuse any longer, or
!, to tell the reason why he fears to taste the
r offered cup. can name the mon, who
r Lave t"Id me this as their own ListOry.-
y They drank little wine, or little beer,
a or a little cider, offered by this church
e member, or that member of the temper
! ance society, it fred their blood, end then
e it is, "Who cares for the cold water soci-
= ETY.? Not |. Landlord, give me some
k whiskey ?"
e And now. as to the idea that the old
!, pledge will answer, | do not believe there
1t are ten men in this house, who have not
+ drank wine, or cider, or beer, since they
l, signed the Cd pledge, and without tho't
v that they were breaking their pledge
2, Sir. the old pledge is not worth a straw
81 can rot present it for signature, when